This report draws together the evidence submitted to the Inquiry.
Going beyond the narrow boundaries of health and social care, this report brings together information on policy development and resources relevant to the lives of older people, and an overview of research.
The report takes as its starting point seven key areas central to the lives of older people as independent citizens. These are:
- comfortable and secure homes
- an adequate income
- safe neighbourhoods
- getting out and about
- friendships and opportunities for learning and leisure
- keeping active and healthy
- access to good, relevant information.
The report maps onto each of these seven areas the research evidence, the development of policy since 1989 and the funding streams available to local government officers to assist older people to live independent lives. It sets all this information in the context of current demographic issues and information about health and social care usage by older people.
The evidence reported here was fed into the full Inquiry. The report of the Older People's Inquiry into 'That Bit of Help', edited by Norma Raynes, Heather Clark and Jennifer Beecham, is also available.
