A Better Life
What needs to change so that older people, especially those with high support needs, can have 'a better life'?
Contacts
Understanding what will really help some of the most marginalised, and least heard, people in the UK.
Introduction
Developed through extensive consultation with internal and external experts, this five year programme will focus on a significant modern-day challenge: how to ensure quality of life for the growing number of older people with high support needs in the UK.
All four UK governments are now focusing their social policy on enabling older people to remain at home – paying much less attention to the half million who already live in residential or nursing care. In the current climate, there is a risk that the prioritisation of issues such as the retirement age or healthy ageing will further marginalise older people with high support needs.
JRF will commission a range of work to inform and produce clear, costed recommendations for policy and practice that can help older people with high support needs now and in the future.
Five main areas of work
- Defining what makes 'a better life'
By talking to older people with high support needs about what they want and value. (Contact: Philippa Hare) - Improving residential and nursing care
By building our understanding of how to maximise older people's choice and quality of life in care settings so that we can influence policy and practice development. This work, which involves a partnership with My Home Life, the UK-wide charitable venture led by City University and Help The Aged/Age Concern, will also include direct work with Joseph Rowntree Trust Care Homes (Contact: Philippa Hare). - Researching housing with care schemes
By informing those involved in policy and practice about how housing with care schemes can support older people who have, or who develop high support needs. (Contact: Philippa Hare) - Identifying alternative approaches
By exploring other accessible and affordable approaches to support, housing and community for older people who have, or who develop high support needs. This programme will look beyond what is commonly available, learning from imaginitive practice, both in the UK and internationally. (Contact: Philippa Hare) - Creating 'a better life roadmap'
By picking out the strongest ideas and approaches from the above research with the help of older people. Then promoting what needs to happen through clear, costed and credible recommendations. (Contact: Philippa Hare)
Our commitment
JRF is committing £1.5 million to this programme over five years (2009 – 2013). See calls for proposals at www.jrf.org.uk/funding