Wellbeing in later life

1
Well-being in later life

• Solutions for Older People
• Local Government, East Midlands
• 17th March 2008

2
Why this study? And why now?

• Just over two years since the publication of
  Opportunity Age
• And
• Just over two years since the Commission started
  assessing Local Authorities on how well they are
  performing on this agenda.

3
What is this study exploring?

• We are
• Assessing how well government strategy is
  understood
• Exploring the drivers and characteristics of
  effective local strategies
• Finding out how local authorities are funding
  well-being in later life initiatives and how they
  ensure value for money

4
Four methodologies

• Analysis of Audit Commission performance data
• A mystery shopper telephone survey
• Fieldwork in ten local authorities
• Five targeted focus groups with older people

5
Analysis of CPA data

• 103 councils have been assessed so far
• Strategic approach beyond health and social care
• Meaningful engagement with older people
• Comprehensive, co-ordinated range of services to
  older people

6
Councils need to improve

• 75 need to make improvements
• 25 understand the agenda and are delivering
  outcomes

7
The mystery shopper survey

• Evaluated how well councils are able to direct
  older people to a range of services designed to
  maintain their independence
• Ascertained if councils are enabling older people
  to maximise their expertise and potential through
  active involvement in the wider community

8
The mystery shopper survey

• 49 councils surveyed
• Completes the bigger picture
• Targeted councils who will be assessed under the
  Harder Test post publication
• Four older mystery shoppers
• aged 49 70
• helped to scope the work

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They tested

• Leisure and social activities
• Employment and volunteering opportunities
• Learning opportunities
• Transport
• Referral to an older people champion

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They found

• Councils struggled to see them outside social
  care
• Poor sign posting into the voluntary and
  community sector
• Poor information on employment and volunteering
  opportunities
• Reliance on websites
• But
• Good information on leisure services

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Fieldwork

• 10 councils
• Purposive sample of ten councils
• Range of Council types
• Range of risk
• Range in performance
• Range of funding issues
• Interviews with a range of key players and
• A focus group with local older people
• Conducted between September 07 January 08

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We went to

• Camden London Borough
• Tower Hamlets London Borough
• Penwith District Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Birmingham metropolitan city council
• Manchester - metropolitan city council
• Dudley unitary, metropolitan borough council
• Blackpool - unitary
• Hartlepool unitary, borough council
• North Somerset - unitary

13
Emerging messages

• Opportunity Age was not well known
• Drivers were usually local issues
• 50 definition was a hurdle
• This agenda is about universal services and
  access for all - older people are a growing group
  and services need to meet their needs

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Putting a check and balance in place

• Five additional focus groups
• Focus on hard to reach groups
• Birmingham (Carers, 50)
• Tower Hamlets (Low income, 50)
• North Somerset (80)
• Hartlepool (65 in work or volunteering)
• Nottingham (Long term health problems)
• Facilitated by older researchers

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What are our key milestones?

• Analysis in March / April 2008
• Publish in summer 2008
• www.audit-commission.gov.uk

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Thank you!