A Better Life – What Older
People with High Support
Needs Want and Value
Jeanne Katz, Caroline Holland and Sheila Peace
Faculty of Health & Social Care
Published November 2011
Focus on older people with
high support needs
Other Better Life
publications:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/
work/workarea/betterlife
Why do we know so little?
• People with different priorities; an invisible grouping
• Communication: dementia, dual sensory problems
• Focus on health and social care needs, not quality of
life
• Diversity of communication issues - language and
cultural barriers not adequately addressed
• Older people with high support needs often isolated
and not enabled to engage collectively
What is valued by this group?
• Social: Relationships: maintaining and making new
friendships; interacting in different ways, especially
mental stimulation to maintain cultural activities;
opportunities to contribute through diverse roles
• Psychological: Self determination, deciding which
decisions to make themselves and which to devolve;
desire for continuity or support to adjust to change
• Physical: Living in a safe, secure environment, even if
this means compromise. Getting out and about; contact
with nature and the outdoors
Social interaction
I like meeting with people, when I came to the
day centre I felt like a new person … I come
here two days a week, the day centre is part of
like a family, I relax and I’m comfortable here..
to communicate with other people, you don’t
want to stay at home on your own, you want to
come and have a chat, and laugh, and do any
activities going, I does painting, and art, I
normally does art, craft, it make you felt you’re
somebody, when you’re doing something.
Gertrude 74, who receives transport to attend a black
elders’ community centre in London
What helps or hinders
HELPS:
• Continuity of Care and Support: Friendly carers who
provide appropriate and respectful support; clear
communication.
• Dedicated Time: Clearly defined quantity and quality
time so that biography acknowledged and needs met.
HINDERS:
• Inadequate information about available services or
financial support. Urgent needs not addressed such as
equipment which could transform their lives: mobility,
visual or hearing aids, or access to internet or loops.
A Model to Explore
What People Want
and value
Enabling expression of
their priorities over those
of services or policies
Possible uses:
as a prompt
in training
commissioning
research
Contact:
Dr Jeanne Katz
Faculty of Health and Social Care,
The Open University,
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
www.open.ac.uk
j.t.katz@open.ac.uk