Centre for Policy on Ageing
 

 

Independence, privacy and risk
 — two contrasting approaches to residential care for older people
Author(s)Rosemary Bland
Journal titleAgeing and Society, vol 19, part 5, September 1999
Pagespp 539-560
KeywordsResidents [care homes] ; Rights [elderly] ; Independence ; Care homes ; Hotels [elderly] ; Local Authority Homes ; Case studies ; Comparison.
AnnotationOne of the main reasons older people give for their reluctance to consider residential care as a way of meeting their support needs is the fear of losing their independence. Research has confirmed that such anxiety is well-founded. This paper explores how far two different approaches to residential care enable older people who become residents to maintain their autonomy and independence. It traces the historical developments of residential care and of hotels, using a case study of a private residential home run by former hoteliers to compare its approach to "the residential task" with that adopted in local authority homes. Attention is focused on the translation of the core values of independence, privacy, dignity, choice and rights into a daily reality for residents. It is suggested that there are both structural and individual factors which account for the differences observed. The paper draws tentative conclusions as to why a "service" rather than a "social care" approach may be more successful in enabling older people to preserve their autonomy and privacy after moving into a care home. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-000307208 A
ClassmarkKX: IKR: C3: KW: KTH: KWA: 69P: 48

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