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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Frail bodies, courageous voices: older people influencing community care | | Author(s) | Marian Barnes, Gaynor Bennett |
| Journal title | Health & Social Care in the Community, vol 6, no 2, March 1998 |
| Pages | pp 102-111 |
| Keywords | Services ; Health services ; Consumer ; Participation ; Meetings ; Projects ; Fife. |
| Annotation | Involving frail older users of health and social care services in decision making presents particular challenges for those committed to hearing the voices of service users. This paper reports on an evaluation of the User Panels project, initiated by Age Concern Scotland in Fife to enable older people who were unable to leave their homes without assistance to meet together to develop a collective voice expressing the needs and preferences of older service users. It also considers methodological questions posed by the evaluation of projects which aim to empower users. Findings showed that those who became members of the panels valued this experience, and reported intrinsic benefits related to the social contact, opportunities for learning and development of self-esteem. Evidence concerning enhanced capacity to exercise control over key aspects of their lives was less convincing. The work of the panels was generally well received by local social work and health agencies and had influenced local action in some areas. The model is considered to demonstrate benefits both for the older people who become involved and for officials seeking to improve the sensitivity of services to the needs of older people. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980821404 A |
| Classmark | I: L: WY: TMB: QAR: 3E: 9EF |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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