Summary
This King’s Fund report presents a framework and tools to help local service leaders improve the care provided for older people. The focus is on improving the integration of care and the reduction of delays in transitions between different services. Whole-system changes are needed, and this report addresses the nine underlying components of care, which are itemised as follows:
- Supporting healthy, active ageing with maximum independence.
- Assisting people to live well with simple or stable long-term conditions.
- Assisting people to live well with complex co-morbidities, dementia and frailty.
- Access to rapid support close to home at times of crisis.
- Access to good acute hospital care. when needed.
- Provision of good discharge planning and post-discharge support.
- Provision of good rehabilitation and reablement after acute illness or injury.
- Access to high-quality nursing and residential care for those who need it.
- Provision of choice, control and support towards the end of life.
The authors envision physical and mental health, social care, public health and a range of public, private and voluntary sector services working together more effectively to achieve person-centred care.
“Key issues across all components include the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment at the right time, and the effective provision of coordinated primary, community and social care services closer to home”.
Reference
Oliver, D. Foot, C. [and] Humphries, R. (2014). Making our health and care systems fit for an ageing population. London: The King’s Fund, March 2014.
