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Older people's experiences of cash-for-care schemes: evidence from the English Individual Budget pilot projects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2012

NICOLA MORAN*
Affiliation:
Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, UK.
CAROLINE GLENDINNING
Affiliation:
Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, UK.
MARK WILBERFORCE
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
MARTIN STEVENS
Affiliation:
Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, UK.
ANN NETTEN
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
KAREN JONES
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
JILL MANTHORPE
Affiliation:
Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, UK.
MARTIN KNAPP
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics, UK.
JOSE-LUIS FERNÁNDEZ
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics, UK.
DAVID CHALLIS
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
SALLY JACOBS
Affiliation:
Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Nicola Moran, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Cash-for-care schemes offering cash payments in place of conventional social services are becoming commonplace in developed welfare states; however, there is little evidence about the impact of such schemes on older people. This paper reports on the impact and outcomes for older people of the recent English Individual Budget (IB) pilot projects (2005–07). It presents quantitative data on outcome measures from structured interviews with 263 older people who took part in a randomised controlled trial and findings from semi-structured interviews with 40 older people in receipt of IBs and with IB project leads in each of the 13 pilot sites. Older people spent their IBs predominantly on personal care, with little resources left for social or leisure activities; and had higher levels of psychological ill-health, lower levels of wellbeing, and worse self-perceived health than older people in receipt of conventional services. The qualitative interviews provide insights into these results. Potential advantages of IBs included increased choice and control, continuity of care worker, and the ability to reward some family carers. However, older people reported anxieties about the responsibility of organising their own support and managing their budget. For older people to benefit fully from cash-for-care schemes they need sufficient resources to purchase more than basic personal care; and access to help and advice in planning and managing their budget.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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