28/10/2009
Press release
Issued by the Catholic Communications Network
Caritas Social Action Network releases report on care for the elderly
Archbishop Vincent Nichols says: “The elderly are not a burden but a gift”
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) today released recommendations based on a research report mapping services to older people provided by the Catholic community.
The research, undertaken by Middlesex University’s Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), aims to explore the level and quality of care provision offered by the Catholic community to older people in England and Wales. Latest demographic projections indicate there will be over 11 million people aged over 65 within 10 years.
Key findings from the report, which surveyed 30 residential care homes and 28 providers of outreach services, include:
- The number of places in care homes and the number of hours for home care would both need to rise by nearly 150% to cope with the needs of this ageing population.
- The main problem identified by residential providers was the lack of funding, with two thirds of the homes surveyed affected by rising costs and few sources of funding.
- Isolation and the lack of a sense of community were identified by respondents as the main issues facing older people today.
Key recommendations are:
- More innovative forms of care for older people.
- Measures to tackle loneliness and isolation including opportunities for older people to engage with the local community.
- Development of inter-generational work to bring older people and younger people closer together for their mutual benefit.
- Clearer information about entitlements for older people and their carers.
- Raising the Catholic voice at the decision making table on policy issues affecting older people.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, said: “Age is something that comes to us all. It brings its joys and its diminishments but ‘It’s still me!’ This is the critical message in providing care for the elderly by the Catholic community. It enables us to see that behind all the political, economic and social questions of growing old is a human face, a life, a person – a mother, a father, brother or sister who is part of us and has helped to make us who we are. The elderly are not a burden but a gift – without them our lives and our society would be impoverished and diminished. They have a right to our resources and our care. I thank CSAN for their work but I especially thank all those who work and care for elderly and the many family and friends who are the ‘hidden carers’ to whom we all owe so much. I hope that together with the Government and other agencies, the Church and the Catholic community can work together to support and cherish the elderly, honour their rights and celebrate their gift.”
Philippa Gitlin, Director of CSAN, welcomed the findings and recommendations of the report: “We are pleased to have evidence of the support being provided by the Catholic community for older people of all faiths or none. The report confirms our view that we need to raise our profile as a significant voice in the sector, and together with other faith providers lobby to influence debate and policy decision-making on the care and provision of services for older people.”
Dr Louise Ryan of Middlesex University’s Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) said: “As we head towards a society with an increasing number of older people, a whole raft of issues gain greater importance – knowledge about dementia, information about funding and maintaining quality of care being just a few examples. In this research we have highlighted examples of good practice within this group of Catholic-based care organisations, and suggested areas where CSAN can grow its influence. We hope that this report shows clear ways that CSAN can make significant contribution to the wider debate on care and collaborate with other sector groups to improve care for older people.”
Read/download the report
Notes
About the research:
Dr Louise Ryan, Head of Middlesex University’s Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), and her team undertook the research in Spring 2009, using questionnaires, interviews and focus groups to gather information. This was conducted with 30 residential homes, some of which also provided nursing, respite or day care, and with 28 organisations providing outreach services. Respondents included both members and non-members of CSAN. As well as mapping existing care provision, the research aimed to highlight innovative practice and to suggest more collaborative ways for organisations to work, which in turn could help to maximise the effectiveness and quality of care available to older people.
The research team identified some key strengths in care offered through the Catholic community. Its ethos and values are applicable to everyone, regardless of faith, its geographical spread is wide, including within rural communities and therefore it can reach people that other groups may not be able to access. Care processes in the Catholic community also focus on activities designed to enrich residents’ quality of life, such as outreach and befriending initiatives. The community also brings together a wide range of groups with the potential to work across social and geographical boundaries.
Concluding the research, the team makes recommendations for the older care sector as a whole as well focusing on specific issues for the Catholic care community. In general, the team suggests, all providers in the sector need to explore more innovative forms of care for older people – such as semi-independent living and structuring home care services to enable people to live in their homes for longer. Clearer information about entitlements, and issues such as dementia and end of life care would all help to improve the overall quality of older people’s lives.
Recommendations the team made for Catholic care providers included the need to develop an increased number of strategic partnerships with other voluntary and public sector organisations, although the team stresses that this should be done without losing the distinctive ethos of Catholic organisations. The findings suggest that as well as developing networking and information-sharing amongst members, CSAN might have a particular role to play in promoting information about funding streams and assisting member organisations in accessing such funding.
About CSAN:
CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network) is the umbrella organisation of charities with a Catholic ethos, providing professional social care within the UK. Its members provide services to marginalised and vulnerable children, adults and families of all faiths and none.
For a copy of the executive summary of the research report please contact Chris Driscoll by phone: 020 7901 4875 or email: chris.driscoll@cbcew.org.uk
About Middlesex SPRC and its work:
The Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) was established in 1990 and is a University recognised Centre based in Middlesex University's Institute for Social and Health Research (ISHR). The SPRC initiates and supports high quality research of national and international standing on new and emerging topics within the social sciences, in particular with neglected and marginalised communities, at a local, national and international level. The centre actively promotes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research.
Key areas of interest include migration, refugees and citizenship; Welfare restructuring, governance and risk; Drug and alcohol policy; Urban policy, regeneration and communities in deprived areas.
The SPRC has undertaken research for a number of government, voluntary and charitable organisations, including the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Nuffield Foundation, the London Development Agency, Caritas Social Action Network and the Big Lottery Fund.
For more information, go to: mdx.ac.uk/HSSc/research/