Measuring unmet need for social care amongst older people

Abstract

Recent spending cuts in the area of adult social care raise policy concerns about the proportion of older people whose need for social care is not being met. Such concerns are emphasised in the context of population ageing and other demographic changes. For example, the increasing proportion of the population aged 75 and over places greater pressure on formal and informal systems of care and support provision, while changes in the living arrangements of older people may affect the supply of informal care within the household. This article explores the concept of 'unmet need' for support in relation to specific Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), using data on the receipt of support (informal, formal state or formal paid) from the General Household Survey, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the British Household Panel Survey. The results show that different kinds of need tend to be supported by particular sources of care, and that there is a significant level of 'unmet need' for certain activities.

Perceptions of unmet needs for community social care services in England. A comparison of working carers and the people they care for

“…Looking at both perspectives, we find that unmet need for services for the care-recipient is perceived as high by care-recipients, as well as by their working carers. The level of unmet need among care-recipients in our study is consistent with other research on unmet need for services among disabled and older people in the UK (Vlachantoni et al 2011, Burchardt et al 2015 and with research on the impact of cuts under the Coalition government to local authority budgets and services (Forder & Fern andez 2010, Fitzgerald et al 2014. While our finding tallies with government reports on unmet needs for social care, it is contrary to the assumption in such reports that those receiving help from an unpaid carer do not have unmet needs (Commission for Social Care Inspection 2008, House of Commons 2010).…”

“…The level of unmet need among care‐recipients in our study is consistent with other research on unmet need for services among disabled and older people in the UK (Vlachantoni et al . , Burchardt et al . ) and with research on the impact of cuts under the Coalition government to local authority budgets and services (Forder & Fernández , Fitzgerald et al .…”

“…Population‐based studies of disabled or older people in the UK have also found unmet need for services (Vlachantoni et al . ). The 2010 Health Committee Report on Social Care recognised unmet need for services as a shortcoming of the social care system (Commission for Social Care Inspection , House of Commons ).…”

“…Previous UK research on working carerspeople in paid employment who provide unpaid care to family or friends because of long-term physical or mental illhealth or disability, or problems related to old agehas found expressed unmet need for services (Mooney et al 2002, Phillips et al 2002, Yeandle et al 2007, Milne et al 2012. Population-based studies of disabled or older people in the UK have also found unmet need for services (Vlachantoni et al 2011). The 2010 Health Committee Report on Social Care recognised unmet need for services as a shortcoming of the social care system (Commission for Social Care Inspection 2008, House of Commons 2010).…”

The prevalence and dynamics of social care receipt

“…4 For example, Vlachantoni et al (2011) and Mortimer and Green (2015). As would be expected, the number of activity categories that someone reports difficulty with is strongly associated with whether or not that individual receives care.…”