Older people

There is nothing to smile about in new statistics showing more people request social care support but fewer get it.

With accident and emergency performance reaching new lows across England, one NHS hospital is taking an innovative approach to meet the needs of its older patients.

Chris Ham considers the care models for patients with complex needs presented at the Commonwealth Fund International Symposium, and argues that clinical teams need time and resources to effectively co-ordinate the care they provide.

Building relationships is central to the success of work under way to enhance health in care homes. Susie Perks-Baker looks at how respecting each other’s skills and knowledge can help.

Veena Raleigh looks at the current debate around the slow-down in mortality improvements in England and Wales.

Can we reduce late-life dependency or plan for it better? David Oliver reflects on the findings of a recent Lancet paper and asks what we can do to tackle the challenges it highlights.

David Oliver considers the role of care homes in the social care sector, and the challenges that need to be tackled while seeking to improve the health and wellbeing of care home residents.

Following the launch of the Social care for older people: home truths report, Patrick Hall considers whether older people are paying the price for cuts to social care.

Ahead of our upcoming conference on delivering integrated care for older people with frailty, David Oliver reflects on the current challenges and opportunities.

Healthwatch England's recent report, Safely home, described in harrowing detail the personal stories of patients who felt that their discharge from hospital was unsupported. It also described patients marooned in acute beds unable to move on. So how can older people's care be improved?

I agreed with much of what Simon Stevens said at the Age UK For Later Life conference until he stated that he would be ‘disappointed’ if care homes still existed within the next 50 years. I didn’t get the chance to challenge him but I want to do it now.

We have ample evidence of what good care for older people looks like and numerous service models delivering it, yet we aren’t very good at disseminating good practice, and worse still at adopting and implementing improvements at scale and pace.