Welfare Health and inequality

Running head : Social Care Policy of UK

In what ways is Health and Social Care Practice Sometimes Ageist ? How can Professionals Avoid Consequences of Prejudice against Older People

Social Care Policy Of UK

Social care is regarded as one of the major public service areas . In England , the responsibility to provide social care services rests principally with local councils . The amount of social services required can be judged from the fact that at any one time , up to 1 .5 million of the most vulnerable people in society are relying on social

workers and support staff for necessary assistance . Social care services also make a major contribution to tackling social exclusion . At present , it is a national priority to modernise social services . Demographic trends in the UK are changing very rapidly . It is evident from the declining birth rates and increasing life-expectancy . It is putting enormous pressures on efficient provision of adequate social care to elderly people According to statistics , there were 19 .8 million people aged 50 and over in the United Kingdom in 2002 , a 24 increase from 16 .0 million in 1961 The number is likely to increase to 37 by 2031 , when there will be close to 27 million people aged 50 and over . More importantly the "oldest old " over 85 are projected to rise from over 1 .7 of the population in 1994 to over 5 in 2055 (UK Parliament 2006

Children and older people are most vulnerable part of society . One can judge the attributes of a society by observing the treatment with children and older people . The later life of person should have to be the time of opportunity but on the contrary , due to various reasons , it turning out to be time of isolation , exclusion and poverty . Studies are being carried out to understand the extent of exclusion , poverty and isolation for older people . Government is making all out efforts to achieve wider change in attitudes to ageing that are the root cause of inequalities . Legislation is being done to tackle discrimination and promote equality . But only Government can not do it alone effective cultural changes must come from communities , supported by the champions of this agenda at every level . The focus of social care policy for older people should be on preventing exclusion and promoting well being in later life . The current policy though covers major areas like poor health , poverty and social exclusion but needs real term implementation (SEU-Final-Report

.5 . This essay will highlight major issues confronting social care services for older people and will scrutinize measures in bringing the policy in line with the requirement on ground

Social Care Policy Prejudice With Older People

Age discrimination is an action which adversely affects the older people because of their chronological age alone . Age discrimination happens when someone makes or sees a distinction because of another person 's age and uses this as a basis for prejudice against , or unfair treatment of that person . Growing recognition that discrimination against older people is unacceptable , demands that healthcare services revise ageist practices and ensure the most equitable , efficient provision of care possible

Majority of senior health and social care managers believe age discrimination exists in their local services . These discriminations may be in the form of policies such policies restrict access to particular units , facilities and treatments by setting upper or lower age limits

A study conducted by the King 's Fund , an independent healthcare watchdog revealed deplorable facts . The report shows that managers in NHS and social care organisations are still struggling to prevent age discrimination . The report concludes that the government 's objective of eradicating ageist practices from the NHS will not be achieved unless local managers are given more help to implement the policy . The findings of the report reflect that while the majority supports attempts to combat age discrimination , they do not have the adequate tools in handling this social menace (Westhead James 2002

Older people are recognised as the largest consumers of health care services , and as such are often viewed as a "burden " on crippling publicly-funded health care systems . Most restrictions in access to services are dictated , not by explicit protocols but by historically-inherited practices and staff behaviour . Surveys of medical staff reveal little awareness of systematic ageist policies but point instead to ad hoc ageist behaviors and practices

A report published in The Guardian ' reveals that NHS staff continuously abused an old man with a low IQ by tying him up for 16 hours a day . The Commission for Social Care Inspection during a survey also found institutional abuse of over 200 people with learning disabilities living at a treatment centre in Falmouth and in 46 houses around Cornwall . Investigators found evidence that staff maltreated and even hit and dragged old people . The report further revealed that the care staff relied heavily on medication to control behaviour of people under their care . They also used cold showers and withdrawal of food for discipline . Anna Walker and David Behan , the chief inspectors of health and social care admitted that the such abusive behaviour is not happening everywhere , but it is not the only service where serious allegations have been made in recent months . Such discriminative behaviours include the closure of a private unit in Norfolk and an investigation of allegations of physical and sexual abuse in Sutton and Merton , south London . Further investigation in Cornwall were conducted in a Budock hospital near Falmouth , a member of staff complained that patients were being physically and psychologically abused on its Lamorna ward . The investigations revealed that there were 64 incidents of abuse over the five years , almost all the patients were abused (Carvel John 2006

Exclusion - A Form Of Prejudice

Another form of prejudice is exclusion . The experience of exclusion is not unique to older people . Such exclusion can be particularly acute in later life for various reasons . Those people who are excluded in mid-life are able to break the cycle of exclusion in later life , indeed it can often become more acute . The impact of key life events , such as bereavement can lead people to become excluded in later life . The impact of age discrimination on both the aspirations of individuals and the environment within which they operate can lead to exclusion . This exclusion is compounded by the failure of services to react to the complexity of exclusion in later

life . The cultural attitudes of individuals and organisations towards ageing also play an important role in discrimination . These attitudes need to be changed to get to the root of exclusion and inequality . The aim of this change should aim not just to address the consequences of exclusion and ageism , but must create a culture where all older people continue in later life participating as equal citizens in families , the workplace and their communities . Changes to existing attitudes and assumptions can only be achieved through strong and clear leadership at local and national level . There are excellent examples of community and local authority leadership where significant change has been achieved even with very limited resources . The discrimination due to cultural attitudes also needs to be brought under legislative scrutiny in to tackle this problem efficiently and sustain participation of older people as equal citizens (seu-final-report .pdf

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Policy Initiatives Of Government For Curbing Discrimination

The government in UK has taken policy initiatives on the future of health and social care of aging people . Department of Health , sets out the priorities for the government 's ten-year National Service Framework (NSF ) for Older People under three themes : dignity in care , joined-up care and healthy aging . The new policy framework includes enhancing the role mental health nurses can play in improving dignity in care for older people . The policy makers understand that there are still deep-rooted negative attitudes and behaviours towards older people which impact on their experience of and quality of care . The government is currently reviewing its policies for achieving sustainable improvement in the experiences of older people using public services . The Commission for Social Care Inspection report published on 6 February 2006 concludes that care homes are not providing adequate medication . The correct medication provided to older people can make a huge difference to their quality of life (Department of Health 2006

Department of Health published a white on future plans for the whole health and social care system . This proposes a major and long lasting change in the way in which services are delivered . The department of health has proposed four main goals as following

Services will be provided for better prevention with earlier intervention

Older people will have more choice and say in their affairs

Further steps will be taken to tackle inequalities and improve access to community services

More support for people will be provided with long-term needs

It is also proposed that older people using social care and other local authority services will be given individual budgets so that they can buy in the services they need (Department of Health 2006 . The major policy challenge is in the form of building solid foundations for providing a platform to older people suffering from multiple social exclusions , and prejudices in getting proper care . Notable successes have been recorded in the recent past in tackling social exclusion , particularly with regard to later life transitions and age-based discrimination . A substantial reduction has been noticed in the proportion of older people living in poverty (New Horizons Research Programme . Social Exclusion of Older People Future Trends and Policies

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Conclusion

With the population ageing at a rapid pace , it is not only increasing the demands on healthcare systems , but it is also restricting the population of working age available to provide this care . The UK like many other European countries is experiencing the fading of their nursing workforce . In the UK , at present more than half of the nursing workforce is over 40 . It is also expected that some 40 of consultants over 50 will retire in the next 10-15 years . Recruitment of younger nurses is a major concern . It is evident from the fact that in last ten years , the proportion of nurses aged under 30 fell from 30 to 15 . This scenario is further compounding the problem of providing effective health care services

An endeavour has been made in this to highlight the discriminations faced by elderly people . Efforts made by the government has also been scrutinized in handling this issue amicably . But much has to be done by the care givers themselves . Various suggestions are also incorporated in this essay to be adopted by the professionals in provision of adequate care . Legislation is already forthcoming which will have a positive impact on age discrimination . It is expected that from 1 October 2006 , with the approval of Parliament , draft regulations will come into force that will outlaw unjustified age discrimination in terms of recruitment , promotion and training (New Horizons Research Programme . Social Exclusion of Older People Future Trends and Policies br

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Bibliography /References

Carvel John (2006 . NHS trust staff abused adults with learning disabilities , The Guardian viewed on August 13 , 2006 HYPERLINK http /society .guardian .co .uk /longtermcare /story /0 ,1812896 ,00 .html http /society .guardian .co .uk /longtermcare /story /0 ,1812896 ,00 .html

CSIP (2005 ) Everybody 's Business , Department of Health , Care Services Improvement

Partnership

Department of Health (2006 ) A New Ambition for Old Age viewed on August 13 , 2006

HYPERLINK http /www .dh .gov .uk /assetRoot /04 /13 /39 /47 .pdf http /www .dh .gov .uk /assetRoot /04 /13 /39 /47 .pdf

Department of Communities and Local Government (2006 ) New Horizons Research Programme

Social Exclusion of Older People HYPERLINK http /www .cpa .org .uk /cpa /seu-final-report .pdf http /www .cpa .org .uk /cpa /seu-final-report .pdf

The United Kingdom Parliament (2006 ) Evidence submitted by the International Longevity Centre-UK , viewed on 13 August 13 , 2006 HYPERLINK "http /www .publications .parliament .uk /pa /cm200506 /cmselect /cmhealth /107 7 /1077we32 .htm http /www .publications .parliament .uk /pa /cm200506 /cmselect /cmhealth /1077 /1077we32 .htm

Westhead James (2002 ) Healthcare age bias 'widespread ' viewed on August 13 , 2006

HYPERLINK http /news .bbc .co .uk /2 /hi /health /1759521 .stm http /news .bbc .co .uk /2 /hi /health /1759521 .stm

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Social Care Policy of UK ...