Social care and health services often fail to consider the
special needs of older people, according to a report published
today.
The report suggests the problem is caused by "deep-rooted
cultural attitudes to ageing" in local public services.
These attitudes are getting in the way of wider Government plans
to improve services for older people, says the report.
The report, called Living well in later life,
has been produced jointly by the Commission for Social Care
Inspection (CSCI), the Healthcare Commission, and the Audit
Commission.
The three inspectorates joined forces to provide a comprehensive
assessment of services for older people, the biggest users of
health and social care.
The report looks at the progress made five years into a 10-year
Government plan to improve services for people over the age of
50.
CSCI's Chief Inspector David Behan said: "The evidence from this
study is that older people are not involved in the design of
services.
"Consequently services are not tailored to their needs and
aspirations.
"It is vital to understand and respond to the specific needs of
older people."
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