Older people's experiences of cash-for-care schemes: evidence from the English Individual Budget pilot projects

Moran, Nicola; Glendinning, Caroline; Wilberforce, Mark; Stevens, Martin; Netten, Ann; Jones, Karen; Manthorpe, Jill; Knapp, Martin; Fern�ndez, Jose Luis; Challis, David; Jacobs, Sally

Abstract

Cash-for-care schemes offering cash payments in place of conventional social services are becoming commonplace in developed welfare states; however, there is little evidence about the impact of such schemes on older people. This paper reports on the impact and outcomes for older people of the recent English Individual Budget (IB) pilot projects (2005-07). It presents quantitative data on outcome measures from structured interviews with 263 older people who took part in a randomised controlled trial and findings from semi-structured interviews with 40 older people in receipt of IBs and with IB project leads in each of the 13 pilot sites. Older people spent their IBs predominantly on personal care, with little resources left for social or leisure activities; and had higher levels of psychological ill-health, lower levels of wellbeing, and worse self-perceived health than older people in receipt of conventional services. The qualitative interviews provide insights into these results. Potential advantages of IBs included increased choice and control, continuity of care worker, and the ability to reward some family carers. However, older people reported anxieties about the responsibility of organising their own support and managing their budget. For older people to benefit fully from cash-for-care schemes they need sufficient resources to purchase more than basic personal care; and access to help and advice in planning and managing their budget. © 2012 Cambridge University Press.

Citation

Moran, N., Glendinning, C., Wilberforce, M., Stevens, M., Netten, A., Jones, K., …Jacobs, S. (2013). Older people's experiences of cash-for-care schemes: evidence from the English Individual Budget pilot projects. Ageing and Society, 33(5), 826-851. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X12000244

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 6, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Apr 23, 2012
• Publication Date: 2013-07
• Deposit Date: Jul 15, 2020
• Journal: Ageing and Society
• Print ISSN: 0144-686X
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-1779
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 826-851
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X12000244
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3752287
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/older-peoples-experiences-of-cashforcare-schemes-evidence-from-the-english-individual-budget-pilot-projects/8EEFE87026DE574DFDA2C1CA621974A7