Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens

<strong>Context:</strong>Decisions about resource allocation in long-term care are a perennial issue. The basis for deciding between different needs in prioritising allocation is contested. In England, this debate has crystallised with the advent of selfdirected support, where individual...

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Main Authors: Paul Clarkson, Sue Davies, Jane Hughes, Chengqiu Xie, Karen Stewart, Paul Clifford, David Challis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LSE Press 2018-09-01
Series:Journal of Long-Term Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.ilpnetwork.org/articles/2
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author Paul Clarkson
Sue Davies
Jane Hughes
Chengqiu Xie
Karen Stewart
Paul Clifford
David Challis
author_facet Paul Clarkson
Sue Davies
Jane Hughes
Chengqiu Xie
Karen Stewart
Paul Clifford
David Challis
author_sort Paul Clarkson
collection DOAJ
description <strong>Context:</strong>Decisions about resource allocation in long-term care are a perennial issue. The basis for deciding between different needs in prioritising allocation is contested. In England, this debate has crystallised with the advent of selfdirected support, where individuals’ expressed preferences drive resources.<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> To compare perceptions of the priority given to needs for resource allocation in long-term care of older people by two stakeholder groups, compared with actual resource allocation.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Survey data, eliciting perspectives of senior service managers and older citizens, were used to rank the perceived importance of eight needs-related outcomes. Actual resource allocation from 17 local authorities was also modelled against these outcomes. A variable importance metric was used to rank the importance of these outcomes in determining actual resource allocation. Findings from each data collection were compared.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> Differences in prioritisation of needs emerged between stakeholders compared with actual allocation. Older citizens and actual allocation prioritised basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs). Directors’ rankings were more distinct, still prioritising basic ADLs, but ranking psychological well-being higher and instrumental ADLs lower.</p><p><strong>Limitations:</strong> The model of actual allocation could not account for political and bureaucratic factors influencing resource allocation, nor the complexity of certain needs that might incur greater resources.</p><p><strong>Implications:</strong> Discretion continues to influence resource allocation, which remains a contested area. Directors must account for overall spend and other extrinsic factors to maintain sustainability, whereas older citizens prioritise instrumental ADLs, despite these being considered lower priority in eligibility decisions. Overall, ADLs remain important drivers of allocation.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-6fea86b380f04dd487702943e29d05ad2023-01-04T15:00:29ZengLSE PressJournal of Long-Term Care2516-91222018-09-0100132310.31389/jltc.23Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizensPaul Clarkson0Sue Davies1Jane Hughes2Chengqiu Xie3Karen Stewart4Paul Clifford5David Challis6University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterFACE Recording and Measurement Systems LtdUniversity of Manchester<strong>Context:</strong>Decisions about resource allocation in long-term care are a perennial issue. The basis for deciding between different needs in prioritising allocation is contested. In England, this debate has crystallised with the advent of selfdirected support, where individuals’ expressed preferences drive resources.<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> To compare perceptions of the priority given to needs for resource allocation in long-term care of older people by two stakeholder groups, compared with actual resource allocation.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Survey data, eliciting perspectives of senior service managers and older citizens, were used to rank the perceived importance of eight needs-related outcomes. Actual resource allocation from 17 local authorities was also modelled against these outcomes. A variable importance metric was used to rank the importance of these outcomes in determining actual resource allocation. Findings from each data collection were compared.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> Differences in prioritisation of needs emerged between stakeholders compared with actual allocation. Older citizens and actual allocation prioritised basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs). Directors’ rankings were more distinct, still prioritising basic ADLs, but ranking psychological well-being higher and instrumental ADLs lower.</p><p><strong>Limitations:</strong> The model of actual allocation could not account for political and bureaucratic factors influencing resource allocation, nor the complexity of certain needs that might incur greater resources.</p><p><strong>Implications:</strong> Discretion continues to influence resource allocation, which remains a contested area. Directors must account for overall spend and other extrinsic factors to maintain sustainability, whereas older citizens prioritise instrumental ADLs, despite these being considered lower priority in eligibility decisions. Overall, ADLs remain important drivers of allocation.</p>https://journal.ilpnetwork.org/articles/2resource allocationdiscretioncitizen’s viewssocial carepreferencesolder people
spellingShingle Paul Clarkson
Sue Davies
Jane Hughes
Chengqiu Xie
Karen Stewart
Paul Clifford
David Challis
Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
Journal of Long-Term Care
resource allocation
discretion
citizen’s views
social care
preferences
older people
title Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
title_full Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
title_fullStr Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
title_full_unstemmed Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
title_short Priorities for long-term care resource allocation in England: Actual allocation versus the views of Directors of Service and older citizens
title_sort priorities for long term care resource allocation in england actual allocation versus the views of directors of service and older citizens
topic resource allocation
discretion
citizen’s views
social care
preferences
older people
url https://journal.ilpnetwork.org/articles/2
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