OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE

The object of this article is to unravel the nature of the crisis in LTC, assess its impact on older people and analyse the challenges facing policy makers and practitioners. The UK provides a primary focus as its community care reforms have set a benchmark for reform elsewhere in Europe. Hence, it...

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Main Author: Paul Stepney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje 2020-12-01
Series:Revija za socijalna politika
Subjects:
Online Access:http://periodica.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/rsp/RSP16(2020)/RSP%2016.05%20Stepni,%20P.%20-%20Older%20people%20in%20the%20shadow%20of%20the%20social%20care%20market%20European%20social%20models,%20policy%20dilemmas%20and%20practice%20challenges%20concerning%20the%20crisis%20in%20long%20term%20care.pdf
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author Paul Stepney
author_facet Paul Stepney
author_sort Paul Stepney
collection DOAJ
description The object of this article is to unravel the nature of the crisis in LTC, assess its impact on older people and analyse the challenges facing policy makers and practitioners. The UK provides a primary focus as its community care reforms have set a benchmark for reform elsewhere in Europe. Hence, its mixed economy of provision, overt consumerism and use of the market to contain costs will be subject to critical scrutiny. Reference will be made to policy in other European welfare states and the challenges raised by recent EU reports on LTC, to meet the needs of Europe’s ageing population. Different welfare models will be assessed to establish which policy framework delivers the most effective and integrated care services for vulnerable older citizens. The debate will be illustrated by examining contemporary issues of concern, such as, hospital discharge of older people, risk management dilemmas in practice and escalating cost of LTC. In this article an interpretive approach to knowledge production is adopted drawing on documentary sources, including case studies, official reports and empirical research evidence. Analysis does not follow a strict comparative design, but reflects a more investigative essay. It was found that while a focus on risk continues to shape mainstream practice, there is increasing recognition of the need to develop more extensive community based LTC with an emphasis on prevention and empowerment. There is good research evidence for investing in rehabilitation, integrated provision and person-centred home care for older people. The article concludes with a practice recommendation to this effect.
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spelling doaj.art-c3ef2eace70446b5a217d7df7196e9622022-12-21T20:20:22ZengFaculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in SkopjeRevija za socijalna politika1857-60521857-89772020-12-01163654doi.org/10.37509/socpol20160036sOLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CAREPaul Stepney0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8335-276XSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences Tampere University, FinlandThe object of this article is to unravel the nature of the crisis in LTC, assess its impact on older people and analyse the challenges facing policy makers and practitioners. The UK provides a primary focus as its community care reforms have set a benchmark for reform elsewhere in Europe. Hence, its mixed economy of provision, overt consumerism and use of the market to contain costs will be subject to critical scrutiny. Reference will be made to policy in other European welfare states and the challenges raised by recent EU reports on LTC, to meet the needs of Europe’s ageing population. Different welfare models will be assessed to establish which policy framework delivers the most effective and integrated care services for vulnerable older citizens. The debate will be illustrated by examining contemporary issues of concern, such as, hospital discharge of older people, risk management dilemmas in practice and escalating cost of LTC. In this article an interpretive approach to knowledge production is adopted drawing on documentary sources, including case studies, official reports and empirical research evidence. Analysis does not follow a strict comparative design, but reflects a more investigative essay. It was found that while a focus on risk continues to shape mainstream practice, there is increasing recognition of the need to develop more extensive community based LTC with an emphasis on prevention and empowerment. There is good research evidence for investing in rehabilitation, integrated provision and person-centred home care for older people. The article concludes with a practice recommendation to this effect.http://periodica.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/rsp/RSP16(2020)/RSP%2016.05%20Stepni,%20P.%20-%20Older%20people%20in%20the%20shadow%20of%20the%20social%20care%20market%20European%20social%20models,%20policy%20dilemmas%20and%20practice%20challenges%20concerning%20the%20crisis%20in%20long%20term%20care.pdflong term careolder peoplecommunity care
spellingShingle Paul Stepney
OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
Revija za socijalna politika
long term care
older people
community care
title OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
title_full OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
title_fullStr OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
title_full_unstemmed OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
title_short OLDER PEOPLE IN THE SHADOW OF THE SOCIAL CARE MARKET: EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELS, POLICY DILEMMAS AND PRACTICE CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE CRISIS IN LONG TERM CARE
title_sort older people in the shadow of the social care market european social models policy dilemmas and practice challenges concerning the crisis in long term care
topic long term care
older people
community care
url http://periodica.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/rsp/RSP16(2020)/RSP%2016.05%20Stepni,%20P.%20-%20Older%20people%20in%20the%20shadow%20of%20the%20social%20care%20market%20European%20social%20models,%20policy%20dilemmas%20and%20practice%20challenges%20concerning%20the%20crisis%20in%20long%20term%20care.pdf
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