DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY

RESEARCH REPORT NO 101

ATTITUDES AND
ASPIRATIONS OF OLDER
PEOPLE: A REVIEW OF THE
LITERATURE
Annette Boaz, Carol Hayden and Miriam Bernard

A report of research carried out by the Local Government Centre, Warwick

Business School, University of Warwick on behalf of the Department of
Social Security

Corporate Document Services

 Crown Copyright 1999. Published for the Department of Social Security

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First Published 1999.

ISBN 1 84123 144 4

Views expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Department or
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Printed by The Charlesworth Group (Huddersfield, UK).

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
The Authors
Summary

vi
1

1 Background and introduction

9
1.1 Aims of the research 9
1.2 Structure of the report
9
1.3 Research sources
10
1.4 Limitations of the existing literature
1.5 Attitudes and aspirations as indicators
1.6 Methods
12

11
12

2 Active ageing
15
2.1 Work and retirement
15
2.2 Planning for retirement
17
2.3 Financing an active retirement
17
2.4 Leisure
18
2.5 Volunteering 19
2.6 Intergenerational relationships 20
2.7 Signposting - other reviews and research on active ageing 21
2.8 Gaps in the literature
22
2.9 End of chapter summary
22
3 Health and social care
25
3.1 The role of the state
25
3.2 Primary health care
26
3.3 Family health care
27
3.4 Housing
28
3.5 Domiciliary care 30
3.6 Assessment
32
3.7 Travel
33
3.8 Signposting - other reviews and research on health and social
care
33
3.9 Gaps in the literature 34
3.10 End of chapter summary 34
4 Consultation and involvement
37
4.1 Democratic participation 37
4.2 Information
38
4.3 Involving residents 39
4.4 Methods of involvement 40
4.5 Signposting - other reviews and research on consultation and
involvement
41

iii

4.6 Gaps in the literature 42

4.7 End of chapter summary 42
5 Cross-cutting themes
43
5.1 Participation
43
5.2 Independence
44
5.3 Diversity
45
5.4 Coverage of the research 45
Appendix - Data extraction sheets

47

References 189
Other research reports available

iv

197

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The literature review and report writing was undertaken by Annette Boaz
with advice and guidance from Carol Hayden and Miriam Bernard as
research manager and specialist advisor respectively.
Annette Boaz would like to thank other members of the research team
for their support: Carol Hayden for her comments and her enthusiasm
for this research, and Miriam Bernard for acting as a walking literature
review and offering expert input into all aspects of the project.
This research was commissioned by the Department of Social Security
and the research team are particularly grateful for the valuable input
received from Richenda Solon. Officials from a number of government
departments have also provided advice and assistance during this review.
The research team are also indebted to the staff at the Centre for Policy
on Inter-Ministerial, particularly Gillian Crosby and Ruth Hayes, who
provided ongoing assistance in their amazing library. We would also like
to thank Emma Cooke for her help in preparing this report and Kate
Davidson for repeating a sample of the data extractions.

THE AUTHORS

Annette Boaz is a Senior Research Fellow at the Local Government

Centre, University of Warwick. She is currently working on the evaluation
of the Better Government for Older People programme. She has several
years experience in qualitative research including in the areas of health
and food policy.
Carol Hayden is a Principal Research Fellow at the Local Government
Centre, University of Warwick. She is responsible for the evaluation of
the Cabinet Office led Better Government for Older People programme.
She has extensive experience in commissioning, conducting and using
policy research, as an academic, consultant and local government manager.
Miriam Bernard is Professor of Social Gerontology and Head of the
School of Social Relations of Keele University. She has researched and
written widely of ageing and has particular interests in informal care, the
lives of older women and the development of new, healthy lifestyles in
old age.

vi

SUMMARY

The Local Government Centre, Warwick University was commissioned

by the Department of Social Security (DSS), on behalf of the InterMinisterial Group on Older People, to conduct a literature review as
part of a qualitative research project on the attitudes and aspirations of
older people. The findings from this research will inform the work of
the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People.
This summary provides a brief overview of the aims and methodology of
the literature review and identifies key findings from the research in each
of the three areas of interest identified by the Inter-Ministerial Group,
before discussing three important crosscutting themes. The summary
identifies those areas that are covered more comprehensively than others
in the literature and about which we can therefore feel more confident.
It also identifies areas that need further exploration.
Aims

This literature review identifies existing literature on the attitudes and

aspirations of older people. The review informed new qualitative research
on the attitudes and aspirations of older people through focus groups and
individual in-depth interviews.1 The literature review and qualitative
research focused on the following themes identified by the InterMinisterial Group:
Active ageing - including employment, retirement, age discrimination,
mentoring, volunteering, lifelong learning, peer support and
intergenerational activities.
Health and social care - health and social care as well as housing,
transport and other services which are important in promoting
independence.
Consultation and involvement - particularly how government can
involve older people more in decision making at a local, regional and
national level and older peoples views on how they are represented.

Methodology

This descriptive review focuses on literature from 1988 to 1998. The

review identifies quantitative and qualitative research on the attitudes
and aspirations of older people. While research on attitudes indicates the
ways in which older people are likely to respond to current and future
policy, research focusing on aspirations provides insights into older peoples
hopes for the future. For this research older people were defined as those
aged 50 years and over, although the studies included often focus on
specific age groups within this, such as those who have reached state
pension age (currently 65 for men and 60 for women).
1

Hayden, C., Boaz, A. and Taylor, F. (1999) Attitudes and aspirations of older people:
A qualitative study. DSS Research Report No. 102, CDS, Leeds.

The search was carried out in several complementary ways. A computer

and personal search of published material was used as a basis for the review.
Databases of unpublished literature were also searched.
The researchers also wrote to those researchers and practitioners who are
known in the field and asked for copies of any as yet unpublished research
and papers. This method has been used in previous research and yields a
rich source of current thinking which is not yet widely available. For all
the above methods clear inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed
as appropriate to the aims of literature review.
The literature was reviewed paying particular attention to consensus and
inconsistencies in outcomes between the different studies. The main
reasons for excluding papers were that the research was not UK based or
the study was not concerned with the attitudes of older people themselves.
This report does not attempt to review in detail the methodologies of
the included studies. However, methodology has been taken into account
when decisions were made as to whether or not, and to what extent,
papers were included in the review. Sixty-eight papers were identified
for inclusion in the review.
Active ageing

The research highlights a concern amongst older people that they are
discriminated against in the workforce in a variety of areas, including
recruitment, promotion and training (2.1). Studies suggest that older
people have very varied attitudes to retirement and to being retired, just
as people experience work very differently. It is evident that choice in
whether or not to retire, income level and gender, all have an impact on
these attitudes. Attitudes to retirement also change over time as older
people experience declining health or loss of mobility.
Research indicates that though many older people had planned financially
for their retirement, others had not (2.2). This is especially significant as
a number of studies identified finance, along with declining health and
mobility, as a key concern of older people (2.3). Fewer people had
thought about how they would like to spend their leisure time in
retirement.
Older people tend to express a high degree of satisfaction with their
current level of activity in retirement. Attitudes towards leisure activities
are very varied and declining health, mobility, the loss of a partner and
changing economic circumstances can all affect participation (2.4). A
good infrastructure, including transport, information and a secure
environment, is identified as a further important factor influencing
participation in leisure activities. Older people are often interested in
getting out of the house to visit friends and family, to attend a local club
or day centre, or to do some shopping. A recent study concludes that
wherever older people wanted to go they needed safe, accessible, reliable
and affordable transport to get there (Help the Aged, 1998a).

Older people identify a range of reasons for getting involved in voluntary

activity including identification with the cause, a desire to help others
and an interest in meeting people (2.5). However, older people also feel
that volunteering takes up a lot of time and that sometimes the contribution
of volunteers is not appreciated. Again declining health and mobility
could make it difficult to maintain involvement in voluntary activities.
Health and social care

The research identifies a concern amongst older people about state

provision of health and social care (3.1). State agencies such as local
councils and social security offices are seen to be far worse at dealing
with older people than, for example, post offices and shops.
Lack of co-ordination in service delivery also emerges from the literature
as a strong theme (3.2). Older people, and particularly older people from
ethnic minorities, seem to have a low level of awareness of, and lack of
information about, the health and social care options available to them.
Where there are costs for services, they are seen to be prohibitive and
confusing by many older people (3.2).
The family continues to be seen as the main source of care, support and
information for older people, followed by friends and neighbours. Older
people, particularly older women, also provide care and support for their
families and friends (3.3).
As people get older their housing needs become increasingly intertwined
with their health and care needs (3.4). Older people want to stay in their
homes for as long as possible, but the infrastructure needed to support
this choice is often inadequate. Studies report a need for help with
routine tasks such as gardening, household maintenance and housework
(3.5). Older people identify a need for flexible home care, which puts
the needs of the older person at the centre of a care package. Other
services, such as a good transport system, are also seen to be important to
people living in their own homes (3.7).
Older people who have made the move to residential care often feel that
after a period of adjustment they could identify advantages with their
new homes, including the safe environment, the care they received and
the company of others (3.4). However, it is evident that moving in
itself, not just the prospect of residential care and loss of independence,
was unattractive. Residents in care homes express a desire not to have to
move again.

Consultation and involvement

The limited published research on older peoples attitudes to involvement

and consultation demonstrates that older people share the disaffection of
the wider population with politics and politicians (4.1). However, older
people feel that it is important that they should stand up for their rights,
although older respondents (those in their late seventies and eighties) are
less keen to get involved in older peoples issues. It is interesting that

respondents in their 50s are also less interested in such issues as they do
not consider themselves to be older people.
Older people feel that they are not well informed about issues that affect
them and this seems to be especially true of ethnic minority groups (4.2).
Older people seem to be keen to be kept informed and to be consulted,
but the research identified a number of barriers to more active participation
(4.3). Older people are concerned that their opinions would not be of
interest, or that they would not be able to maintain their involvement
due to poor health and dont want to take on commitments they can not
meet. There is also a concern that time is valuable and involvement
must be for a purpose. There is an issue of powerlessness among those in
residential care who do not want to offend the care providers, on whom
they are likely to have to rely for their future care.
It is clear that the methods of involvement need to take into account the
health status and low self-esteem of many older people (4.4). Novel
methods of consultation such as postal forums and telephone discussion
groups have been explored. The research identifies a desire for nonprescriptive, consultative agendas, through which older people can discuss
issues that are important to them. Older people derive benefits from
active involvement including a sense of fellowship and mutual support,
access to information and a chance to stretch the mind. However it is
important to participants that their input will have some effect and the
participants are not wasting their valuable time and their limited reserves
of energy on a fruitless exercise.
The literature search on the three themes above, as defined by the InterMinisterial Group, identified three further cross-cutting themes as discussed
below.
Participation

The majority of older people prefer to be described as senior citizens.

This may be because it is a positive, valuing label. For older people an
active old age seems to be one in which they can participate in society.
How people participate is seen as a matter of individual choice. Older
people participate in a variety of ways. These encompass democratic
participation through traditional political activity or newer representative
processes (e.g. forums, panels etc.), involvement in their local communities
as active citizens, and through their family and friends. Older people
have a contribution to make, as friends and sources of care and support,
as well as voluntary workers and members of clubs and groups. The
literature on volunteering shows that where older people do get involved
they are very committed. However, older people also stress that ill health,
limited mobility, lack of money and poor infrastructure can influence
their ability to participate.
Participation requires a two-way process. Information needs to flow
from government and other organisations to older people. The research

suggests that information is not flowing effectively to older people, despite

the strong demand. Older people have lots of ideas that could be used to
devise more dynamic information that is appropriate and useful and can
be accessed by older people, their families and carers. Television, local
newspapers and GPs (or other individuals with whom they are in regular
contact such as community leaders and health visitors) are some of the
suggestions for information dissemination.
The need to involve and consult older people is evident from the research
findings on health and social care. The lack of information and advice
received by older people, and their lack of involvement in decisions that
directly affect their health and social care, reflect a system that is not seen
to be centred on the older people. There is a need for more research and
practice which seeks to involve and consult older people.
Involving and consulting all citizens is a priority at local and national
levels. The priorities of the Inter-Ministerial Group and the aims of the
Better Government for Older People Programme reflect this. New forms
of involvement are also being developed. The Local Government
Management Board, for example, has sought to involve local people in
decision making through citizens juries (LGMB, 1996). The particular
issues involved in consulting older people, such as limited mobility and
low self esteem, necessitate innovative approaches.
More research is required on the mechanisms by which older people
wish to be involved and consulted by government. There is particular
concern about how to access difficult to reach groups, such as housebound
older people. The diversity of opinion identified in this research, in
terms of differing experiences, priorities and interests, must be reflected,
as must the varied ways in which people choose to organise and express
themselves.
Independence

Continuing to choose their independence and inter-dependence is essential

to older people. Older people stress their reciprocal relationships with
others, which involve offering support as well as receiving it. Older
people seek to deal with changes in their health status and mobility in
ways that do not compromise their independence. There is a concern
that they remain independent of requiring ongoing care from family and
friends, but also from the state for as long as is possible. This preoccupation
of older people with not becoming a burden may well affect their
expression of needs. Studies conclude that service providers should be
sympathetic to this and foster services that support independence rather
than dependence. Likewise it is stressed that service providers should not
see the low expectations of many older people as reflecting a lack of
need.
It is evident that older people want a variety of options from which to
make real choices. They want information and advice when making

decisions and support to make their choices possible. Domiciliary services

seem to be seen as a source of unfulfilled potential for the majority of
older people who prefer to stay in their own homes. The aspirations of
older people for support to remain in their own homes include help with
housework, gardening, home maintenance or alterations, and shopping.
There is still a role for sheltered housing, residential and nursing home
care for those older people who do not feel able to stay in their own
homes.
Meeting these aspirations requires that the assessment of the needs of
older people is centred on the older person. The current lack of coordination in service delivery is also seen as unsatisfactory, for example a
number of studies reported that older people had been discharged from
hospital without any consideration of their ability to cope or of the support
available to them. Improved integration of service planning and delivery
is therefore identified as an important issue for government to address.
Aspects of the local infrastructure, such as public transport, play an
important role in fostering independence and interdependence of older
people, for example by supporting them in their efforts to visit and
maintain relationships with friends and family.
Diversity

One of the common themes in each of the areas explored in this review
is the diversity of attitudes and aspirations of older people. Age alone is
an inadequate predictor of attitudes and aspirations; many other factors
come in to play. Wealth, health status, gender, mobility and living status
(alone or with others, in residential care or in the community) each
mediate the effect of age. These factors in turn influence each other; for
example the ability to get out and about can be influenced by whether or
not someone lives alone or whether they can afford to take part in social
activities.
It is evident that older people are a diverse group in all respects. Midwinter
(1991) concludes that many of the concerns and interests of older people
are those of society in general and may, in many cases, be more effectively
treated as such. This integration of older people into more mainstream
social policy decision making may help to combat ageism.
The key aspiration of older people seems to be an old age in which they
are included in society rather than marginalised and excluded because of
their age. An acknowledgement of their reciprocal roles as sources as
well as receivers of care and support rather than a focus on dependence is
central. It is evident that the three themes explored in this review are
interconnected. Older people who are involved and consulted are likely
to become more independent, active, healthy and cared for citizens.

Coverage of the research

Although there is a growing body of research on old age, there is less

research on the attitudes and aspirations of older people in each of the
areas reviewed. The voices of older people should be more prominent

in future research. Apart from three major national surveys the majority
of the research presented in this review has focused on specific geographical
areas. There is a need for further national research to explore the attitudes
and aspirations of older people. This data could be used, for example, to
explore disparities in access to support and care across the country and to
identify good practice.
The current research should inform the content of national surveys to
ensure that appropriate and relevant questions are asked of older people.
There is also scope for further qualitative research which values the
contribution of older people, adds meaning to quantitative results and
allows for a more in-depth exploration of areas of interest.
There is a significant disparity in the body of research associated with
each of the three themes. The literature on health and social care, for
example, is larger and contains more data on the attitudes and aspirations
of under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities. The review
identified more research on active ageing than on consulting and involving
older people, but there is scope for involving the perspective of older
people further in the literature, focusing in particular on older people
with significant care needs, ethnic minorities and older people living on
low incomes. Research on older workers and retirement could also be
strengthened if it included the perspective of older people themselves.
This theme is particularly important as it stresses the positive contribution
older people can make to society.
Older peoples views on involvement and consultation have attracted
less attention from researchers and practitioners. This imbalance in the
literature reflects broader social perceptions of older people as in need of
care and support, rather than as active people, involved in their
communities and consulted about the broad range of issues that affect
them.
Future research should seek to redress the imbalance by exploring the
attitudes and aspirations of older people to being involved and consulted.
There also needs to be more research, such as that conducted by Thornton
and Tozer (1994), which explores ways of overcoming the specific barriers
that prevent older people from being involved and consulted. Researchers
could also seek to involve and consult older people at all levels of the
research process.
It is also important to note that there are a number of initiatives underway
that will add to our understanding of the themes discussed in this report.
Important initiatives include the ESRC Growing Older Research
Programme on Extending Quality of Life, the Nuffield and European
Union 5th Framework research programmes and the Better Government
for Older People Programme.

1.1 Aims of the research

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

The Local Government Centre, Warwick University was commissioned

by the Department of Social Security, on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial
Group on Older People, to conduct a literature review as part of a
qualitative research project. The findings from this research will inform
the work of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People. The research
examines older peoples attitudes and aspirations, their lifestyles, their
relations with local, regional and national government and views on how
they are represented.
This literature review identifies existing research on the attitudes and
aspirations of older people. While research on attitudes indicates the
ways in which older people are likely to respond to current and future
policy, research focusing on aspirations provides insights into older peoples
hopes for the future.
The review informed new qualitative research on the attitudes and
aspirations of older people through focus groups and individual in-depth
interviews. The literature review and qualitative research focused on the
following themes identified by the Inter-Ministerial Group:
Active ageing - including employment, retirement, age discrimination,
mentoring, volunteering, life-long learning, peer support and
intergenerational activities.
Health and social care - health and social care as well as housing,
transport and other services which are important in promoting
independence.
Consultation and involvement - particularly how government can
involve older people more in decision making at a local, regional and
national level and older peoples views on how they are represented.
This report represents a descriptive review of the literature within and
between these three themes. It does not attempt to present a critical
analysis of these themes by, for instance, questioning the notion of active
ageing and whether, and to what extent, this is an appropriate notion.
However, these questions may warrant further discussion in a policy
context to which this review can contribute.

1.2 Structure of the report

This chapter contains a brief introduction to the research sources, to the

approach used in the review and to some of the key methodological
issues. The report will then address the attitudes and aspirations of older
people related to the themes identified by the Inter-Ministerial Group.
These themes are: active ageing, health and social care, and consultation
and involvement. Each of the following chapters will take a theme and

discuss the literature identified by the review. They will also signpost
readers to a selection of relevant reviews, literature and to ongoing
programmes of work, although these will not be discussed in detail. The
majority of the research included in the review and in the signposting
sections is held in the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) Library in
London. Each chapter will identify gaps in the current literature and
conclude with a summary of the results.
The final chapter discusses three cross-cutting themes: participation,
independence, and diversity. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion
of the coverage of the research. Gaps identified were used to focus the
qualitative phase of the research.
1.3 Research sources

Research in this area emerges from a variety of sources including

government departments, local authorities, academic institutions, housing
associations and voluntary organisations. Although there is now a
substantial published literature on ageing, much of the research is also
contained in unpublished papers and reports. This unpublished research
is often referred to as the grey literature. The search strategy
acknowledged the diversity of potential sources and included an extensive
search of the grey literature.
Existing research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore
the attitudes and aspirations of older people. While quantitative methods
have the advantage of potential generalisability to the wider population,
qualitative methods help us to explore and understand survey results and
add colour to the picture drawn from quantitative studies. Qualitative
research has much to contribute to our understanding of the attitudes
and aspirations of older people in its own right.
Qualitative methods are potentially empowering to respondents as they
can determine the direction and content of the interview or group
discussion more readily than in a study using quantitative approaches
where the agenda and the questions are predefined. Guided by participants,
qualitative researchers have often uncovered important themes and ideas
(Glaser and Strauss, 1967). For these reasons quantitative and qualitative
data has been included in the review.
The most comprehensive quantitative surveys of general attitudes of older
people carried out in recent years are the Eurobarometer survey (Walker,
1993), Grey Matters (Sykes and Leather, 1997) and the British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991). The Eurobarometer survey (Walker, 1993) was
conducted in member states of the European Union. The survey explored
the attitudes of the public towards ageing and older people, and the
attitudes and aspirations of older people themselves (aged over 60). The
Grey Matters survey (Sykes and Leather, 1997) explored the attitudes of
older people (aged over 55) in England towards their living arrangements,
their health and towards social and political life. The British Gas Survey

10

(Midwinter, 1991) surveyed retired older people (aged over 55) and
younger people (aged 16-24) to look at attitudes to ageing in Britain.
The survey focused on the opportunities and benefits that older people
might enjoy in old age and the problems that they might encounter.
Other surveys have focused on single areas of interest such as volunteering
(Horne and Broadridge, 1994) or geographical areas (Fell and Foster,
1996) or specific groups of older people, such as housing association
residents (Riseborough 1994). A significant number of the quantitative
studies included in the review also contain a qualitative dimension (Fell
and Foster, 1996). The qualitative literature explores a wide range of
issues using a variety of methods including semi-structured interviews,
focus groups, discussion groups and workshops. Detailed data extraction
sheets for each of the studies are contained in the Appendix.
Methodologically it is worth noting that attitude scales used in some
quantitative studies are difficult to develop. A lot of thought and research
needs to go into developing meaningful scales (Oppenheim, 1992).
Qualitative methods can allow for a more sensitive exploration of complex
attitudes and aspirations and are often used in the development of attitude
scales.
1.4 Limitations of the existing
literature

It has been acknowledged elsewhere that the attitudes and aspirations of

older people have a very low profile in the growing literature of social
gerontology (Tinker, 1997a). A preliminary search of the CPA AgeInfo
database, for example, revealed twice as many references to attitudes of
others to older people as attitudes of older people themselves. Studies
canvassed the opinions of providers, employers, health care workers,
families and carers, in order to build a picture of what has been described
as the third and fourth ages of life.2 The perspectives of older people
themselves were often overlooked.
More recently the previously silent voices of older people in decision
making have attracted attention and there have been some well
documented attempts to involve and consult older people (Thornton
and Tozer, 1994 and Blunden, 1998). The lack of involvement of older
people in research and as researchers is also being addressed. There are
some notable examples of the involvement of older people in research
projects designed to investigate issues of local interest (Cooper and Siddell,
1994).

Midwinter (1991) defines the Third Age of life as the period during which older
people are active, independent and enjoy a life free from the responsibilities of work
and parenting. The Fourth Age of life is characterised as the age of eventual dependence.
Childhood is the First Age and paid work and raising a family is the Second Age. This
characterisation of old age has attracted criticism from some quarters, for example see
Bernard and Meade (1993).

11

1.5 Attitudes and aspirations as

indicators

Attitudes are abstractions, they are often inconsistent and they vary in
intensity and complexity (Oppenheim, 1992). Attitudes are influenced
by a range of factors including values, beliefs and experiences. The
complexity of attitudes is acknowledged by many of the authors included
in this review. For example Midwinter highlights the importance of the
role of the media in shaping attitudes (1991), while Meethan and
Thompson (1993) discuss the role of health professionals in shaping the
attitudes of older people to their care options.
The limitations of attitudes as predictors of behaviour and indicators of
beliefs and intentions should be considered when using attitudes to inform
policy. In this review we also demonstrate a diversity of opinion among
older people. This diversity is likely to be reflected vertically across the
generations as well as amongst older people themselves. The attitudes
and aspirations of one generation may also have limited relevance for
future generations of older people. The aspirations of younger people
have also been drawn into research in order to build a picture of the
world they hope to live in. Evandrou (1997) has explored the potential
impact of the Baby boomers on future social policy. The Millennium
Debate of the Age (1998) is seeking to involve both younger and older
people in the debate about the implications of an ageing population.
Others stress the importance of attitudes and aspirations. Munro et al
(1995) note that aspirations are powerful as they show the extent to which
change might realistically be achieved. They stress that people are very
aware of their circumstances and take them into account when expressing
their aspirations.

1.6 Methods

This descriptive review focuses on UK literature from 1988 to 1998.

The search was carried out in several complementary ways:
A computer and personal search of published material which included
journals in the fields of social policy, social gerontology, political science,
public administration, sociology, management and organisational
behaviour (including organisational psychology). The social sciences
CD ROM databases were accessed, including PsychLit, Sociofile and
BIDS. The researchers also accessed specialist CD ROM databases
such as AgeInfo (UK).
Current volumes of journals in social policy, social gerontology, public
administration, political science and organisational behaviour that were
not yet added to CD ROM were hand searched.
The research team wrote to those researchers and practitioners who
are known in the field and asked for copies of any as yet unpublished
research and papers. This method has been used in previous research
and yields a rich source of current thinking which is not yet widely
available. Researchers and practitioners were contacted, from academic,
governmental, non-governmental and informal grassroots organisations,
using a snowballing sampling technique. A group of experts was also

12

invited to attend a half day seminar at which a draft of the review was
presented. The experts gave feedback to the research team that was
used to identify further papers and make changes to the text.
For all the above methods clear inclusion and exclusion criteria were
developed as appropriate to the aims of literature review. Sixty-eight
papers were identified for inclusion in the review.
The literature has been critically reviewed using a detailed data extraction
sheet, paying particular attention to consensus and inconsistencies in
outcomes between the different studies. A second researcher repeated
the data extraction for a random sample of papers. The main reasons for
excluding papers were that the research was not UK based or the study
was not concerned with the attitudes of older people themselves. In
some of the areas of interest there is a UK based literature on attitudes
and aspirations, but the research focuses on groups other than older people.
For example, much of the literature on consultation and involvement is
concerned with people with disabilities.
Initially abstracts were used as a basis for inclusion or exclusion. When
there was any doubt the paper was read in full and most of the
inappropriate papers were excluded prior to data extraction. Papers were
excluded that focused on older people with learning disabilities and
dementia as these topics justify separate attention. However in response
to the brief from the DSS the review has included the attitudes and
aspirations of ethnic minority groups and older people in residential and
nursing care. Studies included in the review defined respondents of
different ages as older people. Some studies included people over the
age of 50, whereas others include those who have reached State Pension
Age.3 Details of the ages of respondents in each study are included on
the data extraction sheets in the Appendix.
This report does not attempt to review in detail the methodologies of
the included studies. However, methodology has been taken into account
when decisions were made as to whether and to what extent papers were
included in the review. Studies with less rigorous research methods are
often included in conjunction with other more methodologically robust
studies with similar findings. For example smaller, or very local, studies
were not used to identify themes, but where appropriate they were used
in conjunction with other studies to support themes identified elsewhere
in the literature. This review draws on a lot of qualitative research and
this must be taken into account when using the results.

In the UK State Pension Age is currently 60 for women and 65 for men.

13

ACTIVE AGEING

Attitudes of others have a significant role to play in how older people

view their old age. There is a large literature on how others view older
people that is not the subject of this review. However it is evident that
how others, including the state, employers and the media, view older
people will have a significant influence on their ability to enjoy an active
old age. The Fell and Foster survey (1994) in Scotland, for example,
found that 44% of older people thought that the media portrayed older
people in a negative way, while a further 40% thought media portrayal
was only satisfactory.
The Eurobarometer survey (Walker 1993) and the British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991) each asked older people how they would like to be
described. In both surveys older people preferred the positive label Senior
Citizens to the other options offered (retired, pensioners, older people
or elderly). 73% of older people in the Fell and Foster survey (1994) felt
that older people had a lot to contribute to society.
2.1 Work and retirement

The Eurobarometer survey (Walker 1993) found large numbers of

respondents believed that there was discrimination against older people
in the workplace, especially with regard to recruitment, promotion and
training. The majority (74%) also agreed that older people should be
able to take paid employment, although there was less support (63%) for
retirement age being left to the individual. In the British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991) nearly three quarters of the respondents said that they
had no wish to work now that they had retired. Of the remaining
quarter who did wish to work the main motivations were enjoyment or
a mixture of satisfaction and money.
Dench and Norton (1996) carried out a survey of people who had taken
early retirement from large companies, 90% of whom had occupational
pensions. The survey found varying attitudes to re-entry into the labour
market. While 27% thought finding another job was important, 60%
thought that it was not important. Those who had not wanted to find
another job, or had found a job that they were happy with, were more
satisfied with retirement. Attitudes to the workplace changed over time
with some feeling less attached and others feeling increasingly attached.
This sustained attachment to the world of work demonstrated that for
some, opportunities for continued employment were very important.
McGoldrick and Cooper (1994) looked at satisfaction with retirement
among early retired men. The authors identify some themes in the survey
data; for example those with higher incomes on retirement and with
higher current mean incomes were more likely to declare advantages

15

with retirement. Those who chose to retire also viewed retirement more
positively. Some of the respondents had experienced improved health
while others had experienced major health problems since retirement.
Perhaps most importantly the authors concluded that adjustment to
retirement varies significantly between individuals. Qualitative studies
such as Hedges (1998, see also Finch and Elam, 1995) also found that
people reacted very differently to retirement. While some of the older
people interviewed looked forward to increased freedom, leisure and an
escape from work, others were concerned about their income, health,
mobility and worried about being bored and inactive.
A large survey exploring attitudes to work and retirement (McKay and
Middleton, 1998, see also Dench and Norton, 1996) found that people
aged between 50 and 59 were reluctant to acknowledge retirement. While
only 26% initially described themselves as retired, when prompted many
more conceded that they had effectively retired. Although unemployed
older workers were less likely to search intensively for jobs than younger
unemployed people, they were prepared to accept as wide a range of
jobs, although they expected higher wages.
Ginn and Arber (1996) explored gender differences in attitudes to
employment through further analysis of existing survey data. They did
not find evidence to support the assumption that womens early exit
from the workforce was related to a reduced desire to work. They found
that like men, womens prospects in the workforce seemed to be negatively
influenced by their age and attitudes towards them. A qualitative study
(Finch and Elam, 1995) found that some of the women interviewed felt
that the notion of retirement did not really apply to them.
Skucha (1995) used interview and survey methods to explore attitudes to
employment, retirement and pre-retirement education amongst part time
women aged over 45. The research found that women gained a lot from
their work, both socially and in terms of income, despite the limited
opportunities available to them in the workforce. The women in the
study had mixed feelings about retirement, anticipating that, unlike men
who had earned a period of relaxation, they were likely to have a full
time domestic role. However they felt that as a generation of part time
working women they were unique and were keen to make the most of
any free time in retirement by pursuing social and leisure activities.
Interviews with older workers, older unemployed and newly retired
people (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998) stressed that retirement was
not just a one-off event, but a long process. Older peoples experiences
of forced retirement, due to ill health or redundancy, often contributed
to a lack of control over the transition from work to retirement. Poor
emotional and practical planning was also thought to impact negatively
on this process.

16

The research consistently shows that retirement not only varies between
individuals, it also varies over time as people experience health problems
and loss of mobility. The desire to remain independent, however, is a
consistent priority for older people.
2.2 Planning for retirement

Attitudes to retirement vary between individuals, but there seems to be a

fairly consistent lack of planning for old age. The British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991) suggests that even fewer people had been able to plan
for their leisure in retirement than had planned financially. Less than a
quarter of the respondents had felt able to plan in any way for their
retirement. Black and Asian older people were much less likely to have
had an opportunity to plan for their retirement. Qualitative studies (Finch
and Elam, 1995, Allen et al 1995, Hedges, 1998) have revealed that most
people had made no particular plans for their retirement. Hedges (1998)
identified uncertainty about the future, the complexity of the financial
planning system and a lack of information as factors that compound the
difficulties involved in planning for retirement.
Skucha (1995) explored attitudes of women aged over 45 to planning for
retirement. The respondents tended to be interested in receiving advice,
particularly on financial planning. The respondents were less interested
in help with planning for health and social care and in preparing for
widowhood. Lower paid and married women showed less interest in
pre-retirement education. Participants said that they would prefer help
with planning in the form of group discussions and expert advice rather
than written material.
Dench and Norton (1996) also asked people leaving employment early
about the information and advice that they had received. While most
felt satisfied, a minority commented that they would have liked a different
amount and type of advice. Some respondents felt that it would be
helpful to have advice on adjusting to retirement. Other more specific
suggestions included more personal and impartial financial advice, more
detailed information, advice at an earlier stage, advice on finding another
job (particularly in terms of what was realistic), retraining and follow-up
advice after retirement.

2.3 Financing an active

retirement

There is some consistency in the concerns expressed by survey participants

about getting older. Financial difficulties and declining health and mobility
were identified in the British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991) as the main
problems associated with ageing. The Eurobarometer survey (Walker,
1993) also highlighted older people not having enough money to live on
as a prime concern of old age (along with loneliness and lack of proper
health and social care). Fell and Foster (1994) identified declining health
and financial difficulties as prime concerns. Grey Matters (Sykes and
Leather 1997) identified physical health, loss of independence and
diminishing mental health as unprompted main concerns associated with
growing old.

17

When asked about their personal situation in the British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991) respondents felt that their financial situation was
manageable, they were not lonely and their health was mainly good or
very good. This points to a dichotomy between how older people describe
their own situation and how they see things more generally for older
people. It may be that older people share broader social assumptions
about what it is like to be old. This example illustrates the complexity of
using attitudes as a measure.
2.4 Leisure

When asked in the British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991) whether they
would like to pursue more leisure activities, one in three said that they
had no wish to do more of anything. Those who were keen to do more
mentioned getting out for more walks and exercise as potential activities,
but lack of time, poor health and lack of money were identified as barriers
to a more active life. Fell and Foster (1994) also found a high level of
satisfaction with current levels of activity. The Eurobarometer survey
(Walker, 1993) reinforces the lack of time dimension as nearly three
quarters of respondents described themselves as either very busy or having
full days. With regard to income, a greater proportion of older people
on a low income found life less enjoyable than when they were working.
While some enjoyed a very active retirement, joining clubs, pursuing
hobbies and getting involved in voluntary work, others were less active
and relied on television and radio for entertainment. Qualitative research
by Clark et al (1998a) highlights the varying social needs of older people.
Some of the respondents found that luncheon clubs, day centres and
coffee mornings provided them with an opportunity to get out, to meet
people and have a meal. Others did not find these social events stimulating
enough or found them to be cliquey and didnt enjoy them.
Research in Lewisham (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998) found a
difference between more active older people, who were interested in
groups and organisations which encouraged peer and intergenerational
involvement, and less active older people who valued projects and activities
which fostered friendships and new opportunities to get involved. The
participants highlighted a number of advantages to an active retirement
including opportunities to carry on learning and to use their existing
skills. To really take advantage of the opportunities on offer they identified
a need for pre-retirement education and retraining and good quality,
widely distributed information.
For some older people changes in activities reflected increased age and
poor health, while for others the cost or the loss of a partner were important
factors (Finch and Elam, 1995). A survey of older people in Newcastle
(Action for Health, 1996) found that in addition to health and mobility
problems, poor transport and bad weather were seen to further limit
leisure activities. While respondents were interested in a wide range of

18

activities, they stressed that these activities needed to be situated in the

local area in order to be accessible to older people.
Qureshi (1998) found that for many of the Bangladeshi elders interviewed
in London, fear of racist attack and language barriers added to health and
mobility problems in limiting social contacts. The Lewisham (Lewisham
Borough Council, 1998) study supports these findings. Language
presented more of a barrier for some ethnic groups including Asian,
Turkish, Vietnamese and Tamil older residents. The need for culturally
sensitive provision, for example opportunities for some ethnic minority
women to exercise and access work and education, was also highlighted.
The older people identified the important role that community
organisations can play in providing somewhere safe for older people from
ethnic minority groups to go to get out of the house and to socialise.
2.5 Volunteering

The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering (Davis Smith, 1998) explored

attitudes to volunteering amongst people of all ages. The Carnegie Report
on volunteering (Davis Smith, 1992) summarised the national survey
data on volunteering up until 1992. One of the main conclusions from
these surveys was that older people become volunteers for a variety of
reasons. Their reasons included that the organisation was connected
with either their (or their friends and families) needs and interests, that
someone asked them to help, that they had time to spare, that they wanted
to help others and that they wanted to meet people. Older respondents
identified a number of advantages to volunteering including that it was
enjoyable and satisfying, that they made new friends and that volunteering
was part of their philosophy. Disadvantages included being asked to do
things that were too difficult, a lack of appreciation and sometimes finding
themselves out of pocket as a result of volunteering. The 1997 survey
(Davis Smith, 1998) also found that 18% of people over the age of 55
thought that volunteering took up too much time, although this was less
of an issue with older age groups. A further drawback to volunteering in
all age groups was the poor organisation of volunteering.
Forster (1997) surveyed older people who were involved in a variety of
voluntary activities. The survey identified age, class and gender variations
in the types of voluntary activity individuals chose to do. Women
volunteers, for example, were more likely to be involved in education,
heritage and social welfare than men who showed a preference for
voluntary work with environmental organisations. Heritage organisations
tended to encourage older, more middle class and female volunteers.
Although social contact was not always a main reason given for getting
involved as a volunteer, it was identified as something volunteers would
miss if they left. Declining health and mobility were highlighted as barriers
to future volunteering and it was evident that many volunteers would
find it difficult to leave the organisation and the people to which they felt
a strong sense of commitment.

19

Horne and Broadridge (1994) while not concentrating exclusively on

older people, surveyed voluntary workers in a charity retail chain in
Scotland. The results showed that three quarters of the workforce were
over 55 (and nearly all the volunteers were women). The volunteers
were involved because of either a personal involvement with the charitys
cause or because they believed it to be a worthy cause. Less than 10% of
the respondents said that they had got involved because they were lonely
or had time to spare. The survey asked volunteers about why they had
chosen charity retailing in particular. Respondents explained that they
were interested in this kind of charity work and that it was a good way to
meet people and make new friends.
A 1992 survey (CVS Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme, 1993)
asked lapsed volunteers why they had stopped volunteering. The survey
found that the main reasons people stopped volunteering were that they
lost touch with the organisation (for example following a move or children
leaving school), they didnt have enough time or they experienced health
problems.
It is evident that older volunteers felt that they have a lot of skills and
experience to share in a variety of settings (Forster, 1997). However
they also felt that these skills were not always used to their full potential.
2.6 Intergenerational
relationships

Focus group research carried out by Henwood and Waddington (1998)

found that, when thinking about the future, older people really looked
forward to their role as grandparents. Interviews with grandparents (Walsh,
1998) suggested that grandparents relate to their grandchildren in a number
of ways. Grandparents looked after their grandchildren and provided
them with love, support and a listening ear. The respondents felt that
grandparenting had changed and today they are more involved with their
grandchildren and take on a greater role in providing childcare to support
their busy children, even when this meant travelling long distances. The
grandparents interviewed took on these new roles with a lot of enthusiasm.
Researchers in Luton used interviews to explore the experience of
grandmothers from ethnic minority groups living in Luton, St Lucia and
Pakistan (Schild and Ali 1997). The grandmothers saw their role as one
of surrogate mother, disciplinarian, educator and cultural and family
historian. Where emigration had split families these day to day
grandparenting roles were seen to be undermined by distance.
A small-scale study of intergenerational mentoring in primary and
secondary schools, for the Beth Johnson Foundation (Ellis, 1998) found
that the mentors derived many benefits from their involvement. They
felt that mentoring had increased their circle of friends and their social
activity. Mentoring had also allowed them to enrich the lives of others
and improve their own lives, to contribute to the local community, and
to increase their interaction with other kinds of people. They felt that

20

they had gained self-esteem, self worth, confidence and personal satisfaction
from their involvement in the mentoring programme.
Respondents were asked to identify three benefits in order of importance.
Satisfaction with helping the young people was identified as the most
importance benefit followed by appreciation by the young people and
increasing skills through experiences in the school context. Constraints
included a lack of opportunity to expand their role further, a lack of time
(particularly because of other voluntary commitments) and getting too
involved with the children. It was felt that training would maximise the
potential of mentoring programmes. Support when entering and leaving
the organisation was also seen to be important.
As with other volunteers, the mentors had chosen to get involved for a
variety of reasons including having spare time, feeling there was a gap in
their lives and liking working with children.
2.7 Signposting - other reviews
and research on active ageing

The Carnegie Reports on employment in the third age (Trinder et al,

1993), on leisure (Midwinter, 1992) on learning (Schuller and Bostyn,
1992) and on volunteering (Davis Smith, 1992), discuss the national survey
data up until 1992. These reports include varying quantities of attitudinal
data. More recently Davis Smith (1997) summarised the results from a
national survey of volunteers of all ages. Life after 60 (Askham et al, 1992)
and Getting around at 60 (Jarvis et al, 1996) summarise the national survey
data on employment, retirement and leisure, focusing on self reported
behaviour rather than attitudes.
Age Barriers at Work (Itzin and Phillipson, 1993) looks at barriers to career
development of older people through a survey of local government and
a sample of private employers. The Dynamics of Retirement (Disney et al
1997) does not explore attitudes but investigates aspects of retirement
including the transition to retirement, the financial consequences of
retirement, disability, responsibilities for caring and family, work and
pension histories. Laczko and Phillipson (1991) explore changes that
have occurred in work and retirement. Johnson and Falkingham (1992)
present research ageing and economic welfare and Askham (1997) looks
at attitudes to pensions, income and taxes. Dibden and Hibbert (1993)
review the recent research on older workers.
OReilly and Caro (1994) review the literature on productive ageing in
America in 1994. It may be interesting to compare the results with the
literature identified with that from the USA.
In The Social Policy of Old Age Bernard and Phillips (1998) looked at
historical themes in social policy and ageing and explored the future
implications of these policies. Phillipson and Walker (eds.) (1986) compiled
the first substantive text on ageing and social policy. It includes a chapter
on older women and social policy by Sheila Peace. Arber and Ginn

21

(1991) wrote the first British text exploring gender inequalities in old
age. In Women Come of Age Bernard and Meade (1993) bring together
issues impacting on the lives of older women.
Bytheway (1995) discusses ageism in society and reviews the literature.
Blakemore and Boneham (1993) look at the pattern of ageing in ethnic
minority groups and present an overview of the British context compared
to the US and Australia. Wells and Freer (1988) challenge the view that
older people are a burden on society. OConnor (1993) reviews a series
of practical school-based projects aimed at forging links between older
and younger people.
2.8 Gaps in the literature

Active ageing is a positive area for further research, particularly as it shifts

the focus away from older people as health and social care burdens and
values their contribution. Very little is known, for example, about the
supportive role of grandparents in changing family structures. Specific
aspects of active ageing including volunteering, mentoring, intergenerational activities, life-long learning and peer support are areas of
growing research interest.
The barriers to enjoying an active old age faced by people in the fourth
age, by ethnic minority groups and by older people on low incomes
deserve further consideration.
Although there is a growing body of research on active ageing, there is
still scope for the voices of older people to be heard in addition to those
of employers and service providers.

2.9 End of chapter summary

The research highlights a concern amongst older people that they are
discriminated against in the workforce in a variety of areas, including
recruitment, promotion and training (2.1). Studies suggest that older
people have very varied attitudes to retirement and to being retired, just
as people experience work very differently. It is evident that choice in
whether or not to retire, income level and gender, have an impact on
these attitudes. Attitudes to retirement also change over time as older
people experience declining health or loss of mobility.
Research indicates that though many older people had planned financially
for their retirement, others had not (2.2). This is especially significant as
a number of studies identified finance, along with declining health and
mobility, as a key concern of older people (2.3). Fewer people had
thought about how they would like to spend their leisure time in
retirement.
Older people tend to express a high degree of satisfaction with their
current level of activity in retirement. Attitudes towards leisure activities
are very varied and declining health, mobility, the loss of a partner and
changing economic circumstances can all affect participation (2.4). A

22

good infrastructure, including transport, information and a secure

environment, is identified as a further important factor influencing
participation in leisure activities. Older people are often interested in
getting out of the house to visit friends and family, to attend a local club
or day centre, or to do some shopping. A recent study concluded that
wherever older people wanted to go they needed safe, accessible, reliable
and affordable transport to get there (Help the Aged, 1998a).
Older people identify a range of reasons for getting involved in voluntary
activity including identification with the cause, a desire to help others
and an interest in meeting people (2.5). However, older people also feel
that volunteering takes up a lot of time and that sometimes the contribution
of volunteers is not appreciated. Again declining health and mobility
could make it difficult to maintain involvement in voluntary activities.

23

3.1 The role of the state

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

A variety of questions in the Eurobarometer survey (Walker, 1993)

addressed aspects of health and social care. The majority of the UK
respondents felt that the authorities do not do enough for older people
and that older people should be provided with amenities such as transport,
gas, electricity and telephone calls at reduced prices. The British Gas
Survey (Midwinter, 1991) asked how well various organisations dealt
with older people. Post Offices and shops were amongst the highest
scorers whereas local councils and social security offices were amongst
the lowest. The results from the first wave of the Peoples Panel show
how support for the post office as an important service was greater in
older age groups than amongst the rest of the population.4
Grey Matters (Sykes and Leather, 1997) found that the majority of older
people thought GP and hospital care had got neither worse nor better,
though a third of respondents thought that hospital care had got worse.
The Peoples Panel found a higher level of satisfaction with GPs, and to
a lesser extent the NHS, amongst older people. The state of the NHS
was identified as a key social concern of the older people surveyed in the
Grey Matters research (Sykes and Leather 1997). More than 90% of
older respondents to a National Opinion Poll survey for PPP Lifetime
Care (1996) were concerned about the states commitment to long term
care or to the quality of the care provided.
A further National Opinion Poll survey, commissioned by Help the Aged
and General Accident Life (1998), showed a low level of awareness about
the costs of various types of care. This lack of knowledge was reflected
amongst people of all ages. Respondents felt that the state should be
responsible for providing care, though more so for nursing care than for
domiciliary care.
Other studies that sought to explore attitudes to paying for future care,
found that participants felt that they had been let down by the welfare
state, as they are being forced to pay for their care twice (Henwood and
Waddington, 1998). Those who had saved felt penalised for their
prudence. The thought of losing homes, having nothing to show for
years of work and nothing to leave to their children were particularly
difficult to come to terms with (NOP 1998, Henwood and Waddington,
1998).

The Peoples Panel is a 5,000 strong representative sample of the UK population.

The panel was commissioned by the Service First Unit, Cabinet Office and is run by
MORI. Findings from the panel have been published on the Internet via the Service
First Unit (www.servicefirst.gov.uk/panel.htm).

25

The majority supported other forms of state provision such as housing

provision by local authorities rather than other providers, with even more
support for local authority housing from the older age groups and those
on low incomes (NOP, 1996).
3.2 Primary health care

A series of qualitative Age Concern studies explored the attitudes of

older people, housebound older people and older people from ethnic
minorities towards primary care in London (Bodie, 1997, Beattie, 1997a
and Beattie, 1997b). The respondents were very satisfied with their
doctors, although reception staff were viewed less favourably due to their
tendency to act as gatekeepers. Respondents thought that annual health
checks were a good idea, but many eligible older people had not had
one. They commented on the lack of co-ordination between service
providers and felt that there was often very little follow-up and little
regard for the situation of the individual when discharged from hospital.
This lack of co-ordination has been highlighted elsewhere (London
Community Care Action Group, 1994).
Powell and Lovelock (1994) focused on discharge from hospital in a
qualitative study of older patients. They found that patients reacted very
differently to making decisions about future care, but that most of the
older people valued opportunities to discuss expectations and future care
with professionals.
Some older people taking part in a series of focus groups (Bodie, 1997)
felt that there was not enough information available about health and
social care. One suggestion was that it might be more appropriate to
provide information verbally to older people, allowing for questions and
discussion. In another piece of focus group research (Beattie, 1997b) a
group of older Irish people suggested that a health visitor focusing on
older people could act as a source of advice and assistance. There was a
strong feeling that community health services had declined because of
cuts, but this had affected access and waiting times rather than the actual
treatment. Where costs were incurred they were often seen to be
prohibitive.
Beattie (1997b) carried out focus groups with older people from a number
of ethnic minority groups including African Caribbean, Bengali, Chinese,
Irish and Gujarati elders. He found that most of the non English speaking
focus group participants felt that informal translation by friends and family
worked quite well, but that there was potential for misunderstandings to
occur in translation. A study of ethnic minority health needs in Brighton
(Brighton CVS, 1994) found that communication and particularly the
reliance on family translators, to be more of a problem. It was felt that
trained translators (of the same sex where appropriate) would foster
independence, confidence and access. The participants had poor awareness
of the services on offer and suspected that service providers were racist,
but many felt that they had no right to complain.

26

The researchers also asked participants about their aspirations for primary
care (Bodie, 1997, Beattie, 1997a and Brighton CVS, 1994). One stop
health centres were popular (with benefit advice as well as health services),
as was better communication between hospitals and other agencies and
between providers and older people. Improvements in community health
services including care and home support were seen to be important.
Older people interviewed in Wolverhampton suggested that GPs had
potential as a provider of information (Cameron et al, 1993 see also
Tinker et al, 1994). Doctors needed to be well informed about patient
needs and staff should treat older people as individuals. There was interest
in alternative medicine in surgeries and a legalisation of euthanasia. At a
policy level, older people were concerned that more money was spent
on the health service and efforts were made to reduce waste.
In Brighton (Brighton CVS, 1994, see also Tinker et al, 1994) the
respondents were keen for there to be more information through sources
such as local radio, community contacts to snowball information and
translated written information. They also felt that better hospital food,
translators, a more racially mixed health service (with same sex health
care workers where requested) and support for mental health problems
were priorities for change.
3.3 Family health care

Only 1% of all respondents in the British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991)

felt they had no one to turn to for care and attention. Support networks
were explored in greater detail in another survey (Jarvis, 1993). The
results illustrate that for help with household tasks, help when ill or help
when depressed the respondents turned firstly to their family. Where
family were not close by, respondents relied on friends and neighbours.
Phillipson et al (1998) also found that older people still felt that their
family was the most important source of support, but that local friends
acted as complementary and alternative sources of support and help,
especially for those with no partner or children or with family living far
away.
Professionals were the first choice of help in only 1% of cases reported in
the British Gas Survey (although 6% said that they would turn to a doctor
first if they were depressed) (Midwinter, 1991). Older people were very
keen not to become dependent on either their family, friends or social
services. They did not want to affect their own independence or that of
others, including their family (Means, 1998).
Toffaleti (1997) found a similar pattern with information provision. Older
people in the survey were more likely to turn to their friends and family
for advice and information than to professionals. Only one in ten thought
that they would turn to the local authority. Cameron et al (1993) and
Tinker et al (1994) also found that word of mouth was cited as the most
important source of information about services. However Cameron
(1993) highlights the element of chance involved in obtaining information

27

from family, friends, church and day centres. For those who felt out of
circulation because of their age or health, this informal system of
information diffusion proved inadequate.
A number of studies highlighted the dual roles of older people as care
givers as well as care receivers (Wenger, 1997, Walsh, 1998). In interviews
with octogenarians Wenger (1997) found that older peoples relationships
with others were not just about receiving support. Affection, interest
and concern were part of reciprocal relationships between the older people
and their friends and family.
A survey of carers found that the majority of survey respondents were
family members, were women and were over the age of 45 (Carers
National Association, 1996). The survey found that only half of those
who were working found their employer was helpful and supportive of
their role as a carer. When carers found they needed help they were
much more likely to turn to other family members for help, rather than
to social services.
Jones and Salvage (1992) found that most of the carers they interviewed
(the majority of whom were over the age of 45) were very committed to
their role as carers. However this role often involved huge personal
costs. For example, caring impacted on the physical and mental health of
some of the carers in the study. Although the majority of the carers were
very resistant to placing their elderly dependent in residential care, there
was a strong link between the level of stress experienced by the carer and
their ability to think through other options, such as alternative care
arrangements.
3.4 Housing

There is a large literature concerned with the attitudes and aspirations of

older people with regard to housing. As people get older their housing
situation becomes inextricably linked to their health and care. The research
reviewed here reveals a consistent commitment amongst older people to
stay in their own home. A survey by Munro et al (1995) found that the
older people were, the less likely they were to be planning to move. A
1996 National Opinion Poll survey (NOP, 1996) explored the attitudes
of older people to long term care and revealed a preference for living at
home with assistance over other options and a preference for sheltered
accommodation over living in a nursing home. A national survey of
older people living in the community (McCafferty, 1994) found that
more than four fifths of older people wished to remain in their present
homes. Other surveys (Fell and Foster, 1994) asked where people would
like to live if they were housebound and again their current home was
prioritised, although a significant number also chose sheltered housing.
Only 5% wanted to either move to a home or in with their family.
One third of the respondents in the Grey Matters survey (Sykes and
Leather, 1997) said that they would not like to move under any

28

circumstances. Hirst et al (1995) interviewed a group of people identified

as waiting for places in sheltered accommodation. More than half of
those who were on the waiting list were very determined to stay in their
own homes, but saw their waiting list place as an insurance policy rather
than a plan to move in the future.
Of those people who had made the move to sheltered or residential care
some found it more attractive than expected. In two qualitative studies,
the security, the company and being looked after were highlighted as
advantages to sheltered housing and residential care (Allen et al 1992,
Means 1998). Means (1998) adds that it was also important to have
friends already in residence and to take treasured possessions with you.
Hirst et al (1995) interviewed people after a move to sheltered
accommodation and reported that people felt that they could maintain a
sense of independence there. However the respondents hoped that this
was their final move and retained negative attitudes to residential and
nursing homes.
Oldman et al (1998) interviewed residents in nursing and residential
homes. They found varied responses to the move. While the majority
accepted the move as inevitable and sought to adjust, others felt enthusiastic
and smaller numbers continued to resist the move and living in the home.
Some residents felt that the potential for the home to function as a thriving
social environment was compromised by the high dependency residents
who found it difficult to contribute to the social life of the home. Research
in Lewisham found that older people living in residential homes felt they
needed more practical support (information, transport, financial help)
and emotional support (to build self-esteem) and greater links with the
local community (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998).
Moving was viewed as undesirable by people living in all forms of
accommodation (Hirst, 1995 and Watson, 1996). Reed et al (1998)
used life histories to explore the importance of place for older people
moving into care homes. A nearby home is often familiar to older people
and is convenient as it allows them to stay in touch with family and
friends (who can pop in rather than make formal visits). Older people
can continue to use local shops and other amenities. Locality is part of
identity and may foster new relationships with other locals in the new
home.
Interviews with older people from the Indian and Pakistani communities
in Glasgow (Carlin, 1994) revealed a limited awareness of special housing
options for older people and how to access them. The respondents
expressed some interest in sheltered housing, but thought that they would
only consider it if there were residents and staff from their own ethnic
background. Language, diet and fear of standing out were some further
concerns expressed by older people from Black and Asian groups
interviewed in Wolverhampton (Cameron et al 1993).

29

Heating was also identified as an issue of concern to older people. More

than one in ten respondents to the Grey Matters survey (Sykes and Leather,
1997) occasionally felt cold because they could not afford heating (although
the majority in this survey felt that they could put the heating on whenever
they liked). A quarter of those responding to the London Housing Survey
(1992) said that they found it difficult to find money for fuel bills. In a
study in Scotland, using group discussions, participants were asked what
they would do with an extra 10 per week (Robertson, 1995). Three
of the four groups thought that they would spend the money on keeping
warm. Two of these groups were comprised of housebound older people.
Crime, vandalism and drug abuse were the key social concerns of older
people surveyed in the Grey Matters research (Sykes and Leather, 1997).
More than 40% of respondents thought they would feel safer if there
were more police on the streets. They also mentioned the importance of
visits from the family, moving to a safer area and increased financial
security. It is noted above that the fear of crime and burglary were
factors that affected older peoples attitudes when making decisions about
housing (Means, 1998). Clark et al (1998a) found that gender, health
problems (such as hearing difficulties) or loss of a partner could all affect
the degree to which respondents felt vulnerable to crime.
3.5 Domiciliary care

Older people are very aware that continuing to live at home, with
declining health, would involve support from others. Respondents in
Fell and Fosters survey (1994) were concerned about maintaining the
house and garden and the cost of heating. Means (1998) identifies the
loss of neighbours, fear of burglary and local shops closing as further
factors affecting the ability of older people to live in the community
without support. The London Housing Survey (1993) suggested that,
particularly as people get older, they were less likely to want to stay in
their own homes as the burden of caring for the home became too much
for them.
There seemed to be a low level of awareness and use of domiciliary care,
despite the need identified in many of the studies (Allen et al 1995, Clark
et al 1998a). There also seemed to be a lack of advice and information
about housing and care options for older people (Hirst et al 1995, Allen
et al 1995, London Community Care Action Group, 1994).
Qualitative studies (Boneham, 1997 and Beattie 1997b) have found that
older people from ethnic minorities also knew very little about the
community health services available to them. The majority of the ethnic
minority elders interviewed in Glasgow had experienced problems with
independent living, but only a very small number had received any help
in the form of adaptations or aids (Carlin, 1994). In addition to low level
of awareness, studies suggest that older people want to carry on living
without support for as long as possible. McCafferty (1994) found that
three quarters of older people wishing to carry on living in their own

30

home, did not feel that they needed help or support to remain there. Of
those who felt they needed support the most common request was for
help with household tasks.
Where home carers were available there seemed to be a limited range of
tasks that they were permitted to do. Shopping and gardening, for
example, were seen as essential tasks that were often beyond their remit,
but would make a huge difference to older people (Hirst et al 1995,
London Community Care Action Group, 1994). While some commented
that domiciliary services were often of a low standard, others were very
satisfied with the care they received and praised their individual care
workers (Thomas, 1995).
Social and psychological support was also identified as a gap in home care
provision. One study gave the example of older people who were keen
to have a stimulating visitor with whom they could have a two way
relationship, but found existing befriending visits condescending (Beattie,
1997a). Quilgars (1997), in evaluating a housing support scheme, echoed
the need for more practical domestic support, and also the desire for
social and emotional support (for example in going out). The older
people interviewed in the study were often lonely and looked forward to
visits from their carer workers, but staff had to leave as soon as their
specific tasks were completed.
Clark et al (1998a) revealed a gender dimension in attitudes to help in
the home. While housework was a functional task for older men, older
women associated a clean and tidy home with their self-esteem and their
public and private identity. Women were also more likely to fear strangers
in their home and looked to trusted organisations such as Care and Repair
for help with maintenance. Older people in this study talked about the
help rather than care that they needed. Choice and control were
important, as was being allowed to continue with tasks that they felt
were still within their capabilities.
The respondents also seemed keen for occupational therapist to visit and
install aids. Interviews with older people who have been offered
adaptations or aids (Clark and Dyers 1998b) demonstrated a range of
responses to these changes. While some welcomed the adaptations and
wondered how they had managed without them, others were fearful that
the changes would mean a loss of independence and control over their
lives. Others had their own Do it yourself strategies for coping with
changes in their health. A final group had experienced changing needs,
for better and for worse, since assessment and their new needs required
further attention from health professionals.
The London Community Care Action Group consultation (1994)
identified a series of aspirations with regard to care. Participants suggested
imaginative advertising of community care through the local media,

31

tenants and residents associations and chemists. There was a suggestion

that volunteers could be used to provide extra community care support.
The older people also felt that prevention was better than cure and that
resources and day centres would make it easier for older people to have
an active and stimulating old age. The priority for older people was help
with everyday tasks, such as shopping and gardening, which would enable
them to remain in their homes.
Robertson (1995) asked participants for their aspirations with regard to
services to allow them to stay in the community (with cost no object).
There was agreement that the home help should be seen as the bedrock
of the care package, but a more flexible, less restricted bedrock, that
could provide personal care services such as hairdressing and clothes
shopping. A caring, sensitive, patient and respectful care manager would
act as an advocate and plan, co-ordinate and monitor the care package. If
requested they thought older people might like some company and an
opportunity to develop new interests or revive old ones.
A visioning5 exercise conducted by Midgely et al (1997) identified a very
similar set of aspirations. The groups suggested one-off checks on benefits,
safety, warmth, health and clothing and bed clothing of older people. A
further suggestion was a daily telephone check to ensure that the older
person was all right.
3.6 Assessment

The London Community Care Action Group (1994) consultation

identified a range of problems with the Community Care assessment
system including: long waits for one-off visits, a lack of opportunity to
prepare, unintelligible forms, a lack of consideration of ethnic minorities
and of the right of individuals to privacy. Robertson (1995) found similar
attitudes to assessment, concluding that there was inequity in access to
aids and home helps and assessment needed to be more sensitive to the
needs of older people. Respondents had suggested that immediate shortterm care should bridge the gap until assessment is completed. Midgely
et al (1997) held a workshop for older people to explore their attitudes to
assessment. They found that the majority knew very little about the
services and agencies providing care to older people. Where they had
information it had come from personal contacts rather than leaflets. They
found a desire for more flexibility in provision to cater for personal
preferences.
Oldman et al (1998) found that a significant number of respondents were
not aware whether or not they were paying for the services that they
received. Many older people had found the financial and assessment
aspects of moving confusing (Oldman, 1998).

32

Visioning exercises are sometimes used with groups to build a collective vision for
the future.

The London Community Care Action Group consultation (1994) also

identified a series of aspirations with regard to assessment. Staff needed
to be trained to be sensitive to individual needs and culture. The individual
should also take a more active role in assessment, with more control over
the nature and timing of services, especially if they have to pay for them.
3.7 Travel

The British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991) found that older people were
quite satisfied with current transport options, with more than three quarters
of respondents happy with their ability to get around. However almost
a quarter of respondents highlighted a need for more frequent public
transport. A Help the Aged survey (1998b) identified a particular need
for frequent and regular services, rather than the concentrated and
duplicated services that had followed deregulation.
Fell and Foster (1994) focused on transport problems facing older people
in Scotland. They found poor pavements, dog fouling and road safety to
be concerns for pedestrians, lack of shelters, lack of seats and problems
getting on and off as problems for bus users. Cost, not being on a train
route and unstaffed stations were seen to be problems with the trains.
Aggressive drivers, increased traffic, car costs and parking problems were
the main concerns of road users.
Means (1998) highlighted the important role transport plays in the lives
of older people. He gave the example of older people who were busy
with a range of interests which helped to foster independence, but who
relied on public transport to get to and from these activities. Appropriate
transport can enable older people to access services such as banks, building
societies and post offices that often play a key part of their continuing
independence (Finch and Elam, 1995). Skinner and Bartlett (1998) carried
out a consultation exercise with older people and found transport problems
to be a particular concern for older people living in rural areas. The
Peoples Panel results revealed that more than a quarter of older people
felt that a local bus service was one of the most important services. Other
age groups did not prioritise local bus services to the same extent.
Fell and Foster (1994) reported the aspirations of older people associated
with transport. Older people wanted improved public transport, cheap
off peak fares, better co-ordination of services, lower bus entry steps,
handrails at steps and better parking and reduced road taxes for older
people. A series of meetings held across the country by Help the Aged
(1998a) highlighted the need for safe, accessible, reliable and affordable
public transport. There was also a strong feeling that access to
concessionary schemes should be consistent across the country.

3.8 Signposting - other reviews

and research on health and
social care

The Carnegie report (Askham, 1992) on homes and travel summarises

survey data up until 1992 and highlights areas for further work including
the attitudes of older people to shopping and entertainment.

33

Twigg (1990) reviews the literature on caring up until 1990 and Phillips
(1993) discusses the role of working carers in the UK, the rest of Europe
and America. Peace et al (1997) review the history of residential care,
the research literature and current policy and practice. Dalley (1996)
looks at different forms of caring and argues in favour of some forms of
residential care. Walker (1996) includes papers exploring the impact of
changes in social policy on the contract between generations. Means
and Smith (1994) look at community care policy and practice. The
Royal Commission on Long Term Care (1999) has gathered evidence
on care. The main report makes recommendations to government and
is accompanied by three volumes of research.
Researching older peoples health needs and health promotion issues (Ginn et al
1997) highlights the current literature around health promotion and older
people and suggests key areas for further analysis. Glendenning and Pearson
(1988) discuss research on ethnic minority elders, concentrating on health
needs and on access to services.
Tinker (1997b) reviews the literature on housing for older people up
until 1997. Phillipson and Walker (1986) contains a chapter by Wheeler
on housing and older people. In Life at 60 Askham (1992) looks at self
reported housing conditions and health of older people
3.9 Gaps in the literature

There is a large literature on health and social care, much of which is

contained in the reviews listed above. The research contains national
and local surveys and a number of qualitative studies. There is also recent
research on the attitudes and aspirations of the wider population to their
future health and social care. More work needs to be done on the health
and social care of the growing numbers of ethnic minority elders. There
is scope for comparative research not only between groups of older people,
but also across geographical areas and areas of service provision to explore
the variations in health and social care experienced by older people.
The literature on caring has not focused directly on the attitudes and
aspirations of older carers. Further research could explore whether or
not there are issues of special concern to older carers.

3.10 End of chapter summary

The research identifies a concern amongst older people about state

provision of health and social care (3.1). State agencies such as local
councils and social security offices are seen to be far worse at dealing
with older people than, for example, post offices and shops.
Lack of co-ordination in service delivery also emerges from the literature
as a strong theme (3.2). Older people, and particular older people from
ethnic minorities, seem to have a low level of awareness of, and lack of
information about, the health and social care options available to them.
Where there are costs for services, they are seen to be prohibitive by
many older people (3.2).

34

Family continues to be seen as the main source of care, support and

information for older people, followed by friends and neighbours. Older
people, particularly older women, also provide care and support for their
families and friends (3.3).
As people get older their housing needs become increasingly intertwined
with their health and care needs (3.4). Older people want to stay in their
homes for as long as possible, but the infrastructure needed to support
this choice is often inadequate. Studies report a need for help with routine
tasks such as gardening and housework. Older people identify a need for
flexible home care, which puts the needs of the older person at the centre
of a care package. Other services, such as a good transport system, are
also seen to be important to people living in their own homes.
Older people who have made the move to residential care often feel that
after a period of adjustment they could identify advantages with their
new homes, including the safe environment, the care they received and
the company of others (3.4). However, it is evident that moving in
itself, not just the prospect of residential care and loss of independence,
was unattractive. Residents in care homes express a desire not to have to
move again.

35

CONSULTATION AND INVOLVEMENT

There is very little literature on the relationship of older people to local

and central government, particularly not on their own attitudes towards
consultation and involvement. There is, however, an increased interest
in this theme, which is illustrated by the establishment of the InterMinisterial Group on Older People and the Cabinet Office led Better
Government for Older People Programme.
Consultation and involvement of older people as citizens and service
users should occur at a variety of levels in society including through local
and national government and in organisations such as housing associations.
Active involvement also occurs at a local community level, between
older people and their neighbours, friends and family, and through
membership of residents organisations, groups and clubs.
4.1 Democratic participation

In terms of political activity, the 1996 British Social Attitudes Survey

(Jowell et al, 1997) noted that people became more interested in politics
as they got older. Qureshi (1998) found that Bangladeshi elders in London
maintained an interest in the national politics of Britain and Bangladesh.
Older people are also more likely than other population groups to vote
in national and local elections (Hartley and Anderson, 1998).6 In contrast
however, one study included in this review (Leaper 1993) found very
little mention of politicians, parties or political attitudes in his survey of
older peoples attitudes in Exeter. This was despite the fact that the
survey took place during a general election.
A recent survey (Hartley and Anderson, 1998) suggested that different
groups of older people have different reasons for not voting in local
elections. While the most common reason why the under 75s didnt
vote was that they were too busy, for those over 75 this was the least
common response. Their main reason for not voting was that they were
not interested.
The Grey Matters survey (Sykes and Leather, 1997) explored the political
attitudes of older people and suggested that older people shared a more
general societal disaffection with politicians. A high proportion (70%)
disagreed with the statement that politicians pay attention to the views of
older voters and only 14% agreed. Only 29% thought that their MP
served them well and nearly 40% agreed with the statement that they
trusted their MP less than 10 years ago. However more than 80% of the
older people surveyed felt that older people should stand up more actively

See also Miller (1988) on the voting behaviour of older people.

37

for their rights. This was especially true of respondents in their sixties
and early seventies. Older respondents were less keen to get involved
and those in their fifties did not consider themselves to be older people.
Hartley and Anderson (1998) found that all types of resident wanted to
be kept in touch with what the council was doing. However older and
younger residents and council tenants were more likely to say that as
long as the council did its job they were not particularly interested in it.
While 22% of people of all ages were not interested in any form of
involvement, 47% of those over 65 did not want to be involved in any
way. Those aged 55 to 64 were more interested in being involved
(mirroring the level of interest shown by the general population).
Of those who would like to get involved, postal questionnaires and
household surveys were the most popular options for older people (above
meetings, residents panels and focus groups). A study of older people in
Lewisham (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998), suggested that low self
esteem, lack of information, the costs of participation, transport problems
and working and caring commitments all presented challenges to older
peoples involvement. In a survey and interviews, Riseborough (1996)
found that health and mobility problems often presented further barriers
to participation for those over 75. Anger, apathy and a belief that others
have a better deal were identified as potentially damaging consequences
of older peoples lack of involvement and sense of exclusion.
4.2 Information

The importance of information in involving older people, and the

inadequacy of current attempts to keep older people informed have been
themes in previous chapters. The discussion of older peoples attitudes
to health and social care revealed a lack of information about issues of
concern to them (Beattie, 1997b). The aspirations of older people with
regard to health and social care identified information as a key priority
and the participants suggested a variety of ways that information could be
more effectively targeted at them (The London Community Care Action
Group, 1994, Beattie, 1997b).
Tinker et al (1994) used interviews and discussion groups to explore the
information needs of elderly people with regard to services and to see
how these needs might be met more effectively. The findings were
consistent with those identified by the other studies in the review. The
research found that older people were not well informed and often did
not think they had information needs. Family, friends and neighbours
were identified by older people as their main sources of information.
Older people preferred to receive information by word of mouth. They
also suggested that television, radio and GPs (with whom they were
often in regular contact) could all play an important role. Other
professionals and agencies were seen as a last resort. It was not just a case
of supplying information to older people, but also supplying information
to their support networks.

38

The Peoples Panel suggested that older people were less likely than the
rest of the population to access information on public services through
television, fax, e-mail, electronic information points or by using the
Internet. They also showed less interest in other new models for
information provision such as one-stop shops and one stop call centres.
The Cabinet Office survey on electronic government (Central IT Unit,
1998) also found that older people were less likely than other age groups
to say that they trusted, or they would use, new information technologies.
Of those aged 55 and over, 25% were very willing to use the new
technology options (compared to 37% aged 25-34). People in lower
socio-economic groups shared this distrust of technology and unwillingness
to use it. Older people showed slightly more interest in the touch-tone
phone option than in screen based methods, but many respondents said
that they would prefer to talk to someone face to face.
4.3 Involving residents

Riseborough (1996) concluded from her research carried out for the
Anchor Housing Trust on listening to and involving Anchor tenants,
that older people were keen to be kept informed. Information must be
communicated in plain language and was seen to be particularly important
with regard to any planned changes. Qualitative studies have supported
the idea that older people were not well informed about issues and services
that affect them, such as domiciliary care (Allen et al, 1992). The
respondents were also keen to be consulted about a range of issues
including costs, services and maintenance.
Participants in Riseboroughs study were less supportive of the notion of
getting involved, with the majority supporting ballots from time to time
rather than more active participation such as sending representatives to
regional tenants forums. Other issues specific to involving older people
emerged from the accompanying focus groups. Participants felt that
involvement often meant a long-term commitment and this seemed
inappropriate as they might get ill, or they might not live to see the
benefits. It was important to the focus group participants that they chose
when and how they were involved. Finally issues of status and
powerlessness emerged which had significant implications for involvement.
For example, the older people did not want to criticise the wardens as
they may have to depend on them in the future. This finding is supported
elsewhere (Allen et al, 1992).
Despite the lack of interest in more active involvement identified in the
survey, the focus group participants stressed how valuable the groups had
been as an opportunity to talk and discuss. Riseborough (1996) concluded
that tenants might just need to know more about opportunities and options
to get involved.
Abbott and Fisk (1997) surveyed older people about their ideas of
independence and involvement. The research generated a diverse range

39

of responses that underlined the importance of focusing on the needs of

individuals, but a number of themes emerged. Respondents thought
that remaining in control of decision-making and having access to money
were important factors for independent living. They felt that
independence and involvement were often limited by illness and frailty
and therefore the need to accept help while trying not to become a
burden. They felt that it was important to develop strategies to limit the
loss and decline that was associated with getting older. Those living in
their own home considered this to be a key to their independence.
Wengers study of successful ageing (1997) identified good health and
mobility as key contributors to life satisfaction, particularly as they allowed
older people to continue to participate in the local community.
4.4 Methods of involvement

Barnes and Barrett (1998) carried out an evaluation of the Fife User
Panel. The panel aimed to involve frail older people in service planning
and provision through discussions about their health and social needs.
50% of those who took part felt that their sense of control over their lives
had increased. Interviews with members of the panel found that they felt
that membership of the panel had a number of advantages including
fostering personal development, increasing self-esteem and social contact,
and allowing participants to share experiences. The participants were
less sure that their involvement had made an impact on services.
Thornton and Tozer (1995) carried out an evaluation of three methods
of involving older community care users in the way community care is
planned and provided. The first project was a service users action forum,
the second a postal Healthlink network and the third was a telephone
discussion group. The second and third options were aimed at people
who could not leave their homes. The results echo Allen et al (1995)
and Abbot and Fisk (1997). Participants needed a lot of reassurance, as
they were uncertain about their ability to make a useful contribution.
Participants often felt that they were satisfied with current provision and
therefore would not be able to help. There was also some fear of
complaining and a view that involvement would involve a significant
commitment of time and work. For example several Healthlink members
were concerned that they would not be well enough to take part and
would have to let people down.
Involvement had a number of positive benefits for participants. The
projects had encouraged fellowship and mutual support. Participants
had shared interests, stretched their minds and accessed information. The
participants were pleased to be taken seriously for a change. The telephone
group had felt less isolated as a result of involvement and had looked
forward to each phone meeting. The Healthlinks group valued the
opportunity to contribute on paper in their own time, although some
identified the written questionnaire format as a barrier for some older
people.

40

The priority for the participants was not the personal rewards that could
be derived from involvement. It was important that the respondents felt
that they were making a contribution, even if it was for change for the
benefit of others in the future. The participants did not want to feel that
they were wasting their time. Involvement had to foster a sense of
purpose and of self worth while not overstretching the participants. The
agenda needed to be open rather than prescriptive. For example, a general
question to the Healthlink group about health problems generated a range
of responses including home repairs and adaptations, home helps and
social workers. A more restrictive agenda would not have allowed older
people to express their views.
Clark (1997), in a study involving older people in community needs
assessment, found that older users had difficulty reflecting on future services
within the model of clearly divided services used by the health
professionals. Their view of interconnected services offered a challenge
for joint working with health professionals. Research in Wolverhampton
(Cameron, 1993) also found that older people did not conceptualise the
system in the same way as professionals and therefore found it hard to
negotiate at times of need.
Bangladeshi elders in London (Qureshi 1998) identified a series of barriers
to more active participation. In addition to those associated with health
and age highlighted above: they did not feel fully part of society, they felt
under-educated and they thought that community leaders often spoke
on their behalf. Many said that they had never been consulted.
Where information was provided to older people and care workers listened
to the views of users, the next challenge was to make their choices a
reality. Myers and MacDonald (1996) studied user involvement and
found that where carers and users felt they had had time to express their
views, these views had not always carried much weight in the decisionmaking process. Interviews with those who had been involved revealed
that information, involvement and consultation were not sufficient in
their own right. They had to lead to change.
4.5 Signposting - other reviews
and research on consultation
and involvement

In Involving Older People in Planning and Evaluating Community Care,

Thornton and Tozer (1994) review initiatives aimed at involving older
people in planning and evaluating community care. Jack (1995) looks at
empowerment and community care, including the importance of advocacy
and self-help. The chapter by Dunning in The Social Policy of Old Age
(Bernard and Phillips, 1998) discusses advocacy, empowerment and older
people. Riseborough (1998) explores the shift in perspectives about
older people and the impact of this change in perspective on the provision
of services to older people by not-for-profit organisations in Europe.
A number of pilots in the Better Government for Older People
Programme are evaluating their efforts to involve and consult older people.

41

The Better Government for Older People Programme will report in

2000.
4.6 Gaps in the literature

There is scope for considerable research on older peoples attitudes and

aspirations in this area, drawing on the literature on involving and
consulting people with disabilities. Future research could explore in
more depth the ways in which older people feel they can contribute at all
levels of governance.
Many of the lessons learnt in developing methods of involvement and
consultation will be transferable to broader areas of research where the
priority is often a need to develop methods to access difficult to reach
groups in order to ensure that results are as representative as possible.
Furthermore, as Riseborough (1996) notes research can offer older people
an opportunity to get involved and the value of research as a channel for
involving and consulting older people must not be overlooked.

4.7 End of chapter summary

The limited published research on older peoples attitudes to involvement

and consultation demonstrates that older people share the disaffection of
the wider population with politics and politicians (4.1). However, older
people feel that it was important that they should stand up for their
rights, although older respondents (those in their late seventies and eighties)
are less keen to get involved in older peoples issues. It is interesting
that respondents in their 50s are also less interested as they do not consider
themselves to be older people.
Older people feel that they are not well informed about issues that affect
them and this seems to be especially true of ethnic minority groups.
Older people seem to be keen to be kept informed and to be consulted,
but the research identified a number of barriers to more active participation
(4.3). Older people are concerned that their opinions would not be of
interest, or that they would not be able to maintain their involvement
due to poor health and dont want to take on commitments they cannot
meet. There is also a concern that time is valuable and involvement
must be for a purpose. There is an issue of powerlessness among those in
residential care who do not want to offend the care providers, on whom
they are likely to have to rely for their future care.
It is clear that the methods of involvement need to take into account the
health status and low self-esteem of many older people (4.4). Novel
methods of consultation such as postal forums and telephone discussion
groups have been explored. The research identifies a desire for nonprescriptive, consultative agendas, through which older people can discuss
issues, which are important to them. Older people derive benefits from
active involvement including a sense of fellowship and mutual support,
access to information and a chance to stretch the mind. However it is
important to participants that their input would have some effect and the
participants were not wasting their valuable time and their limited reserves
of energy on a fruitless exercise.

42

CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

The literature search on the three themes of interest to the Inter-Ministerial

Group identified three further cross-cutting themes. These themes of
participation, independence and diversity offer insights in to the findings
presented above.
Finally, in order to shape the qualitative interviews and focus groups
conducted as part of this research, gaps in the current literature were
identified. A brief discussion of the coverage of the research is included
at the end of this chapter. The qualitative research sought to complement
existing research, adding further data on the attitudes and aspirations of
older people to the themes of active ageing, health and social care and
consultation and involvement.
5.1 Participation

The majority of older people prefer to be described as senior citizens.

This may be because it is a positive, valuing label. For older people an
active old age seems to be one in which they can participate in society.
How people participate is seen as a matter of individual choice. Older
people participate in a variety of ways. These encompass democratic
participation through traditional political activity or newer representative
processes (e.g. forums, panels etc.), involvement in their local communities
as active citizens, and through their family and friends. Older people
have a contribution to make, as friends and sources of care and support,
as well as voluntary workers and members of clubs and groups. The
literature on volunteering shows that where older people do get involved
they are very committed. However, older people also stress that ill health,
limited mobility, lack of money and poor infrastructure can influence
their ability to participate.
Participation requires a two-way process. Information needs to flow
from government and other organisations to older people. The research
suggests that information is not flowing effectively to older people, despite
the strong demand. Older people have lots of ideas that could be used to
devise more dynamic information that is appropriate and useful and can
be accessed by older people, their families and carers. Television, local
newspapers and GPs (or other individuals with whom they are in regular
contact such as community leaders and health visitors) are some of the
suggestions for information dissemination.
The need to involve and consult older people is evident from the research
findings on health and social care. The lack of information and advice
received by older people, and their lack of involvement in decisions that
directly affect their health and social care, reflect a system that is not seen
to be centred on the older people. There is a need for more research and
practice which seeks to involve and consult older people.

43

Involving and consulting all citizens is a priority at local and national

levels. The priorities of the Inter-Ministerial Group and the aims of the
Better Government for Older People Programme reflect this. New forms
of involvement are also being developed. The Local Government
Management Board, for example, has sought to involve local people in
decision-making through citizens juries (LGMB, 1996). The particular
issues involved in consulting older people, such as limited mobility and
low self esteem, necessitate innovative approaches.
More research is required on the mechanisms by which older people
wish to be involved and consulted by government. There is particular
concern about how to access difficult to reach groups, such as
housebound older people. The diversity of opinion identified in this
research, in terms of differing experiences, priorities and interests, must
be reflected, as must the varied ways in which people choose to organise
and express themselves.
5.2 Independence

Continuing to choose their independence and interdependence is essential

to older people. Older people stress their reciprocal relationships with
others, which involve offering support as well as receiving it. Older
people seek to deal with changes in their health status and mobility in
ways that do not compromise their independence. There is a concern
that they remain independent of requiring ongoing care from family and
friends, but also from the state for as long as is possible. This preoccupation
of older people with not becoming a burden may well affect their
expression of needs. Studies conclude that service providers should be
sympathetic to this and foster services that support independence rather
than dependence. Likewise it is stressed that service providers should
not see the low expectations of many older people as reflecting a lack of
need.
It is evident that older people want a variety of options from which to
make real choices. They want information and advice when making
decisions and support to make their choices possible. Domiciliary services
seem to be seen as a source of unfulfilled potential for the majority of
older people who prefer to stay in their own homes. The aspirations of
older people for support to remain in their own homes include help with
housework, gardening, home maintenance or alterations, and shopping.
There is still a role for sheltered housing, residential and nursing home
care for those older people who do not feel able to stay in their own
homes.
Meeting these aspirations requires that the assessment of the needs of
older people be centred on the older person. The current lack of coordination in service delivery is also seen as unsatisfactory, for example a
number of studies reported that older people had been discharged from
hospital without any consideration of their ability to cope or of the support
available to them. Improved integration of service planning and delivery

44

is therefore identified as an important issue for government to address.

Aspects of the local infrastructure, such as public transport, play an
important role in fostering independence and interdependence of older
people, for example by supporting them in their efforts to visit and
maintain relationships with friends and family.
5.3 Diversity

One of the common themes in each of the areas explored in this review
is the diversity of attitudes and aspirations of older people. Age alone is
an inadequate predictor of attitudes and aspirations; many other factors
come in to play. Wealth, health status, gender, mobility and living status
(alone or with others, in residential care or in the community) each
mediate the effect of age. These factors in turn influence each other; for
example the ability to get out and about can be influenced by whether or
not someone lives alone or whether they can afford to take part in social
activities.
It is evident that older people are a diverse group in all respects. Midwinter
(1991) concludes that many of the concerns and interests of older people
are those of society in general and may, in many cases, be more effectively
treated as such. This integration of older people into more mainstream
social policy decision-making may help to combat ageism.
The key aspiration of older people seems to be an old age in which they
are included in society rather than marginalised and excluded because of
their age. An acknowledgement of their reciprocal roles, as sources as
well as receivers of care and support, rather than a focus on dependence
is central. It is evident that the three themes explored in this review are
interconnected. Older people who are involved and consulted are likely
to become more independent, active, healthy and cared for citizens.

5.4 Coverage of the research

Although there is a growing body of research on old age, there is less

research on the attitudes and aspirations of older people in each of the
areas reviewed. The voices of older people should be more prominent
in future research. Apart from three major national surveys the majority
of the research presented in this review has focused on specific geographical
areas. There is a need for further national research to explore the attitudes
and aspirations of older people. This data could be used, for example, to
explore disparities in access to support and care across the country and to
identify good practice.
The current research should inform the content of national surveys to
ensure that appropriate and relevant questions are asked of older people.
There is also scope for further qualitative research which values the
contribution of older people, adds meaning to quantitative results and
allows for a more in-depth exploration of areas of interest.
There is a significant disparity in the body of research associated with
each of the three themes. The literature on health and social care, for

45

example, is larger and contains more data on the attitudes and aspirations
of under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities. The review
identified more research on active ageing than on consulting and involving
older people, but there is scope for involving the perspective of older
people further in the literature, focusing in particular on older people
with significant care needs, ethnic minorities and older people living on
low incomes. Research on older workers and retirement could also be
strengthened if it included the perspective of older people themselves.
This theme is particularly important as it stresses the positive contribution
older people can make to society.
Older peoples views on consultation and involvement have attracted
less attention from researchers and practitioners. This imbalance in the
literature reflects broader social perceptions of older people as in need of
care and support, rather than as active people, involved in their
communities and consulted about the broad range of issues that affect
them.
Future research should seek to redress this imbalance by exploring the
attitudes and aspirations of older people to being involved and consulted.
There also needs to be more research such as that conducted by Thornton
and Tozer (1994) which explores ways of overcoming the specific barriers
that prevent older people from being involved and consulted. Researchers
could also seek to involve and consult older people at all levels of the
research process.
The qualitative phase of this research explores the attitudes and aspirations
of older people in relation to the three themes of interest to the InterMinisterial Group, focusing in particular on aspects of active ageing and
consultation and involvement. Specific gaps, such as attitudes to learning,
were given greater emphasis than attitudes to health and care that have
been covered more thoroughly in the existing literature.
It is also important to note that there are a number of initiatives underway
that will add to our understanding of the themes discussed in this report.
Important initiatives include the ESRC Growing Older Research
Programme on Extending Quality of Life, the Nuffield and European
Union 5th Framework research programmes and the Better Government
for Older People Programme.

46

APPENDIX

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Abbot, S., Fisk, M.

Independence & Involvement: Older People Speaking
Abbeyfield Society; St Albans, 1997
Abbeyfield

How do the older people feel about independence and

involvement?
How do their lives embody the ideas and values associated with
these two concepts?

Study design
Qualitative interviews with older people, mainly interviewed
alone, occasionally someone else present. One interview as a
group of 4.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

March/ May 1997

Older people including a number of very old (85+) including

those with hearing problems, mild dementia, 2 non-white.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Opportunistic, Abbeyfield residences and other accommodation.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=146 (used a quota)

3 different areas of England & Wales.
66 residents Abbeyfield accommodation
56 other sheltered housing/residential care homes
24 ordinary accommodation
47 aged 74-84
99 aged 85+ (to 105)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

47

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

Interviewers made notes during the interview. Topic headings

were used to organise the recording of material
thematic content analysis.

Themes associated with independence and involvement:

- importance of deciding things for yourself (control)
- importance of money to independence
- limitations caused by illness and frailty
(those living independently - echo themes with a slightly
different emphasis on resistance to moving, compromises, eg,
asking for help.)
- desire to receive necessary help without becoming a burden
- strategies for limiting loss and decline associated with ageing.
Loss of independence associated with old age. Important to stay
involved - often people have very different ideas about these
two concepts. Often involvement is identified as a tool for
successful ageing.
Variety of opinions identified therefore meeting the needs of the
individual is key.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

48

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Action for Health. Senior Citizens in Newcastle The links to a fuller life
Report 1996
Part of the Newcastle Health City Project

Explore the experiences of older people as service users. To

look at the factors which affect their quality of life.

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1994-1995

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people (60+)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Opportunity sample. The interviewers each identified

(through his or her existing contacts) and interviewed 25 older
people. Interviewers bore in mind the need for a range of ages
and both men and women. All the interviewers except one
were older people.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=161 interviewed either at the centres through which they

were contacted or in their own homes. 63% women, 37% men.
16% ethnic minority respondents, spread of ages, across
Newcastle.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Adapted a city council questionnaire

Yes, with a group of volunteers

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

49

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Asked older people who they would talk to in confidence. The

majority said their family, with friends second and neighbours
third. Only very small numbers said that they would talk to a
care worker, someone from the church or a social worker.
High level of satisfaction with their homes, although some had
problems getting around and would welcome improvements to
their home eg to help with moving around and with bathing.
The family is a key source of help with daily tasks. Main extra
help needed was with transport, followed by help in the home
and advice about pensions and benefits. Older people would
also like help to visit friends and relatives and with security.
Problems of health and mobility were identified by the most
people as barriers to going out. These were followed by bad
weather and then transport. Health and disability were also
cited as the main reasons for not taking part in social activities.
Almost half had aspirations to take part in a wider range of
activities, but these need to be situated very locally if they were
to be accessible.
The respondents felt much safer in their own homes, than
outside, particularly at night. More police was the most
frequent suggestion for making the area safer.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

50

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Allen, I., Hogg, D., and Peace, S.

Elderly People: Choice, Participation and Satisfaction
PSI: London, 1992
Policy Studies Institute

Examine ways in which elderly people exercise choice in care

services they receive in both community and residential care,
and the extent they participate in decisions and how satisfied
they are with the care services they receive.

Study design
Interviews with older people and with their carers, and with
professionals (only views of older people are presented here as it
is unclear what age the carers are).
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Nov 88 - June 89

Participation in the study

Target population

75+

Exclusion criteria

Older people with dementia

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

3 local authorities - outer London, south, north selected for

broad geographical spread and areas with mixed provision,
statutory, voluntary and private residential and community care.
19 LA homes, 24 private.
N=203 - 100 in community, 32 in LA residential homes, 51 in
private residential homes - where possible random selection of
older people whod been there 12 months or less (residents) or
were living in community and were seen to be at risk of
residential care.
Structured face to face interviews - mainly open ended questions
Yes

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

51

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

Lack of information about domiciliary services.

Few people planning for old age.
Haphazard process of judging information
Not receiving much domiciliary care (despite age) despite fact
that the elderly people often wanted more services to help them
at home, especially more help with home and garden.
Move to residential care
Some judge move more attractive than expected - security,
company and a bit of looking after.
Again lack of information about the options.
Lack of choice and participation - and the two go together
At the time of the move older people may not feel up to
behaving like active consumers at this time of need
Satisfaction with care of majority - reluctance to complain, fear
of care being taken away and not wanting to be seen as
complainers. Realising that there are shortages in supply.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

52

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Barnes, M., Bennett, G.

Frail bodies, courageous voices: older people influencing
community care
Health & Social Care in the Community 6(2) pp 102-111
1998
University of Birmingham
The project aims to enable frail older people to discuss
experiences of growing older and of using health and social care
services.
To use outcomes of these discussions to influence service
planning and provision.

Study design
Evaluation of Fife user panel project involving 7 panels of frail
older people throughout Fife.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Monthly meetings

Participation in the study

Target population

Frail older people

Exclusion criteria

Older people with dementia

Recruitment procedures

Home carers, social workers, health visitors and district nurses

were asked to identify potential respondents.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

92 nominations - 62 agreed (information suggested there are

few differences between those who agreed to take part and those
who did not).
age 67-93, 54 women, 8 men 55 lived alone, 49 widowed, all
experienced health problems, (during study 8 died, 6 left as ill or
entered residential care).
20 of the participants were interviewed to evaluate the panel.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

Semi structured interviews with 20 panel members were carried

out by other older people (who also helped to develop
schedule), structured questions were also asked by project staff at
baseline and at 2 monthly intervals.

Empowerment Evaluation (Felterman 1996) and User

Involvement (Oliver 1987). Prioritising the perspective of those
in least powerful positions.

53

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

50% felt their sense of control had increased

impact of membership of panel: personal development, more
self esteem and capacity to influence change, social contact and
sharing experiences
making a difference to services - less sure of impact on service
than on intrinsic benefits to involvement
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

54

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Beattie, A. (a)
The views of housebound older people
Briefing paper 1, 1997
Age Concern London

Examine views of older housebound people on primary care in

London

Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Feb - April 1997

Participation in the study

Target population

Housebound older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Contacted 15 London GP surgeries who agreed to identify

housebound older patients who might be willing to be
interviewed.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=12
3 had a carer living with them (all spouses), 7 non residential
carers (family and friends)
Interviewees from 8 surgeries in 7 boroughs
3 women, 9 men
11 out of 12 75+, all white
5 in house, 6 flats (2 sheltered) 1 maisonette

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

55

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

GP - appreciated GP - attentive and easy to contact none

thought GP could do any more for them (2 had changed GP)
11 out of 12 had had a home visit in last 6 months
Reception - some receptionists seen as blocking access to doctor
- happy with out of hours service - preferred own GP to visit
but realised wasnt always possible
Health check 4/11 had had general health check entitled to 75+
all but one welcomed health check (one didnt want to know
about health problems) 3/4 health check by a nurse
7 who hadnt had one unaware entitled to one
Where had to pay for non prescription items - cost often
prohibitive, valued home delivery of medicine where available
One of main features desire to maintain as much independence
as possible
5 home help, 0 meals on wheels, 0 care attendant service on
befriending/visiting
Some of these domiciliary services were unpopular due to
perceived and experienced low standards, especially meals on
wheels
Befriending/visiting - seen as condescending although more
than 1/2 wanted a stimulating visitor (2 way relationship)

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

56

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Beattie, A. (b)
The views of black and minority ethnic older people
Briefing paper 3, 1997
Age Concern London

Examine views of older people from black and minority ethnic

groups on primary care in London.

Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Informal meetings.

Participation in the study

Target population

Older ethnic minorities in London.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Contacted local forums of black and minority ethnic older

people including Afro-Caribbean, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati,
Irish, older Asian men, Jewish, Somali, Turks from 12 London
boroughs. Contact through group co-ordinators and letters to
members.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=12 groups
Interpreting by project workers where needed.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

57

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Surgery - physically accessible to most and improved premises

over recent years for most (not so good in single-handed
practices).
Reception - often blocking access to GP.
Waiting time - number waiting and long time for appointments
to see the doctor.
Information - most frequently used English speaking friends or
relatives as translators - usually worked well and said often more
official translators couldnt help in time if it was an emergency.
Not embarrassed, problem of potential misunderstandings to
occur in the translation.
GP - generally felt respectful and listened.
Charges - a number of people unhappy being charged for GP
services or letters, transport.
Liaison - felt this could be improved eg between GP and
hospital services.
Out of hours service - most happy with it, some bad experience.
Suggestion - Irish group - a health visitor focussing on older
people as a source of advice and assistance.. Some had had 75+
health check, others hadnt. Feel GPs should be more proactive
in this area.
Community health services - few aware of specialist services
available (e.g. practice nurse)/entitlement, valued where known
about, e.g., diabetes clinics.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

58

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Bodie, L.
The views of older people expressed through focus groups
Briefing Paper 2: Age Concern 1997
Age Concern, London

Explore views of older people on primary care (using focus

groups to highlight issues, and allow older people to express
their views).

Study design
Focus groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Feb - April 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Local Age Concern groups and pensioners forums (via Greater

London forum for the elderly) were invited to nominate
participants.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=30 participants (from 11 of the 33 London Boroughs)

6 women, 24 men (2 people from ethnic minorities)
5 groups across London
respondents usually actively involved in the community in some
way

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

59

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Importance of receptionist (sometimes too intrusive)

gatekeeping
Appointments - no clear consensus on best system, preferred
generally to always see one doctor
Praise for the doctor - valued a doctor with good
communication skills (smile, looking interested, listening,
answering questions) who saw patient as person, respectful
sympathetic to older people, knowledgeable, dedicated with a
sense of humour. High degree of satisfaction with GP
Information - most said read information available in waiting
room if not because not targeted at them or alarming
information re medication important. Human dimension to
information provision some cases suggested be useful for
information to be available in day centres where staff could
discuss its answers. Mixed experience of out of hours provision
- hard to contact, not prompt. Some had experienced a good
service. Nearly all thought annual health checks were a good
idea - pick up problems before its too late/peace of mind/show
someone cares (1 person thought pointless PR exercise)
Some thought checks should start earlier - maybe 60-65
Hospital discharge - lack of communication between care
providers, lack of information (and feeling that verbal
information often is more useful to older people than written
information), lack of follow up and support
Community health services - all felt support for in health centre
services due to cuts - access, waiting (not actual treatment).
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

60

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Boneham, M. A. et al
Age, Race and Mental Health : Liverpools Elderly People from
Ethnic Minorities
Health & Social Care 2 113-125,1997
Liverpool University
Is appropriate mental health care being offered to people from
ethnic minorities?
By measuring extent of depression and dementia in people aged
65+ from ethnic minorities and look at barriers to use.

Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

65+ ethnic minorities

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

GP patient lists, community lists and snowballing 12 practices in

areas with high proportion of ethnic minorities.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

44 male, 27 female. 42% diagnosed with signs of senile

dementia; 72% depression (high levels); some both.
(Black community in Liverpool greater proportion British born
not post war immigration).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

MRC - ALPHA study - methods for measuring prevalence of

illness.

Yeatts typology (1992) lack of knowledge and lack of intent

barriers

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

61

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

High levels of unmet need. Lack of knowledge about services

and perception that they might be culturally inappropriate.
Often language barrier and inappropriate food for those
experiencing care. Frequent lack of extended family support.
Pride and independence were also factors barring access to
services.

Yes
Yes, with an acknowledgement that the prime concern is mental
health

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

62

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Brighton CVS
We dont know what were missing Report of the Brighton
Hove and District Ethnic Minorities Representative Council
Health Needs Project.
Brighton CVS: Brighton, 1994

Contribute to the development of a strategy to identify the

particular health needs of black and ethnic minority
communities.

Study design
Interviews, discussion groups and questionnaires and interviews
with professional employees (not reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

June-September 1993
Members of black and ethnic minority communities main 6
communities.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Help of community representatives and/or community

voluntary workers.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=47 Not just older people, including groups of Bengali men,

Gujarati men, Iranian men, and Iranian women
Where possible single sex groups, where necessary an interpreter
(same sex) was provided in order to facilitate the discussion.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Taboo subjects covered in self completion questionnaire rather

than discussed in the groups.
Yes, with mixed sex group of local Malaysian students.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Content analysis to identify key themes and categories.

3 individuals took part in analysis including the researcher.

63

Results
Qualitative results

Communication major problem especially for elderly (often

having to rely on family translation) often receiving letters and
information in English.
Suspicion of racism in service provision and a
decline in caring attitude.
Many felt no right to complain.
Little awareness of social service provision crisis use of health
care.
Areas of concern in hospital.
Food
Male health care workers inappropriate for some religious
groups.
Ideas for improvement
(women where appropriate) greater independence,
confidentiality and access.
Community Centre as a base for a whole range of community
activities including health, etc. - Better food, advocacy, staff
more mixed (increasing), combat isolation.
Mental health support
More information - i.e. radio slot, community contact to
disseminate information.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes, although the groups contained younger participants as well
as those over 50.

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

64

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Carers National Association; Boots the Chemist

Who cares? Perceptions of caring and carers
Boots the Chemist, Nottingham, 1996
Carers National Association/Boots the Chemist

To survey the attitudes and behaviour of informal carers and to

look at the opinions of the general public with regards to caring.

Study design
2 Surveys, one of the general public (not reported here) and one
of carers. Surveys conducted by Gallup.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1996

Participation in the study

Target population

Current informal carers (all ages)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=175 carers identified from a representative sample of the

population of Great Britain (1,994 people).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

65

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

58% of the carers were women. 56% were over 45 years old
(18% over 65).
Only about half of those working said that their employer was
helpful and supportive of their role as a carer.
60% had not thought about who would care for them if they
needed care.
The majority were more likely to think that the family will look
after them than the state or social services.
66% believed that the state should pay the major part of the cost
of care.
25% thought that the state and family should share the costs.
Carers were more prepared than non carers to make extra
payments towards the cost of long term care.
Carers are most likely to turn to other family members for help
with caring than to turn to social services.

Yes
Yes, although the study includes carers of all ages.

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

66

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Carlin, H.
The Housing Needs of Older People from Ethnic Minorities:
evidence from Glasgow
Occasional papers on housing, 6, University of Stirling 1994
University of Stirling
Investigate housing needs of older people from ethnic
minorities. Special interest in housing and experiences with and
awareness of other options and whether these were seen as
appropriate.

Study design
Housing association survey (not reported here)
Survey of ethnic minority elders interviews conducted by Urdu
and Punjabi speakers.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older Indian and Pakistani community (Chinese community

covered by Council Survey) in Glasgow.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Researchers thought traditional methods inappropriate.

Targeted approach - used as outreach project that supplied
names of people willing to be interviewed and informal contacts
through mosque.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=109, 38% male, 62% female

81% Pakistanis (17% rest Indian and 28% rest African/Asian)
83% Muslims ages 55+

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Survey - some yes/no questions and some open questions.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

67

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Limited knowledge of special housing for older people or how

to access it. More than 90% thought they would consider
sheltered housing if people from own ethnic background lived
there, and if there was mix of staff including own ethnic group.
20% wished to move from current housing mainly due to
dissatisfaction with current area. 30% would like to move to
bigger house (15% smaller, 15% in better condition)
54% experienced problems with independent living and only
two had had help to make adaptions or access to aids.
74% felt health fair or poor, only 26% felt it was good.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

68

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Cameron, E., Evers, H. and Badger, F.

You get there in the end: Services for old Black and Asian
people in Wolverhampton
Report, 1993
Salutis Partnership/Wolverhampton Social Services and the
Health Authority
To investigate the needs of older people from Asian and Afro
Caribbean communities, and to contribute to improving
services.

Study design
In-depth interviews and group discussions with Asian and Black
middle aged and older people and with service providers (not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

January - May 1993

Middle aged and older Black and Asian people in
Wolverhampton

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Initial contacts were identified by service providers and then a

networking approach was used to identify further interviewees.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Jamaicans, Punjabi speaking Sikhs and Hindus from Gujarat

were the main groups interviewed (main ethnic minority groups
in Wolverhampton). N=45 Asians (5 in a group discussion)
with an equal number of men and women. Half lived alone or
with a spouse, most in owner occupier households. N=26
Jamaican men and women (almost equal numbers), women
were mainly younger, all except one living alone or with
spouse, most in local authority accommodation. Range of ages
covered. The women tended to be younger.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Interview schedule, modified and expanded during the course of

the research. The data includes a mixture of translation
(through social services translators) and direct reported
responses. The majority of interviews were carried out in the
respondents own home.

69

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

70

Bradshaw (1972) theory of normative, felt, expressed and

comparative need. Theory of triple jeopardy (Norman, 1985)
Notes were made in the interviews and written up more fully
after the interview. Content analysis was used to identify
themes, which both emerged from the data and had emerged
during the interview

The prime areas of concern for the respondents were housing,

money and information. The respondents were keen to share
their views on services with the researchers.
Housing problems were often very disabling, eg the need for
appropriate adaptions and repairs, location and size of the
housing available. Lack of money often makes housing
problems worse. Need for some to have choices and alternatives
to the traditional arrangement of care in the family.
Need for information. For those (1/3) who had financial
problems information was also an issue. Bills, need for
household items, transport costs, costs of home care and leisure,
costs of relatives travel and visas were all mentioned.
Interviewees asked the interviewers about services, benefits and
other information (indicating a need) - some said they didnt
know where or who to ask, not wanting to cause a fuss.
Word of mouth was cited as the most important source of
information about services etc. - element of chance in finding
out things from family, friends, church and day centre. For
those who felt out of circulation because of their age and
health this system didnt offer much support. Service providers
and advice centres had also provided information.
Often people had very out of date information.
Potential of GP surgeries mentioned by a number of people.
Services not conceptualising services in providers terms so
finding the system hard to negotiate when needs arise.
Praise for services including GPs and home carers rated highly.
Often people feeling they need more help, some feeling services
provide poor quality, delays and uncertainty, inflexibility, lack of
information.
Plus experiences as minority groups - food, language, standing
out.
Barriers to complaint - feeling grateful, not wanting to complain
(might lose services, issues of race), low expectations, see others
as experts, concern about costs, cultural aspects.
Suggestions for change: priority to older people, more
consultation, better quality service, more benefits and services,
more control and equity.
Caring seen as a natural part of family life (respect and repay
elderly as traditional Asian values), lack of info, inadequate
service support, lack of appropriate carers, financial, housing and
environmental constraints.

Health not identified as a priority. Many said they were fit and
healthy. Others identified the influence of poor health on their
working lives, often having to stop work, or work causing
health problems. These problems affecting their financial
situation.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

71

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation

Central IT Unit
Electronic government: the view from the queue.
Comprehensive research into potential customer take-up of online government services, Report, 1998.
Cabinet Office

Research question
Aim

Looking at the likelihood of take-up of electronic services.

Study design
Surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews with the public,
benefits customers and providers (only the research with the
public is reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?

November 1997 - July 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Population aged 16 and over

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

72

N=2004, random sample of those 16 and over living in Great

Britain. Results were weighted by age and social class.

CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing), face to face in

the respondents home.

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Older people are less likely to say that they will use new
technology. They are less likely to say that they will use touch
tone phones, PCs, touch screens and interactive television.
They showed more interest in the touch tone phone option
than in screen based methods.
Of those 55+25% were very willing to use the new technology
options (compared to 37% aged 25-34). Of those saying no
over a third said that they would prefer to talk to someone face
to face.
Retired people were also more resistant to smart cards (along
with people in social classes D and E).
With lower social classes and older people there was a strong
mistrust of technology along with an unwillingness to use it.

Yes
Yes, although the survey includes other age groups, the results
are broken down by age.

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

73

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Clark, A.
Community participation in determining the needs of users and
carers of rural community care services
Health Bulletin 55 (5), 1997 p 305-308

Devise techniques suitable for involving local people living in

rural areas in needs assessment.

Study design
Local people involved in study design through workshops,
interviews and focus groups with users and carers (carers not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Service users

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

74

N=25, majority of users were aged 65+

Rural area of Scotland

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Respondents did not operate with an understanding of

community care as planners and providers see it, therefore
found it difficult to reflect on future services.
Although shared perspective, but in addressing the problem
users found it hard to accept the clear demarcation lines
between organisations, providers etc.
Geography as a further barrier identified to responsive local
services in rural areas.
Research itself generated a level of involvement for providers to
build upon.

Yes
Yes, although not all the respondents were older people

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

75

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Clark, H., Dyer, S. and Horwood, J. (a)

That bit of help. The high value of low level preventative
services for older people
The Policy Press: Bristol, 1998

What matters to older people about low level support services?

Does it matter who provides them? Are the services about care
provision or support to care for oneself.

Study design
Interviews with older people, one third of whom were
interviewed on 2 or 3 separate occasions to get some idea of
change over time. Also interviewed professionals (not reported
here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Through statutory and voluntary agencies and researchers

friendship networks.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=51 interviews (in respondents homes)

Concentrating of social rather than primary health provision
(reflecting respondents priorities)
3 local authority areas in the south

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used? Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

76

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Services linked to independence and home

Gender dimension - for older women, home was their domain
where they demonstrated their competence, therefore important
to keep up standards, coping, otherwise difficult to have visitors.
Housework linked to self esteem etc public and private identity
Changing net curtains - visible from outside.
Many unhappy with the shift from home help to home care,
which meant less help with the housework.
Men less concerned about the public image of the home, and
didnt associate housework so much with independence (more
functional value).
Men needed more help with meals.
Some fear of strangers in the home, therefore preferred
maintenance by those from reputable organisations by Care and
Repair, especially for women.
Fragile health and loss of a partner also increase this feeling of
vulnerability in the home, loneliness, isolation and fear of crime.
Social outlets - some value luncheon clubs, coffee mornings, day
centres etc - source of company, to get out, to have a meal. But
others dont like them, eg finding them too cliquey, not
stimulating, difficult to get to or simply not my cup of tea.
Advantage of services include not having to ask family and
friends where neighbours helped often reciprocal - eg in
exchange for food or gifts (not normally for housework).
Importance of routine in services, eg same carer choice and
control central to independence.
Always used the word help not care - dont want things done
that they can do themselves. Need for information about
options. Research project acted as an information provider.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

77

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Clark, H. and Dyers, S. (b)

Equipped for going home from hospital
Health Care in Later Life, Volume 3, no 1 1998, p 35-45

Look at the experiences of older people going through hospital

discharge and receiving equipment or adaptions to their homes.
Did the equipment make them feel more independent?

Interviews with participants one month after discharge and then

again 3 months later.

Older people leaving hospital with adaptions and equipment for

the home.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

1st cohort recruited while shadowing occupational therapists

(OT) involved in discharge arrangements - asked those who
were eligible for equipment or housing adaptions.
2nd cohort recruited from a random sample of OT records of
people who had equipment for adaptions.
A further 10 were identified by the district nurses.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=50

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

78

In-depth interviews - very loosely structured

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Varied responses to equipment and adaptations

1. resistance followed by a change of heart once the appliance/
adaptation proved useful.
2. Not wanting and not accepting changes, threat to
independence, control over own life, not wanting home
changed.
3. New needs, further needed dimensions emerging, but
unclear how to get help, on recovery some wanting to
attend their activities, eg get out into the garden, social
activities.
4. Had their own coping strategies (personal adaptions) that
were rarely considered by the Occupational Therapists eg
using a shopping trolley instead of a zimmer frame.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

79

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

CVS Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP)

What are the over 50s up to?
RSVP, London 1993
RSVP

In a context of growing need for volunteers the study aimed to

explore volunteer actions and attitudes to volunteering.

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1991/92

Participation in the study

Target population

50+

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

80

N=300 people in 6 geographical areas across the UK.

Demographic profile of sample intended to reflect Census
statistics.

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Reasons for getting involved

Nearly half started volunteering because they were asked. The
main reasons for becoming involved included helping those in
need and contributing to society (meeting people and having
something to do were factors of secondary importance).
Mainly became aware of the opportunities through friends and
family.
The main benefits of volunteering were that it was satisfying to
do something worthwhile, it was good to make a contribution.
Things to do with personal benefit did not score so highly.
Majority (59%) could not think of any negatives to
volunteering, but others mentioned the need to be welcomed,
involved and kept busy.
Reasons for losing contact
Reasons for lapsing were lost contact (eg when moving house
or periods of transition such as children leaving school), health
reasons and lack of time.
Of those who had never volunteered, other commitments that
placed demands on their time and not being asked were the
most important factors.
Willingness to volunteer.

Yes
Yes

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

81

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Davis Smith, J.
The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering
National Centre for Volunteering, London, 1998
University of East London

Explore characteristics of volunteers and attitudes to

volunteering in society (not discussed here), advantages and
disadvantages of volunteering and barriers to volunteering.

Study design
Survey, designed to be directly comparable to early surveys of
volunteers in 1981 and 1991.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

June-July 1997

Participation in the study

Target population

Adults aged 18 and over in the UK

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

A Postcode Address File was used to select a random sample of

residential addresses.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=1486 (51% response rate)

The data is broken down in to age bands, including 55-64, 6574 and 75+. The data is weighted to correct for differential
probability of recruitment and non-response bias.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

82

Questionnaire using Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAPI)

Yes

Results
Quantitative results

Main reasons for volunteering in those 55+ were: that

volunteering was connected to the needs or interests of the
individual or their friends and family, that there was a need in
the community and the individual was keen to improve things,
that they wanted to make friends or meet new people, that they
had time to spare or someone had asked to help (slightly fewer
had got involved by offering to help).
Benefits included: making friends, the satisfaction of seeing
results, that its enjoyable, and that it is part of the individuals
philosophy.
Drawbacks included: poor organisation of volunteering, their
can be a lack of appreciation and it can leave the individual out
of pocket. Sometimes the tasks are too demanding or the
volunteer doesnt have enough time to meet the commitment.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Yes
Yes, although it also includes non-attitudinal data

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

83

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Davis Smith, J.
Volunteering: Widening horizons in the third age
Paper no 7
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust: Dunfermline, 1992
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust

Who is involved in volunteering, what do they do as volunteers,

and what do they think about volunteering prevalence and
attitudes to volunteering.

Study design

When was the fieldwork conducted?

Analysis of existing survey data, including the 1991 National

Survey of Voluntary Activity and a survey of 300 organisations
using volunteers to find out how they involve older people not reported here. Only data on attitudes reported here.

Participation in the study

Target population

Varies between surveys

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

84

Results
Quantitative results

Why volunteer? (NSVA 1991)

37% (50-74) organisation connected with my needs/interests
(31%-75+)
33% (50-74) organisation connect with needs or interest of
friends/family (26%-75+)
53% (50-74) someone asked me to help (38% - 75+)
45% (50-74) offered to help (54%-75+)
34% 50-74, 42% 75+ - had time to spare
29% 50-74, 37% 75+ - meet people/make friends
39% 50+ help people/improve things.
Advantages (NSVA 1991)
Ideal lots of benefits listed as very or fairly important to them
for example 94% 50-74, 99% 75+ because really enjoy it
84% 99% - part of philosophy/religion to help others
90% 97% - satisfaction of seeing results
89% 88% - meet people/make friends
less about learning new skills, qualifications or recognition.
Why people give up? (RSVP survey 1993)
78 older lapsed volunteers why?
23% lost touch with organisation, 21% lack of time, 21% health
reasons.
Drawbacks
In general, less dissatisfaction especially compared to other age
groups although,
61% 50-74 29% 75+ felt that things could be better organised
+ 32% 75+ (20%) - efforts werent always appreciated
+ 32% (23%) - cant always cope with things asked to do
+ 31% (23%) - sometimes find yourself out of pocket
22% (3%) - takes up too much time (women 50-74 - 2xs more
likely to think this.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes, the report does include some surveys on attitudes to
volunteering as well self reported volunteering behaviour

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

85

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation

Research question
Aim

Dench, S. and Norton, R.

Leaving employment early
Report summary, 322, 1996
Institute of Employment Studies: Brighton
Institute of Employment Studies/Carnegie Third Age
Programme
Investigate attitudes of early retired workers to early retirement,
their attachment to the labour market and their experiences in
the labour market after early retirement.

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Autumn 1995

Participation in the study

Target population

Early retired people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

7 large organisations sent questionnaires to a sample of

employees who had taken early retirement

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N= 1012 (1698 sent out giving a response rate of 60%), public

and private sector employees, all aged over 50 at the time they
retired, all left after 1991 and all were in receipt of a pension
(90% received a company pension).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

86

Questionnaire

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Attitudes to retirement - Just over half felt that retirement had

been their full choice, and a third felt that they had had some
choice.
The nearer a person was to normal retirement age when they
retired, the more likely they were to see retirement as having
been their choice alone. Those in their early 50s were more
likely to say they had not liked the options offered to them.
Planning - 40% had no particular plans when they first retired.
Most thinking of non work activities, but 28% thinking about
finding another job.
Finding another job - Initially 27% thought finding another job
was important, but this lessened somewhat over time. A smaller
number had an increasing attachment to the labour market over
time.
Of those who looked for work (47%), half were satisfied with it.
Problems were identified by others eg - hard to get another job,
unsatisfactory jobs with poor pay and conditions and long hours.
Not all wanting a job that took up all of their time.
Those who had not wanted to find another job or had found
one they were happy with, were more satisfied with retirement.
3/4 felt that employers preferred to employ younger workers.
Information and advice - Most satisfied. A minority
commented that they would have liked a different amount and
type of advice. Suggestions included more personal and
impartial financial advice, more concrete facts, earlier advice,
advice on finding another job (particularly in terms of what was
realistic), retraining and follow-up. It would be helpful to have
advice on adjusting to retirement.

Yes
Yes

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

87

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Ellis, S.W.
The Intergenerational Programme Mentoring Project: Final
Research Report
Report, 1998
The Beth Johnson Foundation/Manchester Metropolitan
University
What are the gains for all those involved in mentoring (older
people, young people and education providers), looking
particularly at changes in attitudes, effects on intergenerational
understanding and impact on educational setting.

Study design
Action research evaluation, using qualitative (in depth
interviews) and quantitative methods (baseline and follow up
survey) Research with teachers and pupils is not reported here.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

November 1997-July 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people as mentors

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Scheme promoted on local radio, in the foundation newsletter.

Also word of mouth.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=10, 6 female (one lost to follow up) and 4 men, mean age 63
and median 61.
5 were married, 4 were widowed and 1 was single
Often history of voluntary work, previous contact with children

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

The Childrens Views of Ageing (CVoA) before and after

questionnaire with the children.
Attitude scales used with the mentors.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

88

Impact of intergenerational programmes on attitudes (Newman,

Faux and Larimer, 1997; Neugarten, 1994; Kogan, 1961)

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Attitudes remained positive throughout the scheme

There was agreement that involvement had increased their circle
of friends and been a more productive use of their time. Most
also felt that they felt better about themselves, more than half
thought it had made them do more and learn more.
Nine out of ten felt that at least to some extent involvement had
increased social activity, enriched the lives of others and
improved their own lives, helped contribution to the
community, increased interaction with other kinds of people
and been rewarding.
Benefits - Respondents were asked to identify three benefits in
order; satisfaction with helping the young people, appreciation
by the young people, increasing skills through experiences in
the school context.
Constraints were lack of opportunity to expand role further,
time, particularly with regard to other voluntary commitments
and getting too involved with the children.
Primary school
Variety of reasons for getting involved including having spare
time, feeling there was a gap in their lives and liking working
with children.
Importance of training and entrance and exit strategies.
Gained self esteem, self worth, confidence and personal
satisfaction.
Felt age and experience were important.
Secondary school - mentors reported benefits of involvement.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Yes
Yes

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

89

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Fell, S. and Foster, A.

Ages of Experience a survey of attitudes and concerns among
older people living in Scotland.
Scottish Consumer Council, Glasgow, 1994
SCC/Age Concern, Scotland, University of Strathclyde.

To obtain a clear picture of problems facing older people in

Scotland and better understanding of their requirements both
now and in future.

Study design
Discussion groups and survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

The groups in 1992 and the survey in 1993

Participation in the study

Target population

Discussion Groups
60+

Survey
60+

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Not given

5 Groups
2 of learning in later life
course members.
1 CASE, Maryhill
1 Alive and Kicking project
1 Senior citizens groups of
Dixon Halls.

N = 358 completed
(response rate not known)
Age concern groups, SCC
Network Poll, Strathclyde,
Elderly Forum.
53% live alone
53% owned their property
Broadly reflects Scotlands
retirement population, but
more women interviewed

Loosely structured discussion

guide. Group members could
select subjects from a list

Used information from the

groups to draw up the
questionnaire.
Piloted.

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

90

Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Health - majority see themselves as fit and healthy. 63% good/

very good health. - 10% health better than 5 years ago, 57% the
same, 32% worse. Most important factors for good health?
56% good diet, 22% enough money, 20% regular housing.
High degree of satisfaction with health services especially
Chemist (96% thought good).
Service most important for older people who need help at
home 54%
Information 62% enough information available re. services,
31% not enough (28% couldnt think of a source of information
re. Services)
Contribution 73% think older people have a great deal/a lot
to contribute to society, 14% a bit.
Media image 39% portrayed satisfactory, 44% quite or very
negative.
Housing 24% lived in own home. Most satisfied with
housing although some concern about costs of heating (14%)
and maintaining outside of house (15%)
What do you like about your home?
Location (26%), Size/layout (17%), Comfort (16%)
Concerns?
looking after garden (10%), heating costs (7%), fixtures and
fittings (7%), 37 % - nothing.
Concerns about becoming housebound?
30% loss of independence as major worry, 16% lack of mobility,
stairs problems, 14% loneliness (unprompted)
Where would they like to live if housebound? 47% current
home, 35% sheltered housing, only 5% in home or 5% family
member.
Getting around
41% not getting around as much as 5 years ago (42% the same,
17% more). Does this restrict activities 59% not much/at all,
15% a bit, 21% very much/quite a lot. What problems do the
disabled encounter getting around 58% having to rely on
others, 44% poor access to transport.
How do you get around? 60% on foot, 56% on buses, 40%
own car.
Problems on foot? Poor quality pavements 63%, dog fouling
49%, safety 46%.
Problems with buses? 34% lack of shelters, seats at stops. 32%
getting on and off. 20% nothing.
Problems with train? Costs 30%, area not on train route
22%, 18% unmanned stations.
Problems with car? 61% aggressive drivers, 49% parking
problems, 43% increased traffic, 41% cost of car, 33% conditions
of roads.

91

Aspirations re. easier to get around? Improve public transport,

cheap off-peak fares, better co-ordinated services and lower bus
entry steps, more convenient parking, reduced road taxes for
older people, handrails at steps.
Leisure
Recreation at least once in past week: 92% TV, 86% read a
paper, 82% read books/magazines etc. Satisfaction with current
levels of activity: 68% happy, 26% would like more.
Opportunities available in local area: 43% excellent/good, 30%
fair, 15% poor/very poor. 20% would like more social
recreation and ed. 69% not.
Issues of concern: 84% health, 79% vandalism, 71% crime and
violence, 42% education.
Quality of life
Majority rate their quality of life as good/very good. Identify as
problems of getting older 69% declining health, 27% financial
difficulties, 22% loneliness and isolation, 21% mobility problems.
8% other peoples attitudes, 3% housing problems.
Benefits of getting older 43% more relaxed/less stress, 41%
freedom/independence/15% more family contact, 13% none.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

92

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Finch, H., and Elam, G.

Managing Money in Later Life
DSS Research Report, No 38
HMSO: London, 1995
Department of Social Security

To examine the financial decision making and financial

management strategies of pensioners, and factors influencing
them including attitudes, circumstances, etc, and pre-retirement
plans and extent to which they are realised.

Study design
Qualitative study
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Summer & Autumn 1994

Participation in the study

Target population

People of state pension age (females 60+, males 65+)

Exclusion criteria

Those people no longer in regular paid employment, living

independently in community. <20,000 in household financial
assets.

Recruitment procedures

Selected from Family Resources Survey using a quota.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=52 - interviewed alone or in couples (c.75% response rate).

Wide variety of respondents in terms of household type, age,
tenure, assets, receipt of income, type of benefits and locality.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

In-depth interviews using a topic guide outlining key areas for

discussion and short structured questionnaire for collecting
information.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Thematic framework drawn up from an initial reading of a

sample of transcripts.

93

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

94

Mixed views on retirement while some looked forward to it,

others were reluctant and a few self employed did not expect to
retire, there was a general sense of apprehension.
Planning: Most had made no particular financial plans for
retirement, few pensioners had expectations of what retirement
would be like. Some had retired early due to ill-health/
redundancy which affected planning.
Nature of retirement: Took a bit of adjusting to, boredom,
loneliness and relationship problems. Some of the women
thought that they didnt really retire. Retirement was very
different over time, initially enjoyed active holidays, running a
car, etc, later health problems/frailty but concerned to remain
independent still strong - pride, demonstrate ability to cope.
Access to cash important, therefore liked to be near a bank,
building society, post office or even kept money at home.
Retain assets: wish to retain rather than run down assets for
emergencies, repairs, etc. Once gone, no way to replenish
them, money seen as crucial. Inheritance was also important.
Money management: often death of spouse creates
complications for the partner, new roles of paying bills,
especially widowers budgeting for food. Living standards assessed by the pensioners in terms of affording things you like
and managing financially, level of assets as well (if not more
than) income was important as it affected perceptions of
financial security and therefore peace of mind. Again important
for independence.

Yes
Yes

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Forster, J.
Potential of a lifetime
The Carnegie United Kindom Trust: Fife, 1997
The Carnegie United Kindom Trust, TSB Foundation

To explore the experience of older workers (adding to the

existing quantitative data).
The identify existing good ideas and practice.

Study design
1) Survey of volunteers, interviews with a key member of staff
or volunteer and a group discussion with volunteers in each
org.
2) Evaluation of Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Main study (1)

Volunteers aged over 50

Exclusion criteria

Not given for either

ESV study (2)

Employees in the 6
participating companies
(public and private sector)

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=449 (72% response rate)

Volunteers in 25
organisations, all over UK,
rural and urban.
25% 50-59, 44% 60-69,
30% over 70 years old.
Limited to education, social
welfare, heritage and
environmental volunteers.

N=236 (36% response rate)

90% 50-59 years old
no one over 65
54% men
Majority in manual positions
(66%).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

95

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results

96

Voluntary activity varied depending on age, sex, occupational

background. For example women were more likely to be
involved with education, social welfare and heritage and men
were more likely to be involved in environmental volunteering.
Heritage volunteers were also likely to be older (70+) and
education and environment volunteers were more likely to be
younger (50-59).
Middle classes over represented in all areas, but greater class
variation in social welfare volunteering.
52% had become involved in volunteering for the first time after
they were 50, often in response to life changes such as
redundancy or retirement.
More women than men involved (60:40). Some suggested that
this may be associated with traditional gender roles.
Age seen to be an advantage as they were patient, caring and
experienced, but also a disadvantage as it brought poor health,
limited strength and mobility. (73% thought old age or poor
health would be their reason for leaving).
Main reasons for volunteering were to use skills and experience
and because the organisation had a good reputation. Other
reasons included knowing there was a need for volunteers and
being asked to help.
Word of mouth was important in recruiting volunteers, also
contact with the org. or adverts etc.
Commitment to organisation an important factor, need for
recognition of contribution, being kept informed, have a say
78% happy with amount they are doing, 21% like to do less.
Majority enjoyed their work as volunteers, but mentioned the
following frustrations; not using skills and lack of confidence
about ability to do the job.
Need for support and appreciation although few feeling
undervalued.
Social aspects of work highlighted as something volunteers
would miss when they stopped volunteering (although some
more interested in the task and not wanting the contact).
Importance of relationships between staff and volunteers and
users, esp. important role of leaders.
Commitment to individuals and the organisation made
retirement difficult.
ESV survey (2) Of those who had taken part the majority had
enjoyed volunteering (identifying few drawbacks), but low
awareness of initiative - therefore seen to be a need for better
communication and publicity.
13% said they would be interested in taking part in the future
Others had not got involved for a number of reasons including
not having been asked and having other commitments, some
already volunteers elsewhere.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Yes
Yes

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

97

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Ginn, J. and Arber, S.

Gender, Age and Attitudes to Retirement in Mid-life
Ageing and Society, 16(1) 1996, pp27-55.
University of Surrey

Examine gender differences in attitudes to employment of midlife men and women and reasons for early exit from the
workforce.

Study design
Further analysis of Social Change and Economic Life
Initiative survey(SCELI)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Exclusion criteria

1986
(Men and women aged 40-50) to cover period of greatest
labour market involvement (late 40s) followed by rapid decline
in 50s.
Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

SCELI survey randomly selected (from electoral register) in 6

urban local labour markets (n=2500). Booster sample used
where necessary to get minimum of 150 unemployed in each
locality (main sample 6000 aged 16-59) N= 2500 aged 40-50
Not nationally representative, but profiles of men and women
match GHS 1986.
SCELI survey further analysis

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

98

Multivariate analysis

Results
Quantitative results

Reasons for job seeking:

men prime reason economic
women psychosocial aspects of having a job were also
important.
Mid-life women showing no decline in motivations towards
employment with age early exit not just about reduced desire
to work with age instead behaviour and attitudes may be
affected by other factors.
Age seen as influencing womens prospects in the job market.
Attitudes towards unemployment do not become more positive
with age, but age does have an effect on whether further
employment is sought.
Attitudes to employment are related to opportunities.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Theme
Active ageing

Yes
Yes, although the sample is of 40-50 year olds they have been
included because of the light they throw on issues of
employment of men and women in later life.

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

99

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Hartley, J. and Anderson, I.

MORI survey of residents in pilot authorities. The Evaluation
of the Best Value Pilot Programme,
Report, 1998
DETR
Gather residents views of their local council in each of the 42
Best Value pilot areas

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

July to September 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Residents over the age of 16 in the 42 Best Value pilot areas

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

At each selected address an adult member of the household over

the age of 16 was chosen to complete the interview.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

A sample of all residents.

33% of the sample were over 55 and data is disaggregated by age
Data weighted to the combined census profile of the 42 regions.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

100

Administered questionnaire
Yes, 5 point Likert scales

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Older people, women and young people are more likely to be

satisfied with the council than council tenants and disabled
people and to feel (along with council tenants) that the council
keeps residents informed. Parents are less likely to feel informed.
All types of resident wanted to be kept in touch with what the
council was doing, but older and younger residents and council
tenants were more likely to say that as long as the council did its
job they were not particularly interested in it.
Postal questionnaires and public meetings were the main ways in
which older residents (and the general population) had been
consulted.
67% general population had not been consulted at all in the last
year, while 66% of those 55-65 and 75% of those 65+ had not
been consulted during the last year.
22% general population not interested in any form of
involvement, 47% of those over 65 (55-64 23%). They are less
likely than the rest of the sample to want to be involved in any
area except social services (14%). Shared an interest in
involvement with regard to crime. Of those who would like to
get involved postal questionnaires and household surveys were
the most popular option (over meetings, residents panels, focus
groups). Other groups show more interest in public meetings
than older people.
78% users of services for the elderly said had not been asked for
their views on assessment or provision of services for elderly.
Older people are also more likely to have a positive image of the
council than other groups.
When asked about contact with local government staff - older
people found the council most helpful.
More older people reporting that they vote in local elections
(69% 55-64, 75% 65+ compared to average of 60%), most
common reason why not for older people was that they were
too busy for 75+ this was the least common response, most
common was not interested.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

101

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Hedges, A.
Pensions and retirement planning
DSS Research Report no. 83, Corporate Document Services,
Leeds 1998

Explore public knowledge, attitudes and aspirations about

pensions

Study design
Group discussions
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

September and November 1997

Broad cross section of population, including those who are still

of working age and pensioners

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Recruitment questionnaire

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=97. 16 groups including 5 pensioners groups and 11

working age groups of varying ages. Respondents had varying
pension entitlements, different sexes, age, region and socio
economic group

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Topic guide and stimulus sheets of information (often

introduced later in the discussion). Some groups completed self
completion questionnaires at the end of the session

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

102

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Most people not thinking much about retirement until it is

upon them - compounded by uncertainty about the future and
complexity of the system and a lack of information.
Some look forward to increased freedom, leisure, and escape
from work, while others think of the income, health, mobility
and inactivity problems that they have to look forward to.
Money as a key to independence and level of enjoyment to be
had in retirement (especially with rising costs, eg long term
care). Some suggested that one way to help could be payment in
kind - eg TV licence.
Pension because you are entitled to it and because its a moral
obligation of the state.
Self employed may have more influence over when they retire.
Women often covered by husbands pension and therefore if
family breaks up they are in a vulnerable economic position.

Yes
Yes, but mainly on pensions

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

103

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Help the Aged (a)

Help the Aged Transport Council Report 1998.
Help the Aged: London, 1998
Help the Aged

Hold older peoples transport briefings in light of governments

green paper Developing an integrated transport policy.

Study design
Meetings
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Exclusion criteria

February & March 1998

Representatives of groups of older people - e.g. pensioners

action groups, elderly forums etc.
Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

104

N=93 participants
7 groups across the country (Nottingham, Exeter, Newcastle,
Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Manchester).

Results
Qualitative results

SARA
Safe, reassurance and assistance provided by conductors
Accessible
- information
- ease of access to system e.g. bus stop
- getting aboard
- getting there
Reliable
Affordable debate about freely available transport as a right of
older people versus those who think of transport as part of
transport market catered for by commercial schemes, eg
railcards.
All over the country people felt it was unfair that access to
concessionary schemes was determined by geographical
boundaries and lots of different local schemes.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes, with caution regarding methods

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

105

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Help the Aged (b)

Pensioners Transport Survey
Help the Aged: London, 1998
Report
Help the Aged

To gather information and opinions about transport and

compare the results for older people with those for people of
other ages.

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

May 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

General population

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Respondents selected at random

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=605 respondents of which 300 were over 60 years old

374 women and 231 men from all over the United Kingdom
Efforts were made to include the views and experiences of a
large number of people.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Questionnaire developed using the issues emerging from the

discussion meetings (Help the Aged, 1998a), questionnaire
administered by pensioners.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

106

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Public transport was deemed important, amongst respondents

of all ages, including those who had access to a car.
One advantage of the car identified by older people was that it
allowed for flexible, door to door transport.
Poor public transport can make it difficult for older people to
visit family and friends or take part in social activities such as
evening classes and trips to the theatre.
Problem of concentration and duplication of services.
Most common demand for more frequent and regular bus
services.
There was little mention of walking as an alternative to the car
SARA factors (Help the Aged, 1998a) were seen to be of equal
importance by the majority of respondents.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

107

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Henwood, M. and Waddington, E.

Expecting the Worst? Views on the future of long term care
Help the Aged: London, 1998.
Help the Aged

Explore peoples thoughts and aspirations with regard to long

term care services.

Study design
Focus groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Actual and potential users of long term care

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Through existing groups in most areas. The younger groups

were most difficult to recruit. Recruiters used a GP practice
and a union (both groups were women only).

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

7 groups. The groups represented 3 age bands; those in middle

age (40-50), those who were pre-retired or early retired (55-65)
and those were are or are likely to soon be service users (75-85).
Groups carried out across England and Wales, in urban, rural
and inner city areas. Groups were socially diverse, but did not
include a good mix of ethnic groups. Some frail, while others
were mobile. Groups included volunteers and carers.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Facilitators introduced core themes including views on ageing

and expectations for future care.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

108

Notes were made during the discussion and a report was written
on each session. Cross-cutting themes were identified.

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

5 major cross-cutting themes emerged:

Justice and fairness - participants felt that they had been let
down by the welfare state as they are being forced to pay for
care again. Those who had saved felt penalised for having
savings. The thought of losing homes, having nothing to show
for years of work and nothing to leave to their children were
particularly hard. Low income in retirement was also an issue
Variations in subsidised transport, in charges for social care and
TV licences were also mentioned.
Independence and control - wanting to stay independent and in
their own homes, but clear that they would need financial
security, appropriate and timely information (especially with
regard to access to and eligibility for services) and help with
mind and body to do this.
Models of care - Residential care seen as a last resort.
Participants did not just want to stay in their homes, they were
also not keen on the residential care provision currently on offer
in terms of eg care, activities, staff, etc.
Role of transport infrastructure in maintaining independence
and continuing activities and visiting, was highlighted. Fear of
crime constituted a further constraint.
Importance of support and companionship.
Many needing a little help in the home rather than care eg.
housework. Services should reflect individual needs and desire
for independence.
Aspirations - privacy and personal space, continuity.
Grandparenting role, liberation from routine.
Remain in the community with necessary support.
Caring - very varied role, often relationship of mutual
dependence, concern for future, lack of info, need for support.
Reluctance to accept family care.
Striking coherence in attitudes between groups.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

109

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Hirst. R., Allen, G. and Watson, L.

Now or Never: Older Peoples Decisions about Housing
1995, report
University of Southampton

View of older people concerning their need to move, the

availability of care and support services and housing options.

Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

60+

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Recruited from waiting/transfer lists - every nth case selected

from the list. Discussions with wardens identified appropriate
cases amongst those already in residence e.g. recent movers.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=58 across one district. 30 already moved, 28 waiting. (Not

private sector housing because of access, time constraints.)
2 groups - one of people in warden assisted sheltered housing or
almshouses accommodation. Those on waiting list for sheltered
housing or almshouses waiting list.
Second group of people on local transfer list from council to
sheltered housing.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

110

Interview schedule
Yes with 12 respondents

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Among those on waiting lists more than half were very

determined to stay in their original homes (applications as an
insurance policy for some of these). Some had even turned
down offers (5 had turned down 3 or more!).
Those in sheltered housing had moved due to medical need,
coupled with a housing problem. Differences between 2
groups. More private home owners and importance of
independence of those wanting to stay in own home.
Those in sheltered housing felt they retain a sense of
independence.
64% (37) felt current home services inadequate to meet present
and future needs. Moving process itself deemed undesirable.
Home carers - too limited in range of tests permitted to do, eg,
not maintenance, home and garden/shopping.
Majority wanted to continue living locally, lack of advice,
information about the options available when considering a
move.
Those in sheltered homes hoped the move there had been their
final move. Negative attitudes to residential care and nursing
homes.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

111

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Horne, S. Broadgate, A.
The Charity Shop Volunteer in Scotland: Greatest Asset or
Biggest Headache?
Voluntas, 5(2) 205-218, 1994

Explore employment issues in charity retailing especially the

profile of charity shop volunteers by looking at demographic
characteristics of the volunteer.
To determine their motivations for volunteering.

Study design
Survey of individual volunteers
Survey of shop managers (not reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Charity shop workers

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Used a sample (Scottish shops n=58) of a charity shop with

outlets across the UK

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

(N=810). 98% respondents female. Majority 55-64 years old 300, 2nd largest group 65-74 - 275, 75+ 4%).
72% volunteer workforce were 55-74.
66% retired, 22% home, 40% voluntary for more than 3 years.
Live nearby 60% <2 miles away, 27% walk to work, 37% family
car, 28% bus.
48% response rate

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

112

used SPSSx

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

Reason for volunteering (NB profile of these volunteers

different from norm (1984 Field & Hedges).
48% experience some personal association with the charity
cause.
28% believed it to be a worthy cause (the charity).
8% responded to an appeal/were asked to help.
6% lonely at home/time to spare/lived nearly.
There are clear and very similar motivations behind peoples
decision to volunteer.
Why charity retailing?
31% most interesting kind of charity work
32% meet people/make friends - possible in this environment
16% previous retail experience (especially women)
14% asked to help
22% near home
1/3 of respondents involved in other charity work.

Yes
Yes, although a minority of the volunteers were under 55

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

113

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Jarvis, C.
Family and friends in old age, and the implications for informal
support: Evidence from the BSAS of 1986
Working paper, 1993
ACI0G/supported by JRF
Examine the informal relationships of elderly people and to
gauge levels of informal support.

Study design
Secondary analysis of the 1986 British Social Attitudes Survey
This survey is conducted in 2 parts: part 1 is face to face 1 hour
interviews and part 2 is a self completion supplement.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older people in BSAS (aged 60 or over)

Exclusion criteria

Only private households surveyed

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N = 319 people 60 or over

(Main survey N = 3000)
57% women, 43% men
The survey over represents people 60 - 64, and under represents
people aged 80 and over but it does match on sex, marital status
etc.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

114

Theories of Principle of Substitution and Competing

Specialisation were used to explore who people turn to when
they are in need.
Used SPSS - PC for univariate and bivariate analysis only as very
small no of cases

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Respondents were asked who would be their first choice of help

with various tasks.
Household - 45% spouse, 22% son, 10% daughter, 7% other
relevant, 1% professional.
Help if ill 52% spouse, 16% daughter, 9% son, 1% professional
If depressed 42% spouse, 18% daughter, 7% son, 6%
professional (i.e. doctor).
When family are not close by respondents turned to friends and
neighbours. Proximity is therefore an important factor, in
addition to intimacy.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

115

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Jones, D. and Salvage, A.

Attitudes to caring among a group of informal carers of elderly
dependants.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Volume 14, 1992,
p155-165

Explore attitudes towards caring, towards family and state

provision of care for the elderly and their own preferred options
for future care.

Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Carers for older people (over 70)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

A sample of elderly people (1066) were asked to identify people

who provided them with assistance. 267 carers were identified.
N=256 of these carers were interviewed in their homes.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

2/3s were either spouses or daughters, only 10% were not

related in any way to the person who needed care. 79% were
female. 64% were resident.
48% 45-64, 19% 65-74, 20% 75+

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

116

Semi-structured questionnaire and interview.

4 point scale to rate the degree of stress felt as a consequence of
providing caring (ranging from none to bearable).

Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Majority of carers (90%) said that they would not accept long
term residential care for their dependant if it could be arranged.
Those caring for someone with very severe disabilities were
more likely to make people think about long term care (though
still only 15%).
Many thought that even with a change in circumstances they
would manage somehow. Those who had high stress levels
were more likely to think about future problems, and to
consider other options.
Majority felt that children should do do all they can for their
parents.
Family and state should share responsibility for older people.
The majority preferred the thought of being looked after by
their family in old age, a third would like to be looked after in
an institution.

Yes
Yes, although not exclusively a sample of older people

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

117

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Leaper, R.
Age speaks for itself in Exeter
Social Policy & Administration 27(3), 1993

Examine opinions and perceptions of older people living in

Exeter especially with regard to health and domiciliary services.

Study design
Face-to-face interviews either in the home or in private at a
club meeting.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older people aged 65+

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Unable to use electoral register for sampling due to Data

Protection Act, GPs felt unhappy about using patient lists
therefore used 36 clubs and associations for retired people in city
and parish councils - volunteers + 10 people who were not
members were identified by each.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N= 1252 interviews. 27% male, 73% female. 59% lived alone,

36% with partner; 4% lived in a larger household.
This sample was adjusted to meet locality, age, and gender
profile of the population in area covered. Problem with
defining sensitive socio-economic measure for retired people.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

118

Questionnaire (including some open ended questions)

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Neighbourhood life: Older people generally satisfied with

neighbourhood. Some evidence of concern re security but
more in home than streets. Key concern - <10% loneliness,
13% concern about their mobility, 1/3rd rural parish
respondents.
Frequency of contact: Very varied between individuals. What
enjoy most - television, reading, trips, company, etc (24%
reading, 36% TV, 10% socialising). Younger more sociable than
oldest (still 25% 85+ more enjoyed social activities outside the
home).
20% need more help with housework of services - home help
most favourable response.
Where to go for help and advice: Depended on the problem.
23% CAB, 23% family - changes with age (slightly ahead on
money).
Money: 22% worried about money. What money item would
you like more help with 17% - pensions. Also mentions of help
with TV licence, heating. Just as many not wanting any help.
Womens health: 23.4%, 13% of whom were concerned that
health affected mobility.
Housing: Majority happy in own home and dont want to
move, gardening enjoyed by 19% 65-74s (goes down as get
older), some could do with help. Want to remain autonomous
and in own home.
Transport: 181 mentioned transport and mobility as one of the
worries with advancing age.
Citizenship: Little mention of parties or politicians (<1%).
Survey taking part around a general election - hardly any
mention of political attitudes.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

119

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Lewisham Borough Council

Research into leisure, community involvement and older people
in Lewisham
Lewisham Borough Council: London, 1998

To look at older peoples involvement in leisure activities and in

the community in Lewisham

Study design
Participatory rapid appraisal methods including document
analysis, key informant interviews, public meetings, focus groups
and a postal questionnaire
When was the fieldwork conducted?

October 1997 - March 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people in Lewisham

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Questionnaire distributed through training projects,

employment resource centres and council personnel and training
departments

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

16 public meetings. Focus groups (6-23 participants). The

largest split into workshops. Postal questionnaire to older
workers, older unemployed, and the recently retired. Sent out
to 125 people and 30 were returned.
Telephone interviews and discussions were conducted to
supplement this and face to face interviews were carried out
with pensioners groups (N=7) and groups that work with older
people. Further focus groups to look at key themes, including
an Older Womens Network and a positive health group.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

120

Core questions (used in all sessions) supplemented with

appropriate secondary questions.

Participatory Rapid Appraisal (Ong, 1993)

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
(combined)

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

More active older people valued organisation and groups which

supported peer and intergenerational involvement.
Less active older people valued projects and activities that
fostered friendships and new possibilities for getting involved.
Challenges seen as lack of comprehensiveness and issues of
continuity and cost (also crime and safety, lack of information,
transport and practical help).
Varied reactions to exclusion; anger, apathy and belief that
others have a better deal.
Pre and post retirement (views of older workers, older
unemployed and newly retired).
Retirement is not just an event, but a process which people
experience very differently.
Anxiety and anticipation - many felt ill prepared, emotionally
and practically for retirement.
Concerns about the negative view of what retirement means in
society.
Successful retirees said that they thought planning was
important and the transition to retirement was a slow process.
Less successful thought that forced retirement, through
redundancy, ill health or lack of planning all contributed.
Material circumstances and personal identity seen as crucial to
retirement.
Leisure - Challenges - low self esteem, whats on offer, lack of
information, cost of participation, transport, working and caring
responsibilities.
Opportunities - Life long learning, using existing skills,
retraining and pre retirement education, need for information to
be spread more widely.
Black and minority ethnic perspectives - many associated leisure
with physical exercise and youth.
Community organisations are somewhere safe to go and
socialise, away from racism and stereotypes.
Women requiring culturally sensitive provision, eg to swim or
to access education and work.
Language problems - more of an issue for Asians, Turks,
Vietnamese, Tamils than for Irish and African Caribbean
Those in residential homes felt that they had few links to the
community, they lack practical support (information, transport,
economic) and emotional support (to build self esteem etc),
inconsistent provision.
Yes
Yes

121

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

122

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

London Community Care Action Group

Hearing the voice of older people: a report of a consultation
meeting for older people to hear their views of community care
Community Care Action Group: London, 1994
London Community Care Action Group

Hear the voice of older people in receipt of community care

services and to represent their views in a report to be widely
circulated within Central and Local Government.

Study design
Consultation meeting.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

January 1994.

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Mainly via organisations including Age Concern, Greater

London Council and Care, Greater London forum for the
Elderly and the Standing committee for ethnic minority senior
citizens.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=67 older people from 23 London Boroughs

Provision to be made for those with limited mobility to attend.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Session began with two presentations to stimulate groups.

Groups held before lunch working with facilitators. They were
encouraged to focus on a key range of subjects pulled together
in a plenary after lunch.
Asked to identify 3 or 4 key issues/concerns regarding County
Council.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Unit of analysis
Attrition rate (if over time)
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

123

Results
Qualitative results

124

Information
Often inappropriate length, the way it is written/language style,
legibility.
Not available in places frequented/accessible to older people
social workers, when approached, cannot give advice on
information sources.
Assessment
Waiting time varies/often too long.
Language/jargon on forms and at interview a lack of
consideration of ethnic minorities, e.g. who the assessor is?
Were there interpreters?
Insensitive approach to personal grievances.
Need for reassessment not met.
Not prepared well enough to take a full role in assessment sometimes not asked all the right questions to get what is
needed.
Training staff need more training on community care/sensitivity
to individual needs/culture.
Housing
Unhappy with belief that home owners have enough money to
buy services elsewhere/or from Social Services.
Home owners encouraged to sell up to go to residential care
older people resist this - fear of lack of stimulation/lack of actual
consideration, not a home near family and friends.
Home Care Support
Home help cannot be flexible to meet needs/plans of older
people.
Lack of recognition that help with simple tasks in the house or
garden can make a big difference and quality of life, housing
choices.
Home helps sometimes do not consider cultural needs and
interests of older people.
Home helps not being adequately trained for new home care
role.
Complaints
Unclear on how to complain and if they do there is a fear of
service withdrawal.
Poor communication
Not contacted regarding service charges if temporary.
Social Services and Health Departments seem unco-ordinated in
approach.
Charging
Discrepancy between boroughs and costs.
Transport costs often a barrier to access.
Hospital discharge
Often hastily, badly planned and inappropriate time - little
regard for home site.
Aspirations/recommendations
Imaginative advertising community care - including local media,
TRAs, chemists. Use of volunteers for extra support (and
acknowledged in care plan).

Prevention better than cure - resources and day centres - be

available for older people - active and stimulating old age.
Would not mind so much paying for services if individuals had
greater control over timing and nature of support.
Help with day to day tasks - shopping, gardening the key factors
to older people remaining in their own homes.
More active role in own assessment
- use all opportunities to express their views - of local forums.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

125

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

London Housing Survey , 1992

Older people all our tomorrows?
London Research Centre: London, 1993.

Establish the housing needs of London.

Study design
Survey of sample of Londoners, here presenting a sub-sample of
older people
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1992

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people aged 60 and over

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

GPO postcode address file for London sample designed on

1991 census counts for areas, plus an extra sample of housing
association tenants to get a convincing picture of them within
overall survey.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

60 + households, where respondents themselves were 60+.

Those in private households including those in sheltered
accommodation but not in residential homes and other
institutions.
52% response rate. Slight over representation of single person
households (common in surveys) and over representation of
public sector households.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

126

Survey administered.

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

93% claimed to be satisfied with where they lived (lower among

younger people = 86%). More dissatisfaction amongst tenants
12% (as opposed to 9%). Ask (unprompted) for source of
dissatisfaction; renters/owners differ. Renters 1/7 poor
repairs/maintenance (esp. 75+ older 11% and older owners,
7%) Heating older renters, 6%, older owners, 4%
neighbours, 8% - renters, 7% - owners, esp. re noise.
steps, stairs, rooms + pollution/noise traffic (owners only
More dissatisfaction with private as opposed to social landlords
98% council tenants would choose to continue living in council
accommodation.
1/5 not heating all rooms 1 in 5 of those said because too
expensive. 26% said found it difficult to find money for fuel
bills.
73% wanting to stay in their current home - near family, friends
and potential care.
19% over 75s would like to move, 27% all the older people
1/4 for health/mobility related problems/ 50% out of London.
House/garden too big, be nearer family.
Tenure under 60 83% prefer own home. This declines 46% of
over 74s (burden of responsibility for repairs).

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

127

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

McCafferty, P.
Living independently - A study of the housing needs of elderly
and disabled people
HMSO, London, 1994
Department of the Environment
Explore the housing needs and care cost of older and disabled
people. The survey reported here looks at characteristics,
circumstances and aspirations of older people with regard to
housing.

Study design
Using a range of methods including several large scale national
surveys. The survey including the aspirations of elderly people
in the community is presented here.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

August 1991-January 1992

Older people age 65 and over (including a target of two-thirds
aged 75 and over).

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Random selection of addresses using the Postal Address File

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=8969 (of which n=5734 aged 75 and over). The data was
weighted to ensure that the correct proportions of people aged
75 and over were interviewed (using data from the Labour
Force Survey).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

128

Results
Quantitative results

Just over 3 in 5 older people felt that their home did not need
repairs or improvements so that it would be easier for them to
carry on living there. 3/10 felt they needed further aids and
adaptations. Those renting privately, those living in terraces and
those wanting to stay in their home were more likely to see a
need for at least one repair.
4/5 older people wanted to remain in their own home. 15%
wished to move. Of those who would like to move 2/3rds
would like to move to a bungalow and 1/6 would like to live in
a flat or maisonette.
3/4 of those who wish to stay in their own home do not feel
that they need help and support to remain in their home. Help
with household tasks was the most commonly identified need
for support.
41% said that they would not prefer specially designed, easy
accessible accommodation, 24% thought that they would prefer
this option, 30% had no preference. The very elderly the most
likely to prefer housing specifically designed for easy access.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

129

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

McGoldrick, A. and Cooper, C.

Health and Ageing as factors in the retirement experience
European Work and Organisational Psychologist
4(1) pp1-20, 1994
Manchester University

Looking at satisfaction with retirement and relationship to

perception of physical and mental health outcomes, age and
time in retirement, by studying the experience of a group of
employees who have retired earlier than the company norm.

Study design
Intensive home interviews followed by a survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Retired men

Exclusion criteria

Full disability retirement - as needed separate study.

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

N=1207 early retired men from a larger sample of 1800, from

16 UK organisations (public and private sector, voluntary and
compulsory exit) 78% voluntary redundancy, 22% compulsory
retired.
49-77 years of age. 67% response rate
Postal survey. The questionnaire was developed through home
interviews with 120 early retired men.
Piloted
Likert - Type Satisfaction Scale
Advantage and concern questions constructed using data from
in-depth interviews.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

130

SPSS - bivariate investigations & multivariate analysis.

Ergen-value >1.1 cut off, >0.3 seen in sign.

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing

80% men satisfied with their experience of early retirement.

Major positive lifestyle options post retirement. (6.5% active
dissatisfaction), initial dissatisfaction slightly higher 12.4%.
68.6% life better than before, 31.2% the same, only 8% worse.
declaring advantages also associated with higher mean income
on retirement; current high mean income.
70% no specific difficulties at time of survey; 60% no concerns
on retiring; >50% improved health status after retiring (self
report); 20% major health difficulty once retirement.
In response to advantages and concerns - affirmation of benefits
of retirement in terms of time, leisure, home and family,
activities (for some more active things), re concerns, finances,
health concerns, but also potential for direct health/lifestyle
improvement. Those who chose to retire view it more
positively. Many factors associated with age at interview and
age at retirement. Those with time off at end of working
careers tend to have lower satisfaction scores but some
advantages.
Results suggest the individual nature of adjustment to retirement
and satisfaction.
Yes
Yes

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

131

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

McKay, S. and Middleton, S.

Characteristics of older workers: Secondary analysis of the
family and working lives survey.
Department for Education and Employment, London, 1998
Loughborough University/ DfEE
To see what effect age had on economic activity and to look at
the characteristics of older workers.

Study design
Secondary analysis of Family and Working Lives Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1994-1995

Participation in the study

Target population

16-69 year olds

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

132

N=9000 nationally representative sample, including a booster

sample of the four main ethnic minority groups.

Results
Quantitative results

Only 26% of those in their 50s described themselves as retired.

Reluctance to acknowledge a state of economic inactivity.
Only after prompting did many concede that they had
effectively retired. The proportion of those describing
themselves as retired increased with age.
For women the care burden increased with age, impacting on
economic activity. Health problems also had an impact on
economic activity.
Self-employed often had a very positive attitude to their
employment situation, with 27% highlighting the flexibility of
being their own boss as an important reason for this satisfaction.
Although the unemployed workers were less likely to search as
intensively for jobs as younger unemployed, they were prepared
to accept as wide a range of jobs, although they expected higher
wages (and often more standard hours).

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes, although looking at characteristics of workers as well as
attitudes to work.

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

133

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Means, R.
Home, independence and community care: time for a wider
vision.
Policy and Politics 25 (4), 1998
Bristol University
Explore the importance of home and independence to older
people.

Study design
Begins by looking at past policy assumptions about the
important role of home and independence to older people (not
reported here).
Interviews with older people
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Early 1996

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

134

N=39 older people in 31 households in 4 localities (Large

midlands city, city in the South West, 2 London boroughs and a
market town and surrounding villages in the North West)
60-98 years old.
20 of households owner occupiers, 11 renting,
10 of households sheltered housing, (4 private schemes, 6
rented).

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Some saw home as a place of privacy and refuge.

Strong preference to stay put amongst those renting as well as
owner occupiers - familiar and near to neighbours and friends.
The majority of those who had moved into sheltered schemes
had settled in to their new homes - factors seen as helping this
process were bringing things with you, having friends already
living there, feeling more secure re burglaries etc. A couple had
been less happy with the move (one moved because of
husbands health and felt too young for the new environment).
Some found it harder to re establish home, but saw need with
declining health, losing neighbours, fear of burglary, loss of local
shops, house repair and garden maintenance concerns.
Nearly all the older people stressed a desire to stay as
independent as possible - home can have an important role to
play. Older people in the study were also busy outside the
home (other sources of independence - clubs, politics,
travelling, church etc).
To pursue these interests access to transport important problems with lack of buses, poor access to buses, costs of
keeping a car on the road.
Desire not to become dependent on family, friends or social
services - not wanting to affect independence of themselves or
others (eg their children).
General satisfaction with social services although some concern
about service rigidities. Wanted to keep use to a minimum so as
not to become too dependent on them.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

135

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation

Research question
Aim

Midgley, G., Munlo, I. and Brown, M.

Sharing Power - integrating user involvement and multi-agency
working to improve housing for older people
Policy Press: Bristol, 1997.
Centre for Systems Studies, University of Hull/Joseph
Rowntree Foundation.
Investigate how information from assessments of older people
might be used in the development of housing policy and barriers
to assessment, information provision and planning might be
addressed.

Study design

When was the fieldwork conducted?

2 phases: 1st semi-structured interviews with stakeholders

including older people, 2nd 3 workshops - one of older people
in receipt of housing services (2nd carers and voluntary
organisations) (3rd = professionals from statutory agencies - not
reported here).

Participation in the study

Target population

Stakeholders in the assessment process

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=131, of whom 32 were older people

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

136

For phase 2 Visioning Exercise (Ackoh, 1981) rules were used;

ideas must be feasible, viable and adaptable (Also used Ulrich
1983) Social Planning Theory to inform list of questions.

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Desire for flexibility so that personal preferences can be catered

for (therefore limited options at point of assessment), lack of
knowledge amongst older people about the agencies and services
that they can use. Most only know of the council - most had
information they had through personal contacts. 1/32 used
leaflets to find out about services. Worry about being a burden
- affects expression of needs workshops - results for all 3
amalgamated as there were consistent results [ie widespread
agreement on what the ideal housing should look like housing
provision - should be based on choice for older person, maintain
variety in provision, organisations need to co-ordinate, work
together].
Care should be a higher priority than money.
People who live together should be able to do so even if
rehousing is needed.
People should be able to stay in their homes as long as possible,
while mentally clear and decision making OK.
Different levels of:
Staff - respect older people, give older people time.
Assessment - necessary as all needs cant be fulfilled, single
assessment information in plain English, no unnecessary personal
questions.
Older person in lead role with all participating, guidance not
directives, options not outcomes, record all needs assessment to
follow need.
Buildings - build new housing with lifetime need in mind
different size dwellings therefore can bring furniture etc build in
community rooms, hairdressing and medical services, should
have own rooms and soundproofing - no need to move when
needs change.
Providing information - at coffee mornings, videos, on TV, GP
(face to face not leaflet) a volunteer, show rooms in housing
schemes.
Information on living wills and power of attorney.
Leisure officer and fund transport to attend activities in
residential homes reasonable charge - provision for visitors to
stay and eat, consultation.

Yes
Yes, but only 32 of the respondents were older people.

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

137

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Midwinter, E.
The British Gas Report on Attitudes to Ageing
Report, 1991
British Gas, fieldwork by NOP

To build a picture of attitudes to ageing in Britain, including the

problems older people face and the opportunities and benefits
that they might enjoy in old age.

Study design
Interviews with older people and with people between the ages
of 16 and 24, and some questions added to a survey of the
population as a whole (not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?

May 1991

Participation in the study

Target population

Retired people (55+)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Random sample recruited through NOP

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=764 (the sample was weighted to ensure the correct

proportion of older people from ethnic minority groups).

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

138

Questionnaires
Yes and revisions were made for the main survey

Disengagement Theory, Social Construction of Ageing

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Labelling - Older people preferred the terms senior citizens

(36%) or retired (36%) to OAPs, older people or the elderly.
70% agree with the statement older people do not get enough
respect from younger people.
Health - 78% (and 3/4 of the over 75s) of the retired older
people thought they were in fairly good or very good health
(only 4% poor health, 6% of over 75s), but over 1/3 (36%) saw
declining health and mobility as the main prob facing older
people.
Enjoying life 27% more than before, 42% same 30% less - latter
heavily correlates with health, income and living alone. 40% of
those on a low income find life less enjoyable, 42% find it much
the same.
Why more for the 27%? 83% mentioned freedom (correlates
with contact with younger people) 30% more independence
after retiring.
Problems with getting older? 45% financial difficulties, 36%
declining health.
Work - 74% now retired from work had no wish to work
Of those who did wish to work - 9% did it for the money, 46%
enjoyed it 40% mixture of satisfaction and the money.
Leisure - one in three had no wish to do more of anything.
Main expressed wish was for going out for more walks and
taking more exercise 25%. Reasons for not doing more
included lack of time, ill health and inadequate money.
Support and contacts asked which organisations dealt very or
fairly well with people like yourself 85% post office, 84% shops
and stores, 79% banks and building socs, 76% hospitals, 62%
British Gas, 48% local council, 43% social security office.
Family and friends - only 1% thought had no one to turn to if
they required care and attention (32% family).
61% did not wish to have more contact with younger people
9% often felt lonely (20% of those living alone), 23% lonely
occasionally, 67% enough company.
74% (81% from ethnic minorities) would not like to have any
more contact with people.
82% 55+ thought that a lot of older people feel lonely these
days.
Travel - 85% very or fairly satisfied with their ability to get
around, 64% no suggestion for how their travel could be
improved, 25% wanted more frequent public transport.
Planning - 22% (45% ethnic minorities) had been unable to plan
for their retirement. 33% had planned for leisure activities.
Finances - 31% sometimes struggled for the things you need.
Yes
Yes

139

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

140

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Munro, M., Keoghan, M., and Littlewood, A.

Mobility and Housing Aspirations
Analysis of the Scottish Housing Condition Survey (1991)
Report No 4, 1995.
Scottish National Housing Agency

Study mobility and housing preferences of households in

Scotland.

Study design
Further analysis of data from 1991 Scottish Housing Condition
Survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

September 1991-May 1992

Participation in the study

Target population

Households (all age groups)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=11758. 70% male head of household and 30% female head

of household in Scotland. Sample matches very closely with
census - migrant households owner occupation, economic
status, public/private. Data broken down by age.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

141

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

75% of over 60s been resident for 5+ years, retired, with very
low mobility levels. 70% with retired head of household not
moved for 5+yrs; 43% 20+ years - people progressively less
likely to intend to move, the older they become - 90% 81+yrs
think they will not move in next 2 years.
<8% of those 60+ plan to buy their own homes (maybe income
related). People express quite high level of satisfaction with
their home.
Generally push factors involved in moving, eg, to more space
with household change, not a factor with older people.

Yes
Yes, although the survey includes all age groups, the data is
analysed and presented by age.

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

142

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Myers, F. and MacDonald, C.

I was given options not choices in Bland, R. (ed.) Developing
services for older people and their families
Jessica Kingsley: London, 1996

The reality of user involvement in care planning and the extent

to which choice is exercised.

Study design
Completion of care monitoring forms by workers, interviews
with practitioners (not reported here), interviews with users
about assessment and care planning.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Service users (and carers)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Identified from case monitoring forms, some sifting by workers.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=52 users were interviewed, 31 of whom were over 65, 75%

were women
N=36 carers, 4 male and 13 female, 2 married couples some
interviews with just a carer or just a user

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

143

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Users and carers felt the worker gave them time to express their
views and listened to them.
But when it came to decision making their voices may not have
carried as much weight as others (eg other professionals and
agencies).
Dependence of user and carer on the worker coming to do the
assessment (unequal power relationship).

Yes
Yes, although users and carers results presented together and
no ages given for carers

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

144

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

National Opinion Poll

Care Today, care tomorrow - UK public opinion on Long
Term Care
Report, 1998
Help the Aged and General Accident Life
Explore the publics understanding of long term care.

Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

July and August 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Adult population

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

1700 respondents. Data analysed by age as well as income, sex

and where respondents live

Questionnaire

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

145

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Lack of awareness about the costs of various types of care

amongst people of all ages.
Respondents felt the state should provide care, though more so
for nursing care than for domiciliary care.
The majority also feel that savings and homes should not be
taken into account in paying for care.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

146

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

National Opinion Poll

What do they really think? Attitudes towards long term care.
Stratford Upon Avon, 1996
NOP, for PPP Lifetime Care

To identify attitudes of older people to long term care and the

responsibilities of society with regards to older people.

Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?

Survey by telephone

Participation in the study

Target population

60-75 year old home owners

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=504 51% men 49% women

26% AB, 30% CI, 24% C2, 20% DE
83% State pension, 15% earning, 58% company pension, 19%
private pension, 58% income savings and investments,
34% North Scotland, 26% Midlands and 40% South.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

147

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Long term care:

72% worried about their future long term care. 34% saw it as a
major rather than minor worry. Keen to stay independent.
(ABs 80%, CIs 68%, C2s 71%, DEs 66%) perceived decline in
family care 78% thought family less likely to personally care
for relatives than when they were young.
69% disagree that families should provide or pay for care of
older people. 62% agree that family should be burdened with
caring.
61% said preferred type of nursing care would be a nurse visiting
them in their home.
43% prefer living in sheltered accommodation to living in a
private/State nursing home (32% or 22%).
Over half (54%) disagreed with the statement that they would
not know where to turn to get help and advice (28% agreed)
about benefits. 48% disagree with statement that they were not
sure how they could find out about and claim state benefits.
92% concerned about states commitment to long term care or
quality of care provided.
31% thought long term care was confusing and complicated
(44% of those living on a state pension).

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

148

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Oldman, C., Quilgars, D. and Carlisle, J.

Living in a home: the experience of living and working in
residential care in the 1990s
Report, 1998
Anchor Trust/York University
Assess the satisfaction of Anchor residents with the current
service. Also to look at relatives, providers and purchasers and
to give Anchor feedback for future development. (only research
with residents is reported here).

Study design
Evaluation in 12 Anchor homes through in-depth interviews.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria

People living in Anchor residential homes

Residents with severe dementia, speech loss and profound
deafness. Those who had moved in the previous 4-5 months.

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

N=53 interviews with residents in 8 residential homes for older

people, two nursing homes, one residential and nursing home
and one home for people with mental health problems. 4 or 5
residents in each home were interviewed. Very low refusal rate.
Topic guide

Gubrium (1993) demonstration of the role of qualitative

research in the evaluation of health and social care services.

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

149

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Importance of understanding how residents came into the home

and how they feel about it. The majority resisted the move, but
felt it was inevitable and had adjusted. A minority made a
positive move, over which they had been very much in control.
A smaller minority resisted the move and had not fully adjusted
to life in the home. Some were victims of failures in
community care.
The financial and assessment aspects of the move had confused
many and a need for more information was identified.
Physically moving was often a challenge in terms of effort and
cost.
Some felt their quality of life had improved following the move
- especially where there was continuity of residence but others
(especially those in nursing homes) felt it had deteriorated
High dependency residents were seen as limiting factors on
social and communal activity.
Some wanted more to do, for some lack of money was a
constraint.
Residents felt the care they received was good, but some felt
more time and more practical, social and emotional support
would be valuable.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

150

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Phillipson, C., Bernard, M., Phillips, J., and Ogg, J.

The Family and Community Life of Older People: Social
Networks and Social Support in Three Urban Areas
ESRC Research Results, 1998
University of Keele
Returning to the locations of three previous studies to look at
change and continuities in the lives of older people.

Study design
Survey followed by semi structured interviews with older
people and their relatives (results from interviews with relatives
are not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Survey - N= 627 older people in the three urban locations

previously studied in the 1950s (Bethnal Green,
Wolverhampton and Woodford) questionnaires survey looking
at changes since the baseline surveys
Interviews - N= 62 people over 75 and elderly people from
minority ethnic groups.

Survey and semi-structured interviews

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Mapping the networks of older people using their own

assessment of the people around them.

151

Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Older people still felt that their families were the most important
source of support. However locally available friends act as a
source of complementary or alternative help and support,
especially for those with no children or those who are single.
There is more variety in the support people receive than there
was in the 1950s.
Retirement is less problematic for older people than the
previous studies demonstrated (in the 1950s) although in
Bethnal Green the older people were much more likely to view
retirement as the beginning of old age than in Wolverhampton
or Woodford. 42% reporting problems keeping busy in
retirement (as opposed to 1/5 in the other areas) 42% said there
was nothing they particularly liked about retirement. In Bethnal
Green more older people also lacked social networks.
96% of the older people in the study were able to discuss a
variety of activities that they saw as important to them
indicating that leisure has become increasingly important to
older people.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

152

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Powell, J. and Lovelock, R.

Quality Issues in Discharge from Hospital - The Views of Older
People and Their Carers
Social Services Research: (1) 42-55, 1994
University of Southampton/Southampton General
Examine perceptions of care on the unit, take into account
carers views, identify problems with process of care especially
discharge and to feedback to staff.

Study design
Qualitative consumer interviews with patients (and carers - not
reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?

March - October 1992

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people discharged from hospital into community.

Exclusion criteria

People who were discharged into another hospital and not their
home or that of carer or residential care. Patients with cognitive
impairment or communication problems.

Recruitment procedures

Patients on a 26 bed short stay rehabilitation ward were

identified for inclusion and interviewed 2-4 weeks after
discharge.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=40 (53 patients identified for inclusion, 4 declined, 5

readmitted, 2 died, 2 not well enough for interview). Aged 6596, majority (31) 75+. 23 went home, 17 into residential care.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Semi-structured schedule of topics to be covered.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Data analysed using a word processing package

153

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Patients different feelings and reactions to aspects of communal

living and decision making (especially making big decisions)
about care. Patients valued opportunities to discuss
expectations, future care with professionals especially regarding
such major changes as moving into residential care; clear
information was important in this respect, including written
information.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

154

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Quilgars, D., Oldman, C. and Carlisle J.

Supporting independence - home support services for older
people
Report, 1997
Anchor Trust

Examine how seven Anchor home support schemes improved

the quality of life of users and to look at strengths and
weaknesses of the schemes to inform future developments.

Study design
Evaluation of the home care support scheme through interviews
with users (and carers, management and purchases that are not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Users of the Anchor home care support schemes. Six of the

seven schemes supported older people.

Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=48 users across the seven schemes

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

155

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Users valued home support as it made it possible for them to

remain in their own homes.
Users spoke highly of the staff, although there was some
concern over the lack of respect shown to the users by some
members of staff.
Some female users did not like receiving care from male
workers.
Although efforts were made to consult them, some users would
have liked more involvement. Many of the older people found
it hard to express their views.
Some said that they would like more support socially and
emotionally and more domestic help.
Many users felt lonely and would have liked longer visits. Staff
often had to rush in and out.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

156

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Qureshi, T.
Living Britain, Growing older in Britain: A Study of
Bangladeshi elders in London
CPA Report 22 1998
Centre for Policy on Ageing
Look at the lives and experiences of older Bangladeshis in
Camden, focusing on their contribution to society, their
participation and social exclusion.

Study design
Ethnography including in-depth interviews and observation of
activities and networks. Also had discussions with key workers
(not reported here) and held focus groups with elders.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1996

Participation in the study

Target population

Bangladeshi elders in Camden

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Used organisations including the largest, most popular

community Bangladeshi organisation in Camden and the
Hopscotch project for women and children. Focus groups used
to establish contacts for individual interviews.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=20 elders
14 men and 6 women aged between 58 and 72, women tended
to be younger, all living in the community.
Interviews were conducted in Bengali and Sylheti.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

Semi structured questionnaire, field notes

Yes - pilot study in Tower Hamlets.

Theory of triple jeopardy (Norman, 1985) of ethnic minorities

elders in terms of age, race and culture.

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

157

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Activities
Most had relatively few economic resources to rely on in their
old age.
Family, the local mosque and shopping central to daily activities,
with mobility and health problems having an obvious impact
on activity, also fear of racist attack increasing isolation.
Older interviewees increasingly relying on family and friends
Some of the men still working out of economic necessity, those
who were retired or long term unemployed took part in a range
of activities eg - one man volunteering as a teacher at the
mosque, another as a voluntary welfare and advice worker.
One widow said how she had enjoyed activities at the
community centre before she lost her husband.
Language as a real problem (especially when combined with age
and infirmity) limited activities. Need for local activities.
Participation
Interested in British and Bangladeshi national politics, all felt
voting locally and nationally was a civic duty, all voted labour
but were not party members.
Often participation about making demands of the council for
resources or involvement in community centre management.
Problem of elders having to compete with the agenda of the
younger generations.
Barriers to more active involvement in local politics - feel
under-educated and poor, community leaders speaking on their
behalf, not feeling fully part of society plus health and age.
Local racism also an issue, eg hostility of tenants and residents
association - also issues on internal conflict.
Many expressed the view that they had never been consulted.
Concern for the younger generation in a changing world,
changes to the family, host community not valuing its elders.
Concern for their own future care, not wanting to be a burden
but wanting care from family rather than residential care, some
wanting to return to Bangladesh, for others this was not
possible.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

158

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Reed, J., Roskell Payton V. and Bond, S.

The importance of place for older people moving into care
homes
Social Science and Medicine, 46 (7) 859-867 1998
University of Northumbria
Look at the processes involved in older peoples move into care
homes.

Study design
Descriptive using life histories and personal narratives of the
older people.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Older people in the process of moving into residential and

nursing homes

Exclusion criteria

Anyone who could not understand the purpose of the study

and/or could not converse without serious difficulty.

Recruitment procedures

For logistic reasons used one relatively rural Local Authority

area (containing 2 towns and some villages). Used a sample of 6
homes from residential care sector, the nursing home sector and
the dual register sector. Homes were selected from lists supplied
by local inspectors who were asked to identify homes which
they considered provided care of a high standard/staff could
contribute (therefore approach teams on a recommendation
rather than evoking a suspicion of investigation).
Participants selected from waiting lists of these homes (with
inevitably some informal filtering by care managers of those they
felt would be confused or distressed by the study).

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=40 Target sample size of 30 people. Approached 46 people

to take part as expected a high attrition rate over the course of
the study. 5 withdrew and 1 died.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

A series of interviews were conducted with older people using a

research schedule developed for the study. The interviews were
conducted at various points in the process with a final interview
6 months after the move.

159

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Results
Qualitative results

Used the idea of the social career (Humphrey 1993) to analyse

life experiences and changes in life-style and to put their
experiences in a personal historical context

NUDIST - initial analysis using topics discussed in the

interviews, some emerging from interview agenda, others
coming from the participants.
Often decision to move into a specific home rather than a more
general decision to move into residential care - somewhere they
know even if this knowledge appeared to be quite limited.
Location was also important for access to amenities, etc and to
be convenient for friends and family to pop in. Locality was
also important for building new relationships - familiarity rather
than talking to real strangers. Important to be able to place
people - locality as part of identity.
Moves of relatively small distances were significant to the
respondents- and represented a move out of locality, especially
with limited public transport.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

160

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Riseborough, M.
Listening to and involving older tenants. Part 1: Anchor
tenants views on Anchor and tenant involvement
Report, 1997 Anchor Housing Trust, Oxford
Anchor Housing Trust/Birmingham University.
Look at tenant participation in sheltered housing from the point
of view of tenants themselves.

Study design
Focus groups interviews and a survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?

March 1995

Participation in the study

Target population

Anchor tenant population

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Survey 50+
N=973 (1500 questionnaires sent out, 59% response rate - prize
draw). Sample reflected the age and gender profile of the
population in each region, after that selection was random.
Focus groups
6 groups around the country.
62-88 years old (average 73) 73/102 E
50% + single, 20 couples, 5 widowers, 40% previous owner
occupiers.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

4 out of the 6 focus groups culminated in constructing a list of

important issues discussed, and structures or mechanisms and
processes through which involvement aims could be met.
Survey piloted and the focus groups identified topics for the
survey.
5 part scale strongly agree strongly disagree.

Dimensions of participation (Bines, Kempt et al) as

Information, consultation, representation and control.

161

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Survey
Respondents positive about being kept informed plain
English, as most important thing. Want information about
welfare benefits, about changes, how charges are calculated, etc.
Positive about views being asked on a range of issues, including
costs, services, maintenance.
Less support for the idea of being actively involved.
Most support for ballots from time to time. 34% strongly agree,
least important nominating scheme representatives to regional
tenant forums, or tenant committees.
Information and consultation seen as more important
dimensions of participation (+suggested 2 more; influence and
collaboration) no. issues including timing of consultations so
can be influential. Gaining more, better quality information,
and dialogue with anchor, be treated as equal partners, exert
more influence, work collaboratively, have more control.
Good information very important.
Suggestion socio-economic differences and
Education - affect disposition to tenant and involvement.
Those 70-74 more into tenants representatives.
Focus groups
Respondents said they had valued opportunity to talk and
discuss. Suggests tenants need to know more about
involvement options.
Older people wanted to choose when and how they got
involved. Time precious, must be worthwhile. Focus groups
also talking about growing older. Time thought involvement
often meant a long term commitment which seemed
inappropriate to tenants as Life span short; Might get ill;
Might not live to see the benefits of involvement.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

162

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Robertson, S.
Fed and Watered - the views of older people on need,
assessment and care management.
Age Concern Scotland: Edinburgh, 1995
Glasgow University/Age Concern Scotland
Explore older peoples perceptions of their needs and how they
would like them to be met.
Explore the role of care managers/assessment pilot new
materials for involvement.

Study design
Group meetings (3/4 meetings per group)
When was the fieldwork conducted?

July - September 1992

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people aged 60+

Exclusion criteria

Participants who were not willing to contribute to a discussion.

Sought to include people who were lively, critical and
thoughtful.

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

4 groups, all in Scotland:

A) Older members of a disability resource centre, 5 male, 7
female.
B) Students in an educational profession aimed at older people,
11 female, 2 male.
C) Housebound older people identified by district nurse (not
part of networks or clubs) 6 people. Problems recruiting, hard
for nurse to explain and study, big deal going out, didnt know
researcher or other people, but once involved very committed
participants.
D) Housebound older people identified by same method
(urban), 7 people.
Didnt collect ages/personal details etc, as researchers felt that it
was not appropriate to ask.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

163

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Identified basic needs: keeping warm, good health care,

adequate financial support, telephone (for housebound alert
system vital) groups A, C & D said would spend an extra 10
on keeping warm if had it. Felt inequities in access to aids,
home help services, etc. Needs more generally differed from
group to group, reflecting different make up of groups individual needs but safety, aids, company, personal care - key.
Often feeling let down by assessment - betrayals in service
provision important to know rights etc re assessment;
information crucial, centrality of users views, need assessors
who are caring, thoughtful, shrewd. Timing of assessment more than one visit, time of day to see need, sensitive
information seeking. See any forms, include people involved in
helping older person, doctor, friends, etc. Offer immediate
short term help while assessment completed.
Applications for services to allow them to remain in community
and enjoy life (cost no object!).
(1) One off visits - benefit checks, safety checks, warmth/
temperature survey, health checks, clothing/bed clothing
etc, and chiropody, dental, occupational therapist visit to
install aids.
(2) Home help as bedrock of care package, but more flexible
less restrictions.
(3) Personal care to include hairdressing, clothes shopping - help
to revive/develop old interests; company (only when
genuinely requested); idea of a telephone check each day to
check ok, suggested.
Care Management: need for a manager to plan, coordinate and
monitor package - who? Not sure (not informal carers burden), social workers or newly retired professionals suggested.
Important to be caring, sensitive, patient, respectful, sense of
humour, efficient and dependable advocate.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

164

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Schild, L. and Ali, N.

Listening to grandparents from a range of ethnic communities:
The methodological implications
Generations Review: 7 (1), 1997 pp 6-8
University of Luton
Explore the role of grandparents to contribute to understanding
of the family.

Study design
Interviews with grandparents in Luton, St Lucia and Pakistan.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

March 1996 (in UK) 1995 (St Lucia)

Participation in the study

Target population

Grandmothers

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

From contacts in residential and day care and using snowball

sampling to reach a wider group.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N= 32 grandmothers in Luton
N= 29 grandmothers in St Lucia
N= 24 grandmothers in Pakistan
Grandmothers aged 40 - 94, living in very different
environments, from very rural to urban.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Interview schedule

Biographical research (Gearing and Dant, 1990)

Responses to questions coded to identify themes.

165

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

166

Roles
As a surrogate mother, as a disciplinarian and educator, as a
cultural and family historian
Emigration had affected grandparenting, especially for Pakistani
families (left behind) as their day to day role in education,
cultural and religious development etc were part of the role of
paternal grandparents.
Younger grandparents are likely to be working which also
affects their role.

Yes
Yes

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Skinner, A. and Bartlett, H.

Age Well in Buckinghamshire: A report of a study on older
peoples services in Southern Buckinghamshire
1998
OCHRAD/ Oxford Brookes University
To look at levels of service provision, accessibility and the future
needs of older people in Buckinghamshire.

Study design
Interviews with key staff (not reported here) and consultation
with groups of older people. Used a control group of fit and
active older people.
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1997

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Because of shortage of time used existing voluntary and

statutory groups of people living independently or semi
independently.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=205 participants, 12 groups of older people including rural

and urban communities, minority ethnic groups (one Asian
women, one African Caribbean day centre, people in various
stages of dependency, including one group of carers (mainly
older people), 169 women and 36 men.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Open ended questionnaire

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

167

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Key finding that there has been very little consultation with
older people about services, including when cuts are made.
Housing- popularity of wardens as a source of information and
support, rental properties in need of maintenance, some needing
improved security, lack of information about housing options.
Transport - was essential for accessing services but buses were
seen to provide an unreliable, limited service, buses were hard
to get on to. Patchy information about alternatives.
Health care - satisfaction with GPs, more difficult to attend
hospital appointments, pick up prescriptions.
Domiciliary care - need for help with housework, gardening,
shopping, home maintenance eg like changing a light bulb, but
home carers had fixed, inflexible shedules to follow.
Appreciation of lunch clubs and day centre meals.
Effects of individual interests, finance, access and transport to
sport and leisure.
The needs of older people in rural areas were less easily met needing to rely on family, friends etc for info, shopping,
transport.
Information - there is lots of information for older people, but
they do not seem to be aware of it/access it.
Older people unlikely to access formal channels for complaint.
Carers - feeling undervalued and unsupported, often excluded
from decision making concerning their relative, problems of
their own health problems as older people.
Ethnic minorities - language as a barrier, loss of details in
translations (could be embarrassing to use family member).
Need for Asian home care workers.
Information was gathered by word of mouth, in communities,
or day centre.
Finances restricting leisure activities of African Caribbean group.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

168

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Skucha, J. M.
Womens retirement from part-time employment: Issues for
pre-retirement education
Occasional paper, no 9, Pre Retirement Association, 1995
Research Institute for the study of mid and later life, Pre
Retirement Association and Marks and Spencer.

Explore the role of employment in womens lives and their

attitudes to retirement.
To find out whether women would be interested in formal
preparation for retirement.

Study design
Review of the literature (not reported here), interviews and a
survey. Designed as pilot for further work on pre retirement
education.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Middle aged women working part-time.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Employers assisted with recruitment, arranging interviews etc.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=93 women aged 45 and over and working part-time

1/3 were interviewed in groups of up to 7, 2/3s completed
written questionnaires.
Clerical, catering, cleaning and retail staff in public and private
sector, in the West Midlands. One Irish and one black
participant not a random sample of companies and individuals.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Interview data used to inform the development of the

questionnaire.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Content analysis

169

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

170

Felt that their positive attitude to their jobs was in conflict with
negative external view of their role of workers accepting
womens work as inferior to mens, but superior to younger
workers (premium placed on full-time, continuous
employment) lack of choices in the type of work available to
them.
Re-entry difficult especially as skills become outdated, childcare
costs, loss of confidence.
Main reason for part time work was convenience and options
available planning for retirement often beyond their control
early retirement would depend on circumstances at the time
Work providing an escape from full time domestic role. Lots of
references to the social rewards of working. Personal
satisfaction from independent income, company, stimulation
and job satisfaction despite the restricted opportunities for them
in the workforce.
Retirement
Most thought men would enter a leisurely retirement, while
they took up the domestic responsibilities. Men as having
earned the right to relax after years of full-time work. Event of
retirement viewed as of secondary concern compared to longerterm issues of ageing and later life.
Often attaching the term retirement to mens experiences.
Pre retirement education (PRE)
Most showed an interest in PRE especially financial advice
preferring group discussions and expert advice to written
material.
Older, lower paid, married women less interested in PRE
Intending to use improved social and leisure (not specifying
what) activities to move away from the stereotype of the older
woman.
Widowhood as a significant life event necessitating much
readjustment (comments from widows).
Participants not wanting to discuss widowhood or
future health and care issues.
A decent income, company and good health are seen to be the
major determinants of a happy retirement.
Perception that they have a distinct position as working women
-no role models, mixed attitudes to retirement.

Yes
Yes, although some of the women in the study were under 50

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Sykes, R. and Leather, R.

Grey matters: A survey of older people in England
Report, UK 1997
Anchor Trust (research by MORI)

Characteristics of older people, their moving intentions,

attitudes to home equity release, health and views of NHS,
views on main issues facing social and political life and
behaviour.

Study design
Survey - face to face in respondents home
When was the fieldwork conducted?

July-August 1996

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people, England

Exclusion criteria

Those aged 55 and under

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=1005 People aged over 55, broken down by a number of

factors including age group, income level, regional locations,
tenure and voting intentions. There were not enough ethnic
minority respondents to do separate analysis.
Weighted to match characteristics of sample to profile of older
households in England only.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

Analysis done by MORI with some further analysis at South

Bank University.

171

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Housing of those rating their homes, the majority (3/4)

thought their home was in a good or excellent state of repair.
1. As fairly or very poor - were more social classes D or E,
disabled, LA renters, those in London and those on a low
income. felt could use their heating whenever they wished.
2. 14% felt occasionally cold because cant afford heating.
Moving intentions 1/3 would not move under any
circumstances (a strong desire not to move!)
Home equity 52% thought important or very important to
leave an inheritance. 9% would consider equity release in
future.
Health Majority felt GPs care had got neither better nor
worse but 34% felt hospital care had got worse. 50% felt
hospital care was either good or very good. 52% supported local
authority provision for home care, most support from older age
groups with low incomes.
Safety 60% felt very safe at home during the day (35% fairly
safe), 4% unsafe during the day.
At night, 48% very safe, 84% felt fairly safe, 12% unsure at night.
Non owner occupiers were slightly more likely to feel unsafe.
Older women more concerned about being alone after dark
(17%) than men (6%). Main factor mentioned to feel more safe
were more police on streets, (43%) also thought visits from
family, safe area, financial security were important.
Issues concerning them
Crime and vandalism 56%, NHS 48%, Drug abuse 47%,
Main unprompted concerns about growing old were losing
physical health 45%, independence 31%, mental health 18%.
Politics Share disaffection with politicians with rest of society
37% said vote labour, 25% conservative, mainly same party. A
high proportion (70%) think that politicians dont consider
views of older people.
MP - 29% MP represents me well (29% disagree) - less trust
then before.
84% thought older people should stand up more actively for
their rights (especially sixties and early seventies) less interest
from older older people (75+). Younger older people did not
consider themselves to be old.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

172

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Thomas, M.
Home care - users views and service guidelines
Age Concern Scotland: Edinburgh, 1995
Age Concern Scotland

Explore users views of home care services

Study design
Survey and interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1994-1995

Participation in the study

Target population

Survey
Older people in receipt of
home help services.

Exclusion criteria

Interviews
Older people in receipt of
home help services.
Those not willing to take
part.

Recruitment procedures

Survey distributed through

Adage, the Age Concern
Scotland newsletter.

Age Concern contacts in

each area suggested people
who would not mind being
interviewed.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=158, 17.7% men and

82.3% women (response
rate unknown).

N=36, approximately 6
interviews in 6 areas of
Scotland.
5 living with their partner,
1 living with son, 9 men and
21 women living alone
5 were 60-74, 19 were 7584 and 12 were 85 and over

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Survey questionnaire, schedule of questions for interviews.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?

173

Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Survey identified a high level of satisfaction with home care

services.
Interviews revealed problems with getting older including
disability, physical problems and getting around (most mentions)
Also mentioned loneliness, keeping warm and loss of loved
ones.
Didnt want to complain about home helps, but said that the
home help couldnt do some of the things they needed done,
there was also a concern about the costs of home helps. Other
concerns included how things are organised, and home helps
having too much to do in too little time.
When asked where home helps provided them with
information, few said the home help filled this information
providing role.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes, although not just attitudes and aspirations

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

174

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Thornton, P. and Tozer, R.

Having a say in change: older people and community care
JRF: York 1995
JRF - University of York

Exploring ways of enabling of older users of community care to

get involved in order to inform planning and provision of
community care. Looking in particular at how older users
might be involved in their homes and what might be the
consequences being involved in this way.

Study design

When was the fieldwork conducted?

The study is in three parts; a review of initiatives, as study of

ways of involving older users collectively and with research
advisory group of local older people.
The study of 3 different ways of involving older people is
reported here.

Participation in the study

Target population

Older people (65+)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Programme 1 recruited by personal invitation - majority already

active as volunteers, local group members, pensioners,
programme 2 1000s of leaflets distributed by front line staff,
programme 3 recruited through home care services.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Programme 1 active retired people - all in their 60s and 70s

with an interest in improving local services - all white (area
small ethnic pop). many had chronic health problems, all health
care users. 15 participants, N=15 interviewed.
Programme 2 - most over 75, sizeable ethnic minority
involvement but Black minority groups not well represented.
150 people involved, N= 26 interviewed in their homes.
Programme 3 - 5 participants (4 were 78 - 89 , 1 was 73) all 5
live in rural area, all interviewed.

175

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Observations of meetings (programme 1 and programme 3)

semi-structured interviews with participants

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Participants needing reassurance that their involvement was of

use. Involvement was often a new experience.
Older people were prepared to get involved if it would change
things for others in the future.
They felt if they had a contribution to make, participation must
have sense of purpose and it will foster self worth as long as the
exercise does not overstretch capacity.
Some of the older people were scared of complaining .
View that involvement is very time consuming.
Several members were concerned they would not be able to be
reliable participants if they became ill.
Rewards from involvement - some saw personal rewards as less
important. Personal satisfaction including companionship
(mutual support), shared interests, more access to information.
Telephone group - members felt less isolated and looked
forward to meetings.
Some felt it was good to feel that they were being taken
seriously - particularly as they were often used to being ignored
look for evidence of change - realised may be slow.
Taking part from home
Flexible - fill in questionnaire in own time.
Telephone
Bringing people together but needed careful planning
Important not to be too prescriptive e.g. Healthlink - asking
about main health problems where you live - got responses
about home repairs - pollution, home helps, social workers etc.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care

Consultation and involvement

176

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Tinker, A., McCreadie, C., Salvage, A.

The information needs of elderly people
1994 Assignation: 11(3) p44-46
ACIOG

Examine information needs of elderly people with regard to

services and help that could be met by an information service by
looking at agencies which currently provide information to
older people and determine how needs can be met.

Study design
Literature review (not reported here), interviews with elderly
people - 2 group interviews and 50 individual interviews and 18
interviews with information providers (not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Elderly (not defined)

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

First 25 interviewees identified through Age Concern centres

(across UK, 10 in each of 5 towns) and interviewed there or by
phone. Second 25 contacted in their homes in same towns.
1 group 60-74; 1 group 75+, mixture of sexes.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=50: 25 people who are in touch with info services; 25

people not involved in voluntary work, groups, clubs, day
centres. 7/10 single person households, mixture of sexes and
ages.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Series of open questions. 2 groups in Solihull developed the

questionnaire and discussed information needs.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

177

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Varying information needs: to make choices, to know about

services, to participate in decision making. Needs differ
between older people over time, especially the immobile,
socially isolated, visually handicapped, rural dwellers, black and
minority ethnic groups.
Found from information:
- elderly people are not well informed
- often do not think they have information needs
- if they do, often very specific
- do feel need info on particular issues, including legal rights,
benefits and entitlements, loneliness and depression, looking
after someone and feeling that they could not cope.
Main source information - families, friends and neighbours.
Potential role of GP - nearly all had contact with one.
Preferred word of mouth, next leaflets, then TV, radio, then
telephone and finally contact with professionals and agencies.
Personal contact vital. It is not just a case of supplying
information to older person, but also supplying information to
their support networks.
Needs of next generation for information may be different.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

178

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Toffaleti, C.
The older peoples initiative: giving older people a say acting
locally to improve housing choices.
Report, 1997
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations
To emphasise the importance of decent and suitable housing for
the success of care in the community and to engage others in
voicing their needs to authorities and providers.

Study design
Action research
Survey followed by discussion groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

1996

Older people in Greater Manchester in Bolton, Manchester,

Stockport and Trafford.

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Via older peoples groups and voluntary organisations. Ethnic

elders with no English interviewed with interpreters.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N= 200 - about housing circumstances, needs and aspirations

then feedback and discussion with older people through
established groups.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Piloted with older people at a day centre.

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

179

Results
Quantitative and qualitative results

Majority of people preferred to live independently in their own

homes.
Of these 1/3 needed practical help to cope with maintenance,
gardening, adaptions, security improvements and heating.
1/10 wanted to move to more suitable accommodation.
1/3 rely solely on family and friends for advice and information
about making a change, 1/4 also turn to professionals. Only
1/10 turn to their local authority.
Manchester
Focused on problems of housing repairs, adaptions,
improvements and vandalism.
Trafford
Focused on where to get information re grants for repairs, etc.

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

180

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Walker, A.
Age and Attitudes: Main Results from a Eurobarometer Survey
Report, 1993
EC Commission (DG5/CEC)

Firstly to explore the attitudes of the general public in member

states towards ageing and older people.
Secondly to explore the attitudes and aspirations of older people
in member states.

Study design
2 surveys; one of the general population over 15 and a second of
people aged 60 and over.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Exclusion criteria

April/ May 1992

In survey 1, sub sample over the age of 55.

In survey 2, people over the age of 60
Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

The main survey 1000 per country (where the data is broken
down results from the over 55s are given).
400 people 60+ from UK and 12 other states (some variation).
The sample for all countries 41% men, 59% women
25% 65-69, 20% 70-74 16% 75-79, 14% 80+.

Questionnaire
Yes

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

181

Results
Quantitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Labelling - 45% prefer the name senior citizens, 14.7% retired

(elderly 4.3%, older people 4.3%, 5.8 pensioners).
34% think they are treated with more respect as they get older as
opposed to 25% who think they are treated with less.
(View of life - equivocal whether new lease of life or not 32%
agree slightly, 22% disagree slightly)
Passing the time - 40.7% very busy 30.8% full day
Loneliness - 54% never lonely, 45% often or occasionally
53% of those who are not economically active are often or
occasionally lonely
Attitudes to youth - want more contact with younger people?
69% no, 27% yes
Finances - dont claim to be financially insecure: 39%
comfortable, 47% I have to be careful, but I get by 5.1% I
have trouble making ends meet.
Caring - 57% agreed strongly or slightly that families are less
willing to care for older relatives than they used to be (although
more disagreement than many European countries).
Transport, gas, electric and phone (people 55+/main survey) 86% believed that older people should be given reduced prices
for these amenities.
Main problems facing older people (people 55+/main survey) 58% not having enough to live on, 28% loneliness and isolation,
23% lack of proper care top three factors (above health,
dependence and housing etc).
Working (people 55+/main survey) - 74% believe older people
should be able to take paid employment (more than all other
countries) 63% believe retirement age should be up to the
individual.
Is there discrimination against older workers?
Re promotion - 77% yes, recruitment 81% yes, training
75% yes,
Status/position in organisation 63% yes.
Authorities - 75% (people 55+/main survey) believe authorities
do not do enough for older people.
Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

182

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title

Source (journal/conference etc)

Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Walsh, J.
Across the Generations - An Age Concern report into
grandparent/grandchild relationships published to celebrate
Grandparents Day
Report, September 1998
Age Concern, England
What does it mean to be a grandparent?

Study design
In-depth interviews with grandparents and grandchildren
(grandchildren not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?

July and August 1998

Participation in the study

Target population

Grandparents

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

N=20 grandparents, 13 women and 7 men average age 68.4

years (43 - 86) from across the UK.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

183

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

184

Nearly half the respondents felt the stresses of modern life were
influencing the relationship between grandparent and
grandchild. Grandparenting brought a lot of pleasure.
2/3rd more involved than their parents were with their
children.
The roles of a grandparent included; looking after the children
for busy parents, providing love and listening.
Grandparents on the mothers side had more contact with the
children.
Many grandparents had to travel some distance to visit their
grandchildren.
Yes
Yes

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Watson, L.
Housing Need and Community Care: The Housing Pathway
Pilot Programme
1996: National Federation of Housing Associations: London
NFHA/CIH
Evaluation of housing pathway model intended to assist planners
to work across traditional boundaries in agency provision and to
recognise different perspectives on housing need including
potential sources of demand and the needs of marginal groups.

Study design
Evaluation of housing pathway pilots, including Islwyn - which
focuses on older people and is presented as a case study.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population

Local housing authority residents or potential residents aged 65+

Exclusion criteria

Not given

Recruitment procedures

Pilots self selecting housing authorities

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

Study sample (Islwyn) includes 9 sheltered housing schemes, 3

residential homes and 4 nursing homes. Plus 122 older people
living with relatives, 408 live in their own home/tenancy.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

185

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Number of people identified as wanting to move from specialist

care very low. 19 do not want to move to another home
(except 2 who want to live more independently). Of those in
residential care, no one wanted to move from nursing home.
None of those living with relatives wanted to move. 68 of
those in own home/tenancy wanted to move - why? physically
unsuitable, Preferred options:
65% to another independent home/tenancy
30% sheltered housing
2 nursing home

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement

186

DATA EXTRACTION SHEET

Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim

Wenger, G.
Reflections: success and disappointment - octogenerians
Current and retrospective perceptions
Health Care In Later Life 2(4), 1997
University of Bangor
Explore range of salient areas of their lives so far and their ideas
of what is successful ageing

Study design
Interviews with a sub sample from a longitudinal study
When was the fieldwork conducted?

1995

Participation in the study

Target population

Octogenarians

Exclusion criteria

Those who the researchers felt could not cope with a

supplementary questionnaire (57 of the 73 survivors).

Recruitment procedures

Approached survivors in a longitudinal study.

Characteristics of participants (age,

sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)

52 of the 73 survivors took part. (The researchers approached

57).
Rural Wales, well people aged over 80 and living in the
community. (Well and in community as indicators of
successful ageing).
Respondents were more likely to be women and to be middle
class.

Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?

Guided interview
No

Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?

187

Results
Qualitative results

Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?

Many satisfied with their lives.

Good health and mobility - important contributors to life
satisfaction. Being well enough to continue participating in
community, with family etc, getting out etc. continue familiar
activities and relationships. For those with poor health very
important to have someone to care for them.
Being active and independent - seen by many as keys to
successful ageing and happy relationships and other aspects of
mind:-positive ageing, adaptation and acceptance (work as more
important part of life for the men in cohort).
Relationships with others not just support, but reciprocal
relationships - affection, interest, concern - no mention of social
isolation/loneliness etc.

Yes
Yes

Theme
Active ageing

Health and care

Consultation and involvement

188

REFERENCES

This section contains references for research cited in Chapter 1 of the

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189

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Bytheway, W. (1995) Ageism, Open University Press: Buckingham
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services, Cabinet Office: London
*Clark, A. (1997) Community participation in determining the needs of users
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*Clark, H., Dyer, S. and Horwood, J. (1998a) That bit of help. The high
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Dalley, G. (1996) Ideologies of Caring: Rethinking community and collectivism,
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*Davis Smith J. (1998) The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering, National
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190

*Davis Smith J. (1992) Volunteering: Widening horizons in the third age

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*Forster, J. (1997) Potential of a lifetime, The Carnegie United Kingdom
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*Help the Aged (1998a) Help the Aged Transport Council Report 1998,
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191

*Help the Aged (1998b) Pensioners Transport Survey, Help the Aged:
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*Henwood, M. and Waddington, E. (1998) Expecting the Worst? Views
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London
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support: Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey of 1986, Working
paper
Johnson, P. and Falkingham, J. (1992) Ageing and Economic Welfare, Sage:
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*Jones, D. and Salvage, A. (1992) Attitudes to caring among a group of informal
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14: 155-165
Jowell, R. et al (1997) British Social Attitudes Survey, 14th report: The end
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*Leaper, R. (1993) Age speaks for itself in Exeter, Social Policy &
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192

*London Community Care Action Group (1994) Hearing the voice of

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*Means, R. (1998) Home, independence and community care: time for a
wider vision, Policy and Politics 25 (4): 409-419
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Macmillan: London
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*Myers, F. and MacDonald, C. (1996) I was given options not choices

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196

OTHER RESEARCH REPORTS AVAILABLE:

No. Title

ISBN

Price

1.

Thirty Families: Their living standards 0 11 761683 4

in unemployment

6.65

2.

Disability, Household Income &

Expenditure

0 11 761755 5

5.65

3.

Housing Benefit Reviews

0 11 761821 7

16.50

4.

Social Security & Community Care:

0 11 761820 9
The case of the Invalid Care Allowance

9.70

5.

The Attendance Allowance Medical

Examination: Monitoring consumer
views

0 11 761819 5

5.50

6.

Lone Parent Families in the UK

0 11 761868 3

15.00

7.

Incomes In and Out of Work

0 11 761910 8

17.20

8.

Working the Social Fund

0 11 761952 3

9.00

9.

Evaluating the Social Fund

0 11 761953 1

22.00

0 11 761956 6

16.00

11. Customer Perceptions of Resettlement 0 11 761976 6

Units

13.75

10. Benefits Agency National Customer

Survey 1991

12. Survey of Admissions to London

Resettlement Units

0 11 761977 9

8.00

13. Researching the Disability Working

Allowance Self Assessment Form

0 11 761834 9

7.25

14. Child Support Unit National Client

Survey 1992

0 11 762060 2

15.00

15. Preparing for Council Tax Benefit

0 11 762061 0

5.65

16. Contributions Agency Customer

Satisfaction Survey 1992

0 11 762064 5

18.00

17. Employers Choice of Pension Schemes:

Report of a qualitative study

0 11 762073 4

5.00

18. GPs and IVB: A qualitative study of the 0 11 762077 7

role of GPs in the award of
Invalidity Benefit

12.00

19. Invalidity Benefit: A survey of

recipients

10.75

0 11 762087 4

197

20. Invalidity Benefit: A longitudinal

survey of new recipients

198

0 11 762088 2

19.95

21. Support for Children: A comparison of 0 11 762089 0

arrangements in fifteen countries

22.95

22. Pension Choices: A survey on personal 0 11 762091 2

pensions in comparison with other
pension options

18.95

23. Crossing National Frontiers

0 11 762131 5

17.75

24. Statutory Sick Pay

0 11 762147 1

23.75

25. Lone Parents and Work

0 11 762147 X

12.95

26. The Effects of Benefit on Housing

Decisions

0 11 762157 9

18.50

27. Making a Claim for Disability Benefits 0 11 762162 5

12.95

28. Contributions Agency Customer

Satisfaction Survey 1993

0 11 762220 6

20.00

29. Child Support Agency National Client 0 11 762224 9

Satisfaction Survey 1993

33.00

30. Lone Mothers

0 11 762228 1

16.75

31. Educating Employers

0 11 762249 4

8.50

32. Employers and Family Credit

0 11 762272 9

13.50

33. Direct Payments from Income Support 0 11 762290 7

16.50

34. Incomes and Living Standards of

Older People

0 11 762299 0

24.95

35. Choosing Advice on Benefits

0 11 762316 4

13.95

36. First-time Customers

0 11 762317 2

25.00

37. Contributions Agency National

Client Satisfaction Survey 1994

0 11 762339 3

21.00

38. Managing Money in Later Life

0 11 762340 7

22.00

39. Child Support Agency National

Client Satisfaction Survey 1994

0 11 762341 5

35.00

40. Changes in Lone Parenthood

0 11 7632349 0

20.00

41. Evaluation of Disability Living

Allowance and Attendance
Allowance

0 11 762351 2

40.00

42. War Pensions Agency Customer

Satisfaction Survey 1994

0 11 762358 X

18.00

43. Paying for Rented Housing

0 11 762370 9

19.00

44. Resettlement Agency Customer

Satisfaction Survey 1994.

0 11 762371 7

16.00

45. Changing Lives and the Role of

Income Support

0 11 762405 5

20.00

46. Social Assistance in OECD Countries:

Synthesis Report

0 11 762407 1

22.00

47. Social Assistance in OECD Countries:

Country Report

0 11 762408 X

47.00

48. Leaving Family Credit

0 11 762411 X

18.00

49. Women and Pensions

0 11 762422 5

35.00

50. Pensions and Divorce

0 11 762423 5

25.00

51. Child Support Agency Client

Satisfaction Survey 1995

0 11 762424 1

22.00

52. Take Up of Second Adult Rebate

0 11 762390 3

17.00

53. Moving off Income Support

0 11 762394 6

26.00

54. Disability, Benefits and Employment

0 11 762398 9

30.00

55. Housing Benefit and Service Charges

0 11 762399 7

25.00

56. Confidentiality: The public view

0 11 762434 9

25.00

57. Helping Disabled Workers

0 11 762440 3

25.00

58. Employers Pension Provision 1994

0 11 762443 8

30.00

59. Delivering Social Security: A cross

national study

0 11 762447 0

35.00

60. A Comparative Study of Housing

Allowances

0 11 762448 9

26.00

61. Lone Parents, Work and Benefits

0 11 762450 0

25.00

62. Unemployment and Jobseeking

0 11 762452 7

30.00

63. Exploring Customer Satisfaction

0 11 762468 3

20.00

64. Social Security Fraud: The role of

penalties

0 11 762471 3

30.00

65. Customer Contact with the Benefits

Agency

0 11 762533 7

30.00

66. Pension Scheme Inquiries and Disputes 0 11 762534 5

30.00

67. Maternity Rights and Benefits in

Britain

0 11 762536 1

35.00

68. Claimants Perceptions of the Claim

Process

0 11 762541 8

23.00

69. Delivering Benefits to Unemployed

People

0 11 762553 1

27.00

199

200

70. Delivering Benefits to Unemployed

1617 year olds

0 11 762557 4

20.00

71. SteppingStones to Employment

0 11 762568 X

27.00

72. Dynamics of Retirement

0 11 762571 X

36.00

73. Unemployment and Jobseeking before 0 11 762576 0

Jobseekers Allowance

34.00

74. Customer views on Service Delivery

in the Child Support Agency

0 11 762583 3

27.00

75. Experiences of Occupational Pension

Scheme WindUp

0 11 762584 1

27.00

76. Recruiting LongTerm Unemployed

People

0 11 762585 X

27.00

77. What Happens to Lone Parents

0 11 762598 3

31.00

78. Lone Parents Lives

0 11 762598 1

34.00

79. Moving into Work: Bridging Housing 0 11 762599 X

Costs

33.00

80. Lone Parents on the Margins of Work

1 84123 000 6

26.00

81. The Role of Pension Scheme Trustees 1 84123 001 4

28.00

82. Pension Scheme Investment Policies

1 84123 002 2

28.00

83. Pensions and Retirement Planning

1 84123 003 0

28.00

84. SelfEmployed People and National

Insurance Contributions

1 84123 004 9

28.00

85. Getting the Message Across

1 84123 052 9

26.00

86. Leaving Incapacity Benefit

1 84123 087 1

34.00

87. Unemployment and Jobseeking:

Two Years On

1 84123 088 X

38.00

88. Attitudes to the Welfare State and

the Response to Reform

1 84123 098 7

36.00

89. New Deal for Lone Parents:

Evaluation of Innovative Schemes

1 84123 101 0

26.00

90. Modernising service delivery:

The Lone Parent Prototype

1 84123 103 7

26.00

91. Housing Benefit exceptional hardship

payments

1 84123 104 5

26.00

92. New Deal for Lone Parents:

Learning from the Prototype Areas

1 84123 107 X

29.00

93. Housing Benefit and Supported

Accommodation

1 84123 118 5

31.50

94. Disability in Great Britain

1 84123 119 3

35.00

95. Low paid work in Britain

1 84123 120 7

37.00

96. Keeping in touch with the Labour

Market

1 84123 126 6

28.50

97. Housing Benefit and Council Tax

Benefit delivery: Claimant experiences 1 84123 127 4

24.00

98. 1996 Survey of Employers Pension

Provision (Forthcoming publication)

1 84123 138 X

31.50

99. Unemployment and jobseeking after

the introduction of Jobseekers
Allowance

1 84123 146 0

33.00

100. Overcoming barriers: Older people

and Income Support

1 84123 148 7

29.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199091

0 11 761747 4

8.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199192

0 11 761833 0

12.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199293

0 11 762150 1

13.75

Social Security Research Yearbook

199394

0 11 762302 4

16.50

Social Security Research Yearbook

199495

0 11 762362 8

20.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199596

0 11 761446 2

20.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199697

0 11 762570 1

27.00

Social Security Research Yearbook

199798

1 84 123 086 3

34.00

Further information regarding the content of the above may be

obtained from:
Department of Social Security
Attn. Keith Watson
Social Research Branch
Analytical Services Division 5
4-26 Adelphi
111 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6HT
Telephone: 0171 962 8557

201