Abstract
There is a widespread view amongst policy makers, as well as some senior managers and commissioners in local authorities, that collective forms of day care for older people are outdated and not aligned with wider policy ambitions. However, there is also growing recognition, amongst advocacy organisations such as Carers UK and Age UK, that many older people and their caregivers would welcome the opportunity to attend collective day care services, as well as growing interest amongst providers of services and older people themselves about the need to transform provision.
As health and social care commissioners in England develop Integrated Care Systems, there is potential for reimagined day care for older people to play an important role in delivering person-centred, preventative and place-based care for older people and their caregivers, including enabling older people to live at home for longer as well as addressing wellbeing, loneliness and social isolation.
The presentation will outline findings from case studies visited as part of a National Institute for Health Research, School for Social Care Research study exploring the experiences of and aspirations for collective day care in England, from the perspectives of older people, their carers, those who work in or manage services, as well as local stakeholders from the health and care system. For this research, day care is defined as community building-based services that provide care and/or health related services and/or clubs and activities specifically for older people (65+) with care and support needs.
Case studies visited included a range of models of day care for older people including day centres for people living with dementia, small-scale day care based in a hosts home, to large-scale preventative provision for older people. The study explored: peoples experiences of attending; impact on wellbeing and health of older people and their caregivers; what an ideal model of day care would look like; experiences of day care through the COVID-19 pandemic; and relationships with local health and community partners.
Our findings highlight the role day care can play in providing opportunities for connection and friendship for older people who attend, supporting caregivers to sustain their caring role, and supporting physical and mental wellbeing and health of older people and their caregivers. Highlighting the importance of personal connections, joy and purposeful activity, design of the physical space and connections with local place, the presentation will discuss innovations in practice that may support a ‘reimagining of day care’, ensuring it meets the aspirations of older people and their caregivers, as well as supporting wider policy ambitions including how social care services can contribute to the wider preventative health agenda.