How people over 65 experience SDS
- Written by: — Senior Policy and Outcomes Officer and Lucy Mulvagh, Director of Policy and Communications, the ALLIANCE
- Published: 25th January 2018
Lucy and Colin discuss the main findings from the ALLIANCE’s research into older people’s experience of Self-directed Support.
Today the ALLIANCE published its latest briefing on our research into people’s experience of Self-directed Support (SDS). This time we have chosen to focus on people over the age of 65 who require or access social care.
It is encouraging that the majority of older participants in our research on the whole had a positive experience of SDS. Unlike the Scottish Government’s research, which found that the majority of older people were on SDS option 3 (receiving Local Authority services), participants in the ALLIANCE’s study were much more likely to be on option 1 (direct payments).
Looking across the stages of the SDS process could explain people over 65’s perception and understanding of SDS. Participants within this age group were slightly more likely than others to have had a discussion with their social worker about the different SDS options and more likely to state that they were “very informed” about SDS than the other age groups. Almost three quarters of older people said that the information they received helped them to make an informed decision over which option they wanted. This is far higher than the average participant in our research who said that the information helped them choose. The result of this increased awareness of SDS is that a higher proportion of older participants in our research chose SDS options 1 or 2, which offer the most flexibility for support.
However, this does not necessarily translate to older people having sufficient support to meet their needs. Donald Macaskill, the Chief Executive of Scottish Care, who kindly wrote the foreword to our report, highlights that:
“More fundamentally this report states that it is extremely concerning that half of people over 65 said they did not have enough hours in a day to meet their requirements. Older age necessitates a different approach, a need to develop systems of assessment, guidance and information that are sensitive to the altered nature of decision-making which happens as we get older“.
As the ALLIANCE begins planning our next round of research into people’s experiences of SDS, we hope to facilitate more opportunities to unpack the restrictions and limitations of SDS as a mechanism for enabling older people to meet their daily needs and outcomes and realise their rights.
Find the People over 65 Experiences of SDS briefing below along with all our other SDS reports.
End of page.
You may also like:
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, is appealing for support for proposals to restrict tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.
Continue readingBilly McClean reflects on why SCIC26 offers a vital opportunity to learn together, share what works, and shape the future of integrated care
Continue readingTo mark the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary Paul Okroj reflects on the importance of supported self management.
Continue readingTo mark Scottish Learning Disability Week (7 - 13 September), Bruce Adamson reflects on this year's call to action.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the current state of social care in Scotland.
Continue readingKicking off September for the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary, Grace reflects on the Self Management Programme
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.
Continue readingSandra Auld reflects on the ALLIANCE's people focused impact, collaboration, lived experience, campaigns and lasting change in Scotland.
Continue readingMark shares his experience with gambling harms, and how this intersected with the launch of the ALLIANCE's ScotRGH programme in 2020.
Continue readingProfessor Anna Glasier celebrates 20 years of the ALLIANCE and it's vital role in shaping the Women's Health Plan for Scotland.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the challenges faced by community-led health organisations in delivering prevention.
Continue readingAnnie shares her experience of youth politics, and how SAFE has helped her make connections and makes sense of the world of politics.
Continue readingChloe Craig reflects on how we have helped connect Scotland’s lived experience voice to conversations happening beyond our borders.
Continue readingDr Irene Oldfather reflects on two decades of growth, collaboration, and person centred impact across Scotland and beyond.
Continue readingDisabled people are some of those who suffer most in crises but are ignored in planning. Our 6-step model builds justice throughout.
Continue readingMaisie Peebles shares her experience working with Aberdeenshire Public Health Team on a ‘digital conversations’ project.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on why the Scottish Government and parties must seize the opportunity for change.
Continue readingDirector of the Links programme, Roseann, discusses why we need to focus on person centred care, and why the programme is central to this.
Continue readingReflections on the ALLIANCE Integration in Action: Inclusive Leadership event.
Continue readingWhat does The Scottish Report tell us about how we're supporting people with inflammatory mediated autoimmune conditions (IMIDs)?
Continue readingAvril McLean from Action from ME shares new resources designed to support professionals understand the impact of ME on people's lives.
Continue readingMandy Wright from Home Energy Scotland shares how partnerships positively impact their work.
Continue readingToo many young people are falling through the mental health support gap. How do we fix the "Missing Middle"?
Continue readingJoe McCready from Carers UK shares how important their annual survey is, and why it is invaluable for unpaid carers to have their say.
Continue readingColette reflects on the last 12 years of the Community Links Worker programme, as well as her own experience of being a CLW.
Continue reading