In the United Kingdom 15 million people are estimated to have a chronic medical condition and this is set to rise as a result of our ageing population. Chronic medical conditions including cardiovascular, cancer, chronic respiratory, musculoskeletal conditions and neurological and mental disorders are more prevalent in senior citizens. Tameside & Glossop recorded higher rates of disease for each chronic condition than the regional and national average. Senior citizens over 75 years old have been shown to have a significant decline in health and are more prone to frailty, risk of falls, management of medication and social isolation. Tameside & Glossop, in conjunction with four other European populations, were targeted with a health and social care intervention as part of the Urban Health Centres Europe 2.0 project. This thesis focuses exclusively on the research conducted in Tameside & Glossop. A narrative review was conducted using three databases to identify literature reporting health and social care interventions for senior citizens prone to these risk factors and 57 articles were identified. Focus groups were then conducted with senior citizens in Tameside & Glossop to ensure patient and public involvement informed the design of the intervention. The focus group results corresponded to the themes identified in the narrative review and added ‘the value of family support’ and ‘technology’ as further themes to be included in the intervention. The evaluation of the intervention utilised focus groups with senior citizens and the results report that the intervention offered was not specifically adapted to the UK population. Consequently, many participants failed to adhere to their recommended pathway. However, senior citizens reported positively on participation but reported that the intervention was not appropriate to them as they had good health. Some senior citizens actively reengaged with the healthcare service to investigate symptoms that they were concerned about. Overall the narrative review and focus groups conclude that there needs to be more Patient and Public Involvement in the development and management of care and action plans, increased communication between senior citizens and health and social care providers and more cooperation and evaluation between health and social care services to provide multi-level interventions for senior citizens.
Does the integration of healthcare and social care help improve the health of senior citizens in the UK?
Clough, G. (Author). 31 Dec 2021
Student thesis: Master of Philosophy