Community care

<p>This chapter widens our consideration of the sectors of care by looking at "community care". Changes are occurring in<p><p>systems of care for elderly people in many countries, usually ascribed to thepressures of ageing populations and the costs of care. This chapter analyses the development of community care in the UK and how high quality community care can be achieved, drawing on international experience. This chapter is made up of four main parts. Initially the reader is introduced to the underlying global trends in community care and what is driving these major changes. This is followed by a description of the origins and nature of the new community care policy in the UK. This tells how a policy came out and was brought to life. Next, the authors use the UK example to examine in detail the key issues in delivering high quality community care. The issues include funding, needs assessment, home care, care management and the health/social care interface. Each of these is discussed in detail by analysing the main goal, what can be achieved and the unsolved challenges. The chapter ends by speculating abut future developments with the underlying theme of improving interfaces - between secondary care and community care, across organisation boundaries in general, and with other areas such as housing policy.

<p><p><p>After reading this chapter, you will have a comprehensive picture of all aspects of community care. The chapter has a strong political flavour in that it narrates how major policy develops. Indeed this chapter will connect directly to the experience of many readers yet the authors combine this with down to earth advice, drawing on their research experience and knowledge of other international developments.