Output details

LinkAge Plus: Benefits for older people

The report presented an evaluation of the benefits for older people that emanated out of the LinkAge Plus (LAP) policy initiative and included examples of innovative services and practices developed by LAP pilots.

Research question

The premise underpinning the LAP policy initiative was that that services for older people need to be accessible, relevant and tailored to individual needs. LAP was concerned with building a vision of a strategic, whole systems approach; one which put older people at the centre of policy making and service delivery.

The aims of the review were to report on the benefits for (and to) older people of the LAP approach. This was done by reporting the benefits in relation to: ‘social’ benefits;
safety;
‘health’ (both physical and mental health); education;
leisure;
occupational benefits;
 welfare;
 transportation.

Methodology

The report developed a theoretical analysis by using an inverted ‘triangle of care’ as a mechanism for framing and examining preventive approaches to supporting older people to remain independent. This framing was used to analyse primary data (from interview notes, examination of documents – minutes and reports) and secondary data (examination and analysis from evaluation reports of each of the various LAP pilot sites).

Dissemination

The main dissemination was via the publication of the research findings by the funder, the DWP. This was launched by the then Minister for Pensions and Ageing Society, the Right Honourable Rosie Winterton(1) as well as a brief summary report produced and distributed by DWP(2) and the full report made available on the DWP website(3) . In addition, presentations were delivered at various academic and policy conferences.

(1) http://www.24dash.com/news/local_government/2009-04-08-older-people-can-benefit-from-joined-up-working

(2)https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/186777/554summ.pdf

(3)http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130314010347/http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_554.asp