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Social Support and Government Policy on Services for the Elderly
Author(s) -
Green Stephen,
Creese Andrew,
Kaufert Joseph
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
social policy and administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1467-9515
pISSN - 0144-5596
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9515.1979.tb00658.x
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , balance (ability) , business , task (project management) , social welfare , public relations , social policy , community service , public policy , psychology , economic growth , political science , economics , philosophy , linguistics , management , neuroscience , law
Government policy on services for the elderly is to increase the provision of care in the community. This paper examines this policy in relation to informal help received from relatives and friends. Drawing on the results of a pilot study of 92 people over the age of 75, registered in a group general practice, data are presented on the balance between informal and formal help over a group of activities of daily livhg. The main informal helpers are described with the range of activities for which people in the study were receiving assistance. Community services are, at present, limited in the help they can provide for people in their own homes. If policies of community care are to be successful, then they must take into account the strengths and weaknesses of informal support. Using the data presented, suggestions are made a bout improvements in services including task specific services not currently provided and the definition of groups at risk of their social support breaking down.