Authors: Drennan V, Iliffe S, Haworth D, Tai S, Lenihan P and Deave T

Journal: Health and Social Care in the Community, 2005

Volume/pages: Vol 13(2), pp136-144

About the study

This London-based study describes the impact of a specialist health and social care team for promoting the health of older people perceived by their GPs as being 'at risk'.   The team aimed to reduce isolation among older people, improve utilisation of mainstream services, and promote self help to improve quality of life.   They proactively contacted 'at risk' people aged over 75 and offered them a joint health and social care assessment, followed by information giving, support, and short-term case management activities where needed.

Findings

Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 13 older people, 6 GPs, 9 managers and all 6 team members.   Senior managers and GPs were enthusiastic about joint working but had some concerns about maintaining confidentiality; reconciliation of different professional and organisational cultures was problematic.   13% of those offered the service declined it, and 71% of those assessed had no unmet need. Older people were very positive about the service, particularly where they had been helped to access other services: GPs felt that referrals to them by the team were appropriate and may have helped to prevent future crises.

Key Messages for practice

• A joint health and social assessment was demonstrated to be both feasible and acceptable

• Enthusiasm is not enough: effective approaches to managing collaborative working between different professional groups must be considered and adopted.