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ATTITUDES AND
ASPIRATIONS OF OLDER
PEOPLE: A REVIEW OF THE
LITERATURE
Annette Boaz, Carol Hayden and Miriam Bernard
Views expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Department or
any other Government Department.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
The Authors
Summary
vi
1
11
12
2 Active ageing
15
2.1 Work and retirement
15
2.2 Planning for retirement
17
2.3 Financing an active retirement
17
2.4 Leisure
18
2.5 Volunteering 19
2.6 Intergenerational relationships 20
2.7 Signposting - other reviews and research on active ageing 21
2.8 Gaps in the literature
22
2.9 End of chapter summary
22
3 Health and social care
25
3.1 The role of the state
25
3.2 Primary health care
26
3.3 Family health care
27
3.4 Housing
28
3.5 Domiciliary care 30
3.6 Assessment
32
3.7 Travel
33
3.8 Signposting - other reviews and research on health and social
care
33
3.9 Gaps in the literature 34
3.10 End of chapter summary 34
4 Consultation and involvement
37
4.1 Democratic participation 37
4.2 Information
38
4.3 Involving residents 39
4.4 Methods of involvement 40
4.5 Signposting - other reviews and research on consultation and
involvement
41
iii
47
References 189
Other research reports available
iv
197
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The literature review and report writing was undertaken by Annette Boaz
with advice and guidance from Carol Hayden and Miriam Bernard as
research manager and specialist advisor respectively.
Annette Boaz would like to thank other members of the research team
for their support: Carol Hayden for her comments and her enthusiasm
for this research, and Miriam Bernard for acting as a walking literature
review and offering expert input into all aspects of the project.
This research was commissioned by the Department of Social Security
and the research team are particularly grateful for the valuable input
received from Richenda Solon. Officials from a number of government
departments have also provided advice and assistance during this review.
The research team are also indebted to the staff at the Centre for Policy
on Inter-Ministerial, particularly Gillian Crosby and Ruth Hayes, who
provided ongoing assistance in their amazing library. We would also like
to thank Emma Cooke for her help in preparing this report and Kate
Davidson for repeating a sample of the data extractions.
THE AUTHORS
vi
SUMMARY
Methodology
Hayden, C., Boaz, A. and Taylor, F. (1999) Attitudes and aspirations of older people:
A qualitative study. DSS Research Report No. 102, CDS, Leeds.
The research highlights a concern amongst older people that they are
discriminated against in the workforce in a variety of areas, including
recruitment, promotion and training (2.1). Studies suggest that older
people have very varied attitudes to retirement and to being retired, just
as people experience work very differently. It is evident that choice in
whether or not to retire, income level and gender, all have an impact on
these attitudes. Attitudes to retirement also change over time as older
people experience declining health or loss of mobility.
Research indicates that though many older people had planned financially
for their retirement, others had not (2.2). This is especially significant as
a number of studies identified finance, along with declining health and
mobility, as a key concern of older people (2.3). Fewer people had
thought about how they would like to spend their leisure time in
retirement.
Older people tend to express a high degree of satisfaction with their
current level of activity in retirement. Attitudes towards leisure activities
are very varied and declining health, mobility, the loss of a partner and
changing economic circumstances can all affect participation (2.4). A
good infrastructure, including transport, information and a secure
environment, is identified as a further important factor influencing
participation in leisure activities. Older people are often interested in
getting out of the house to visit friends and family, to attend a local club
or day centre, or to do some shopping. A recent study concludes that
wherever older people wanted to go they needed safe, accessible, reliable
and affordable transport to get there (Help the Aged, 1998a).
respondents in their 50s are also less interested in such issues as they do
not consider themselves to be older people.
Older people feel that they are not well informed about issues that affect
them and this seems to be especially true of ethnic minority groups (4.2).
Older people seem to be keen to be kept informed and to be consulted,
but the research identified a number of barriers to more active participation
(4.3). Older people are concerned that their opinions would not be of
interest, or that they would not be able to maintain their involvement
due to poor health and dont want to take on commitments they can not
meet. There is also a concern that time is valuable and involvement
must be for a purpose. There is an issue of powerlessness among those in
residential care who do not want to offend the care providers, on whom
they are likely to have to rely for their future care.
It is clear that the methods of involvement need to take into account the
health status and low self-esteem of many older people (4.4). Novel
methods of consultation such as postal forums and telephone discussion
groups have been explored. The research identifies a desire for nonprescriptive, consultative agendas, through which older people can discuss
issues that are important to them. Older people derive benefits from
active involvement including a sense of fellowship and mutual support,
access to information and a chance to stretch the mind. However it is
important to participants that their input will have some effect and the
participants are not wasting their valuable time and their limited reserves
of energy on a fruitless exercise.
The literature search on the three themes above, as defined by the InterMinisterial Group, identified three further cross-cutting themes as discussed
below.
Participation
One of the common themes in each of the areas explored in this review
is the diversity of attitudes and aspirations of older people. Age alone is
an inadequate predictor of attitudes and aspirations; many other factors
come in to play. Wealth, health status, gender, mobility and living status
(alone or with others, in residential care or in the community) each
mediate the effect of age. These factors in turn influence each other; for
example the ability to get out and about can be influenced by whether or
not someone lives alone or whether they can afford to take part in social
activities.
It is evident that older people are a diverse group in all respects. Midwinter
(1991) concludes that many of the concerns and interests of older people
are those of society in general and may, in many cases, be more effectively
treated as such. This integration of older people into more mainstream
social policy decision making may help to combat ageism.
The key aspiration of older people seems to be an old age in which they
are included in society rather than marginalised and excluded because of
their age. An acknowledgement of their reciprocal roles as sources as
well as receivers of care and support rather than a focus on dependence is
central. It is evident that the three themes explored in this review are
interconnected. Older people who are involved and consulted are likely
to become more independent, active, healthy and cared for citizens.
in future research. Apart from three major national surveys the majority
of the research presented in this review has focused on specific geographical
areas. There is a need for further national research to explore the attitudes
and aspirations of older people. This data could be used, for example, to
explore disparities in access to support and care across the country and to
identify good practice.
The current research should inform the content of national surveys to
ensure that appropriate and relevant questions are asked of older people.
There is also scope for further qualitative research which values the
contribution of older people, adds meaning to quantitative results and
allows for a more in-depth exploration of areas of interest.
There is a significant disparity in the body of research associated with
each of the three themes. The literature on health and social care, for
example, is larger and contains more data on the attitudes and aspirations
of under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities. The review
identified more research on active ageing than on consulting and involving
older people, but there is scope for involving the perspective of older
people further in the literature, focusing in particular on older people
with significant care needs, ethnic minorities and older people living on
low incomes. Research on older workers and retirement could also be
strengthened if it included the perspective of older people themselves.
This theme is particularly important as it stresses the positive contribution
older people can make to society.
Older peoples views on involvement and consultation have attracted
less attention from researchers and practitioners. This imbalance in the
literature reflects broader social perceptions of older people as in need of
care and support, rather than as active people, involved in their
communities and consulted about the broad range of issues that affect
them.
Future research should seek to redress the imbalance by exploring the
attitudes and aspirations of older people to being involved and consulted.
There also needs to be more research, such as that conducted by Thornton
and Tozer (1994), which explores ways of overcoming the specific barriers
that prevent older people from being involved and consulted. Researchers
could also seek to involve and consult older people at all levels of the
research process.
It is also important to note that there are a number of initiatives underway
that will add to our understanding of the themes discussed in this report.
Important initiatives include the ESRC Growing Older Research
Programme on Extending Quality of Life, the Nuffield and European
Union 5th Framework research programmes and the Better Government
for Older People Programme.
discuss the literature identified by the review. They will also signpost
readers to a selection of relevant reviews, literature and to ongoing
programmes of work, although these will not be discussed in detail. The
majority of the research included in the review and in the signposting
sections is held in the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) Library in
London. Each chapter will identify gaps in the current literature and
conclude with a summary of the results.
The final chapter discusses three cross-cutting themes: participation,
independence, and diversity. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion
of the coverage of the research. Gaps identified were used to focus the
qualitative phase of the research.
1.3 Research sources
10
(Midwinter, 1991) surveyed retired older people (aged over 55) and
younger people (aged 16-24) to look at attitudes to ageing in Britain.
The survey focused on the opportunities and benefits that older people
might enjoy in old age and the problems that they might encounter.
Other surveys have focused on single areas of interest such as volunteering
(Horne and Broadridge, 1994) or geographical areas (Fell and Foster,
1996) or specific groups of older people, such as housing association
residents (Riseborough 1994). A significant number of the quantitative
studies included in the review also contain a qualitative dimension (Fell
and Foster, 1996). The qualitative literature explores a wide range of
issues using a variety of methods including semi-structured interviews,
focus groups, discussion groups and workshops. Detailed data extraction
sheets for each of the studies are contained in the Appendix.
Methodologically it is worth noting that attitude scales used in some
quantitative studies are difficult to develop. A lot of thought and research
needs to go into developing meaningful scales (Oppenheim, 1992).
Qualitative methods can allow for a more sensitive exploration of complex
attitudes and aspirations and are often used in the development of attitude
scales.
1.4 Limitations of the existing
literature
Midwinter (1991) defines the Third Age of life as the period during which older
people are active, independent and enjoy a life free from the responsibilities of work
and parenting. The Fourth Age of life is characterised as the age of eventual dependence.
Childhood is the First Age and paid work and raising a family is the Second Age. This
characterisation of old age has attracted criticism from some quarters, for example see
Bernard and Meade (1993).
11
Attitudes are abstractions, they are often inconsistent and they vary in
intensity and complexity (Oppenheim, 1992). Attitudes are influenced
by a range of factors including values, beliefs and experiences. The
complexity of attitudes is acknowledged by many of the authors included
in this review. For example Midwinter highlights the importance of the
role of the media in shaping attitudes (1991), while Meethan and
Thompson (1993) discuss the role of health professionals in shaping the
attitudes of older people to their care options.
The limitations of attitudes as predictors of behaviour and indicators of
beliefs and intentions should be considered when using attitudes to inform
policy. In this review we also demonstrate a diversity of opinion among
older people. This diversity is likely to be reflected vertically across the
generations as well as amongst older people themselves. The attitudes
and aspirations of one generation may also have limited relevance for
future generations of older people. The aspirations of younger people
have also been drawn into research in order to build a picture of the
world they hope to live in. Evandrou (1997) has explored the potential
impact of the Baby boomers on future social policy. The Millennium
Debate of the Age (1998) is seeking to involve both younger and older
people in the debate about the implications of an ageing population.
Others stress the importance of attitudes and aspirations. Munro et al
(1995) note that aspirations are powerful as they show the extent to which
change might realistically be achieved. They stress that people are very
aware of their circumstances and take them into account when expressing
their aspirations.
1.6 Methods
12
invited to attend a half day seminar at which a draft of the review was
presented. The experts gave feedback to the research team that was
used to identify further papers and make changes to the text.
For all the above methods clear inclusion and exclusion criteria were
developed as appropriate to the aims of literature review. Sixty-eight
papers were identified for inclusion in the review.
The literature has been critically reviewed using a detailed data extraction
sheet, paying particular attention to consensus and inconsistencies in
outcomes between the different studies. A second researcher repeated
the data extraction for a random sample of papers. The main reasons for
excluding papers were that the research was not UK based or the study
was not concerned with the attitudes of older people themselves. In
some of the areas of interest there is a UK based literature on attitudes
and aspirations, but the research focuses on groups other than older people.
For example, much of the literature on consultation and involvement is
concerned with people with disabilities.
Initially abstracts were used as a basis for inclusion or exclusion. When
there was any doubt the paper was read in full and most of the
inappropriate papers were excluded prior to data extraction. Papers were
excluded that focused on older people with learning disabilities and
dementia as these topics justify separate attention. However in response
to the brief from the DSS the review has included the attitudes and
aspirations of ethnic minority groups and older people in residential and
nursing care. Studies included in the review defined respondents of
different ages as older people. Some studies included people over the
age of 50, whereas others include those who have reached State Pension
Age.3 Details of the ages of respondents in each study are included on
the data extraction sheets in the Appendix.
This report does not attempt to review in detail the methodologies of
the included studies. However, methodology has been taken into account
when decisions were made as to whether and to what extent papers were
included in the review. Studies with less rigorous research methods are
often included in conjunction with other more methodologically robust
studies with similar findings. For example smaller, or very local, studies
were not used to identify themes, but where appropriate they were used
in conjunction with other studies to support themes identified elsewhere
in the literature. This review draws on a lot of qualitative research and
this must be taken into account when using the results.
In the UK State Pension Age is currently 60 for women and 65 for men.
13
ACTIVE AGEING
15
with retirement. Those who chose to retire also viewed retirement more
positively. Some of the respondents had experienced improved health
while others had experienced major health problems since retirement.
Perhaps most importantly the authors concluded that adjustment to
retirement varies significantly between individuals. Qualitative studies
such as Hedges (1998, see also Finch and Elam, 1995) also found that
people reacted very differently to retirement. While some of the older
people interviewed looked forward to increased freedom, leisure and an
escape from work, others were concerned about their income, health,
mobility and worried about being bored and inactive.
A large survey exploring attitudes to work and retirement (McKay and
Middleton, 1998, see also Dench and Norton, 1996) found that people
aged between 50 and 59 were reluctant to acknowledge retirement. While
only 26% initially described themselves as retired, when prompted many
more conceded that they had effectively retired. Although unemployed
older workers were less likely to search intensively for jobs than younger
unemployed people, they were prepared to accept as wide a range of
jobs, although they expected higher wages.
Ginn and Arber (1996) explored gender differences in attitudes to
employment through further analysis of existing survey data. They did
not find evidence to support the assumption that womens early exit
from the workforce was related to a reduced desire to work. They found
that like men, womens prospects in the workforce seemed to be negatively
influenced by their age and attitudes towards them. A qualitative study
(Finch and Elam, 1995) found that some of the women interviewed felt
that the notion of retirement did not really apply to them.
Skucha (1995) used interview and survey methods to explore attitudes to
employment, retirement and pre-retirement education amongst part time
women aged over 45. The research found that women gained a lot from
their work, both socially and in terms of income, despite the limited
opportunities available to them in the workforce. The women in the
study had mixed feelings about retirement, anticipating that, unlike men
who had earned a period of relaxation, they were likely to have a full
time domestic role. However they felt that as a generation of part time
working women they were unique and were keen to make the most of
any free time in retirement by pursuing social and leisure activities.
Interviews with older workers, older unemployed and newly retired
people (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998) stressed that retirement was
not just a one-off event, but a long process. Older peoples experiences
of forced retirement, due to ill health or redundancy, often contributed
to a lack of control over the transition from work to retirement. Poor
emotional and practical planning was also thought to impact negatively
on this process.
16
The research consistently shows that retirement not only varies between
individuals, it also varies over time as people experience health problems
and loss of mobility. The desire to remain independent, however, is a
consistent priority for older people.
2.2 Planning for retirement
17
When asked about their personal situation in the British Gas Survey
(Midwinter, 1991) respondents felt that their financial situation was
manageable, they were not lonely and their health was mainly good or
very good. This points to a dichotomy between how older people describe
their own situation and how they see things more generally for older
people. It may be that older people share broader social assumptions
about what it is like to be old. This example illustrates the complexity of
using attitudes as a measure.
2.4 Leisure
When asked in the British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991) whether they
would like to pursue more leisure activities, one in three said that they
had no wish to do more of anything. Those who were keen to do more
mentioned getting out for more walks and exercise as potential activities,
but lack of time, poor health and lack of money were identified as barriers
to a more active life. Fell and Foster (1994) also found a high level of
satisfaction with current levels of activity. The Eurobarometer survey
(Walker, 1993) reinforces the lack of time dimension as nearly three
quarters of respondents described themselves as either very busy or having
full days. With regard to income, a greater proportion of older people
on a low income found life less enjoyable than when they were working.
While some enjoyed a very active retirement, joining clubs, pursuing
hobbies and getting involved in voluntary work, others were less active
and relied on television and radio for entertainment. Qualitative research
by Clark et al (1998a) highlights the varying social needs of older people.
Some of the respondents found that luncheon clubs, day centres and
coffee mornings provided them with an opportunity to get out, to meet
people and have a meal. Others did not find these social events stimulating
enough or found them to be cliquey and didnt enjoy them.
Research in Lewisham (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998) found a
difference between more active older people, who were interested in
groups and organisations which encouraged peer and intergenerational
involvement, and less active older people who valued projects and activities
which fostered friendships and new opportunities to get involved. The
participants highlighted a number of advantages to an active retirement
including opportunities to carry on learning and to use their existing
skills. To really take advantage of the opportunities on offer they identified
a need for pre-retirement education and retraining and good quality,
widely distributed information.
For some older people changes in activities reflected increased age and
poor health, while for others the cost or the loss of a partner were important
factors (Finch and Elam, 1995). A survey of older people in Newcastle
(Action for Health, 1996) found that in addition to health and mobility
problems, poor transport and bad weather were seen to further limit
leisure activities. While respondents were interested in a wide range of
18
19
20
they had gained self-esteem, self worth, confidence and personal satisfaction
from their involvement in the mentoring programme.
Respondents were asked to identify three benefits in order of importance.
Satisfaction with helping the young people was identified as the most
importance benefit followed by appreciation by the young people and
increasing skills through experiences in the school context. Constraints
included a lack of opportunity to expand their role further, a lack of time
(particularly because of other voluntary commitments) and getting too
involved with the children. It was felt that training would maximise the
potential of mentoring programmes. Support when entering and leaving
the organisation was also seen to be important.
As with other volunteers, the mentors had chosen to get involved for a
variety of reasons including having spare time, feeling there was a gap in
their lives and liking working with children.
2.7 Signposting - other reviews
and research on active ageing
21
(1991) wrote the first British text exploring gender inequalities in old
age. In Women Come of Age Bernard and Meade (1993) bring together
issues impacting on the lives of older women.
Bytheway (1995) discusses ageism in society and reviews the literature.
Blakemore and Boneham (1993) look at the pattern of ageing in ethnic
minority groups and present an overview of the British context compared
to the US and Australia. Wells and Freer (1988) challenge the view that
older people are a burden on society. OConnor (1993) reviews a series
of practical school-based projects aimed at forging links between older
and younger people.
2.8 Gaps in the literature
The research highlights a concern amongst older people that they are
discriminated against in the workforce in a variety of areas, including
recruitment, promotion and training (2.1). Studies suggest that older
people have very varied attitudes to retirement and to being retired, just
as people experience work very differently. It is evident that choice in
whether or not to retire, income level and gender, have an impact on
these attitudes. Attitudes to retirement also change over time as older
people experience declining health or loss of mobility.
Research indicates that though many older people had planned financially
for their retirement, others had not (2.2). This is especially significant as
a number of studies identified finance, along with declining health and
mobility, as a key concern of older people (2.3). Fewer people had
thought about how they would like to spend their leisure time in
retirement.
Older people tend to express a high degree of satisfaction with their
current level of activity in retirement. Attitudes towards leisure activities
are very varied and declining health, mobility, the loss of a partner and
changing economic circumstances can all affect participation (2.4). A
22
23
25
26
The researchers also asked participants about their aspirations for primary
care (Bodie, 1997, Beattie, 1997a and Brighton CVS, 1994). One stop
health centres were popular (with benefit advice as well as health services),
as was better communication between hospitals and other agencies and
between providers and older people. Improvements in community health
services including care and home support were seen to be important.
Older people interviewed in Wolverhampton suggested that GPs had
potential as a provider of information (Cameron et al, 1993 see also
Tinker et al, 1994). Doctors needed to be well informed about patient
needs and staff should treat older people as individuals. There was interest
in alternative medicine in surgeries and a legalisation of euthanasia. At a
policy level, older people were concerned that more money was spent
on the health service and efforts were made to reduce waste.
In Brighton (Brighton CVS, 1994, see also Tinker et al, 1994) the
respondents were keen for there to be more information through sources
such as local radio, community contacts to snowball information and
translated written information. They also felt that better hospital food,
translators, a more racially mixed health service (with same sex health
care workers where requested) and support for mental health problems
were priorities for change.
3.3 Family health care
27
from family, friends, church and day centres. For those who felt out of
circulation because of their age or health, this informal system of
information diffusion proved inadequate.
A number of studies highlighted the dual roles of older people as care
givers as well as care receivers (Wenger, 1997, Walsh, 1998). In interviews
with octogenarians Wenger (1997) found that older peoples relationships
with others were not just about receiving support. Affection, interest
and concern were part of reciprocal relationships between the older people
and their friends and family.
A survey of carers found that the majority of survey respondents were
family members, were women and were over the age of 45 (Carers
National Association, 1996). The survey found that only half of those
who were working found their employer was helpful and supportive of
their role as a carer. When carers found they needed help they were
much more likely to turn to other family members for help, rather than
to social services.
Jones and Salvage (1992) found that most of the carers they interviewed
(the majority of whom were over the age of 45) were very committed to
their role as carers. However this role often involved huge personal
costs. For example, caring impacted on the physical and mental health of
some of the carers in the study. Although the majority of the carers were
very resistant to placing their elderly dependent in residential care, there
was a strong link between the level of stress experienced by the carer and
their ability to think through other options, such as alternative care
arrangements.
3.4 Housing
28
29
Older people are very aware that continuing to live at home, with
declining health, would involve support from others. Respondents in
Fell and Fosters survey (1994) were concerned about maintaining the
house and garden and the cost of heating. Means (1998) identifies the
loss of neighbours, fear of burglary and local shops closing as further
factors affecting the ability of older people to live in the community
without support. The London Housing Survey (1993) suggested that,
particularly as people get older, they were less likely to want to stay in
their own homes as the burden of caring for the home became too much
for them.
There seemed to be a low level of awareness and use of domiciliary care,
despite the need identified in many of the studies (Allen et al 1995, Clark
et al 1998a). There also seemed to be a lack of advice and information
about housing and care options for older people (Hirst et al 1995, Allen
et al 1995, London Community Care Action Group, 1994).
Qualitative studies (Boneham, 1997 and Beattie 1997b) have found that
older people from ethnic minorities also knew very little about the
community health services available to them. The majority of the ethnic
minority elders interviewed in Glasgow had experienced problems with
independent living, but only a very small number had received any help
in the form of adaptations or aids (Carlin, 1994). In addition to low level
of awareness, studies suggest that older people want to carry on living
without support for as long as possible. McCafferty (1994) found that
three quarters of older people wishing to carry on living in their own
30
home, did not feel that they needed help or support to remain there. Of
those who felt they needed support the most common request was for
help with household tasks.
Where home carers were available there seemed to be a limited range of
tasks that they were permitted to do. Shopping and gardening, for
example, were seen as essential tasks that were often beyond their remit,
but would make a huge difference to older people (Hirst et al 1995,
London Community Care Action Group, 1994). While some commented
that domiciliary services were often of a low standard, others were very
satisfied with the care they received and praised their individual care
workers (Thomas, 1995).
Social and psychological support was also identified as a gap in home care
provision. One study gave the example of older people who were keen
to have a stimulating visitor with whom they could have a two way
relationship, but found existing befriending visits condescending (Beattie,
1997a). Quilgars (1997), in evaluating a housing support scheme, echoed
the need for more practical domestic support, and also the desire for
social and emotional support (for example in going out). The older
people interviewed in the study were often lonely and looked forward to
visits from their carer workers, but staff had to leave as soon as their
specific tasks were completed.
Clark et al (1998a) revealed a gender dimension in attitudes to help in
the home. While housework was a functional task for older men, older
women associated a clean and tidy home with their self-esteem and their
public and private identity. Women were also more likely to fear strangers
in their home and looked to trusted organisations such as Care and Repair
for help with maintenance. Older people in this study talked about the
help rather than care that they needed. Choice and control were
important, as was being allowed to continue with tasks that they felt
were still within their capabilities.
The respondents also seemed keen for occupational therapist to visit and
install aids. Interviews with older people who have been offered
adaptations or aids (Clark and Dyers 1998b) demonstrated a range of
responses to these changes. While some welcomed the adaptations and
wondered how they had managed without them, others were fearful that
the changes would mean a loss of independence and control over their
lives. Others had their own Do it yourself strategies for coping with
changes in their health. A final group had experienced changing needs,
for better and for worse, since assessment and their new needs required
further attention from health professionals.
The London Community Care Action Group consultation (1994)
identified a series of aspirations with regard to care. Participants suggested
imaginative advertising of community care through the local media,
31
32
Visioning exercises are sometimes used with groups to build a collective vision for
the future.
The British Gas Survey (Midwinter, 1991) found that older people were
quite satisfied with current transport options, with more than three quarters
of respondents happy with their ability to get around. However almost
a quarter of respondents highlighted a need for more frequent public
transport. A Help the Aged survey (1998b) identified a particular need
for frequent and regular services, rather than the concentrated and
duplicated services that had followed deregulation.
Fell and Foster (1994) focused on transport problems facing older people
in Scotland. They found poor pavements, dog fouling and road safety to
be concerns for pedestrians, lack of shelters, lack of seats and problems
getting on and off as problems for bus users. Cost, not being on a train
route and unstaffed stations were seen to be problems with the trains.
Aggressive drivers, increased traffic, car costs and parking problems were
the main concerns of road users.
Means (1998) highlighted the important role transport plays in the lives
of older people. He gave the example of older people who were busy
with a range of interests which helped to foster independence, but who
relied on public transport to get to and from these activities. Appropriate
transport can enable older people to access services such as banks, building
societies and post offices that often play a key part of their continuing
independence (Finch and Elam, 1995). Skinner and Bartlett (1998) carried
out a consultation exercise with older people and found transport problems
to be a particular concern for older people living in rural areas. The
Peoples Panel results revealed that more than a quarter of older people
felt that a local bus service was one of the most important services. Other
age groups did not prioritise local bus services to the same extent.
Fell and Foster (1994) reported the aspirations of older people associated
with transport. Older people wanted improved public transport, cheap
off peak fares, better co-ordination of services, lower bus entry steps,
handrails at steps and better parking and reduced road taxes for older
people. A series of meetings held across the country by Help the Aged
(1998a) highlighted the need for safe, accessible, reliable and affordable
public transport. There was also a strong feeling that access to
concessionary schemes should be consistent across the country.
33
Twigg (1990) reviews the literature on caring up until 1990 and Phillips
(1993) discusses the role of working carers in the UK, the rest of Europe
and America. Peace et al (1997) review the history of residential care,
the research literature and current policy and practice. Dalley (1996)
looks at different forms of caring and argues in favour of some forms of
residential care. Walker (1996) includes papers exploring the impact of
changes in social policy on the contract between generations. Means
and Smith (1994) look at community care policy and practice. The
Royal Commission on Long Term Care (1999) has gathered evidence
on care. The main report makes recommendations to government and
is accompanied by three volumes of research.
Researching older peoples health needs and health promotion issues (Ginn et al
1997) highlights the current literature around health promotion and older
people and suggests key areas for further analysis. Glendenning and Pearson
(1988) discuss research on ethnic minority elders, concentrating on health
needs and on access to services.
Tinker (1997b) reviews the literature on housing for older people up
until 1997. Phillipson and Walker (1986) contains a chapter by Wheeler
on housing and older people. In Life at 60 Askham (1992) looks at self
reported housing conditions and health of older people
3.9 Gaps in the literature
34
35
37
for their rights. This was especially true of respondents in their sixties
and early seventies. Older respondents were less keen to get involved
and those in their fifties did not consider themselves to be older people.
Hartley and Anderson (1998) found that all types of resident wanted to
be kept in touch with what the council was doing. However older and
younger residents and council tenants were more likely to say that as
long as the council did its job they were not particularly interested in it.
While 22% of people of all ages were not interested in any form of
involvement, 47% of those over 65 did not want to be involved in any
way. Those aged 55 to 64 were more interested in being involved
(mirroring the level of interest shown by the general population).
Of those who would like to get involved, postal questionnaires and
household surveys were the most popular options for older people (above
meetings, residents panels and focus groups). A study of older people in
Lewisham (Lewisham Borough Council, 1998), suggested that low self
esteem, lack of information, the costs of participation, transport problems
and working and caring commitments all presented challenges to older
peoples involvement. In a survey and interviews, Riseborough (1996)
found that health and mobility problems often presented further barriers
to participation for those over 75. Anger, apathy and a belief that others
have a better deal were identified as potentially damaging consequences
of older peoples lack of involvement and sense of exclusion.
4.2 Information
38
The Peoples Panel suggested that older people were less likely than the
rest of the population to access information on public services through
television, fax, e-mail, electronic information points or by using the
Internet. They also showed less interest in other new models for
information provision such as one-stop shops and one stop call centres.
The Cabinet Office survey on electronic government (Central IT Unit,
1998) also found that older people were less likely than other age groups
to say that they trusted, or they would use, new information technologies.
Of those aged 55 and over, 25% were very willing to use the new
technology options (compared to 37% aged 25-34). People in lower
socio-economic groups shared this distrust of technology and unwillingness
to use it. Older people showed slightly more interest in the touch-tone
phone option than in screen based methods, but many respondents said
that they would prefer to talk to someone face to face.
4.3 Involving residents
Riseborough (1996) concluded from her research carried out for the
Anchor Housing Trust on listening to and involving Anchor tenants,
that older people were keen to be kept informed. Information must be
communicated in plain language and was seen to be particularly important
with regard to any planned changes. Qualitative studies have supported
the idea that older people were not well informed about issues and services
that affect them, such as domiciliary care (Allen et al, 1992). The
respondents were also keen to be consulted about a range of issues
including costs, services and maintenance.
Participants in Riseboroughs study were less supportive of the notion of
getting involved, with the majority supporting ballots from time to time
rather than more active participation such as sending representatives to
regional tenants forums. Other issues specific to involving older people
emerged from the accompanying focus groups. Participants felt that
involvement often meant a long-term commitment and this seemed
inappropriate as they might get ill, or they might not live to see the
benefits. It was important to the focus group participants that they chose
when and how they were involved. Finally issues of status and
powerlessness emerged which had significant implications for involvement.
For example, the older people did not want to criticise the wardens as
they may have to depend on them in the future. This finding is supported
elsewhere (Allen et al, 1992).
Despite the lack of interest in more active involvement identified in the
survey, the focus group participants stressed how valuable the groups had
been as an opportunity to talk and discuss. Riseborough (1996) concluded
that tenants might just need to know more about opportunities and options
to get involved.
Abbott and Fisk (1997) surveyed older people about their ideas of
independence and involvement. The research generated a diverse range
39
Barnes and Barrett (1998) carried out an evaluation of the Fife User
Panel. The panel aimed to involve frail older people in service planning
and provision through discussions about their health and social needs.
50% of those who took part felt that their sense of control over their lives
had increased. Interviews with members of the panel found that they felt
that membership of the panel had a number of advantages including
fostering personal development, increasing self-esteem and social contact,
and allowing participants to share experiences. The participants were
less sure that their involvement had made an impact on services.
Thornton and Tozer (1995) carried out an evaluation of three methods
of involving older community care users in the way community care is
planned and provided. The first project was a service users action forum,
the second a postal Healthlink network and the third was a telephone
discussion group. The second and third options were aimed at people
who could not leave their homes. The results echo Allen et al (1995)
and Abbot and Fisk (1997). Participants needed a lot of reassurance, as
they were uncertain about their ability to make a useful contribution.
Participants often felt that they were satisfied with current provision and
therefore would not be able to help. There was also some fear of
complaining and a view that involvement would involve a significant
commitment of time and work. For example several Healthlink members
were concerned that they would not be well enough to take part and
would have to let people down.
Involvement had a number of positive benefits for participants. The
projects had encouraged fellowship and mutual support. Participants
had shared interests, stretched their minds and accessed information. The
participants were pleased to be taken seriously for a change. The telephone
group had felt less isolated as a result of involvement and had looked
forward to each phone meeting. The Healthlinks group valued the
opportunity to contribute on paper in their own time, although some
identified the written questionnaire format as a barrier for some older
people.
40
The priority for the participants was not the personal rewards that could
be derived from involvement. It was important that the respondents felt
that they were making a contribution, even if it was for change for the
benefit of others in the future. The participants did not want to feel that
they were wasting their time. Involvement had to foster a sense of
purpose and of self worth while not overstretching the participants. The
agenda needed to be open rather than prescriptive. For example, a general
question to the Healthlink group about health problems generated a range
of responses including home repairs and adaptations, home helps and
social workers. A more restrictive agenda would not have allowed older
people to express their views.
Clark (1997), in a study involving older people in community needs
assessment, found that older users had difficulty reflecting on future services
within the model of clearly divided services used by the health
professionals. Their view of interconnected services offered a challenge
for joint working with health professionals. Research in Wolverhampton
(Cameron, 1993) also found that older people did not conceptualise the
system in the same way as professionals and therefore found it hard to
negotiate at times of need.
Bangladeshi elders in London (Qureshi 1998) identified a series of barriers
to more active participation. In addition to those associated with health
and age highlighted above: they did not feel fully part of society, they felt
under-educated and they thought that community leaders often spoke
on their behalf. Many said that they had never been consulted.
Where information was provided to older people and care workers listened
to the views of users, the next challenge was to make their choices a
reality. Myers and MacDonald (1996) studied user involvement and
found that where carers and users felt they had had time to express their
views, these views had not always carried much weight in the decisionmaking process. Interviews with those who had been involved revealed
that information, involvement and consultation were not sufficient in
their own right. They had to lead to change.
4.5 Signposting - other reviews
and research on consultation
and involvement
41
42
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
43
44
One of the common themes in each of the areas explored in this review
is the diversity of attitudes and aspirations of older people. Age alone is
an inadequate predictor of attitudes and aspirations; many other factors
come in to play. Wealth, health status, gender, mobility and living status
(alone or with others, in residential care or in the community) each
mediate the effect of age. These factors in turn influence each other; for
example the ability to get out and about can be influenced by whether or
not someone lives alone or whether they can afford to take part in social
activities.
It is evident that older people are a diverse group in all respects. Midwinter
(1991) concludes that many of the concerns and interests of older people
are those of society in general and may, in many cases, be more effectively
treated as such. This integration of older people into more mainstream
social policy decision-making may help to combat ageism.
The key aspiration of older people seems to be an old age in which they
are included in society rather than marginalised and excluded because of
their age. An acknowledgement of their reciprocal roles, as sources as
well as receivers of care and support, rather than a focus on dependence
is central. It is evident that the three themes explored in this review are
interconnected. Older people who are involved and consulted are likely
to become more independent, active, healthy and cared for citizens.
45
example, is larger and contains more data on the attitudes and aspirations
of under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities. The review
identified more research on active ageing than on consulting and involving
older people, but there is scope for involving the perspective of older
people further in the literature, focusing in particular on older people
with significant care needs, ethnic minorities and older people living on
low incomes. Research on older workers and retirement could also be
strengthened if it included the perspective of older people themselves.
This theme is particularly important as it stresses the positive contribution
older people can make to society.
Older peoples views on consultation and involvement have attracted
less attention from researchers and practitioners. This imbalance in the
literature reflects broader social perceptions of older people as in need of
care and support, rather than as active people, involved in their
communities and consulted about the broad range of issues that affect
them.
Future research should seek to redress this imbalance by exploring the
attitudes and aspirations of older people to being involved and consulted.
There also needs to be more research such as that conducted by Thornton
and Tozer (1994) which explores ways of overcoming the specific barriers
that prevent older people from being involved and consulted. Researchers
could also seek to involve and consult older people at all levels of the
research process.
The qualitative phase of this research explores the attitudes and aspirations
of older people in relation to the three themes of interest to the InterMinisterial Group, focusing in particular on aspects of active ageing and
consultation and involvement. Specific gaps, such as attitudes to learning,
were given greater emphasis than attitudes to health and care that have
been covered more thoroughly in the existing literature.
It is also important to note that there are a number of initiatives underway
that will add to our understanding of the themes discussed in this report.
Important initiatives include the ESRC Growing Older Research
Programme on Extending Quality of Life, the Nuffield and European
Union 5th Framework research programmes and the Better Government
for Older People Programme.
46
APPENDIX
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Qualitative interviews with older people, mainly interviewed
alone, occasionally someone else present. One interview as a
group of 4.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
47
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
48
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Action for Health. Senior Citizens in Newcastle The links to a fuller life
Report 1996
Part of the Newcastle Health City Project
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1994-1995
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
49
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
50
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Interviews with older people and with their carers, and with
professionals (only views of older people are presented here as it
is unclear what age the carers are).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Nov 88 - June 89
75+
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
51
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
52
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Evaluation of Fife user panel project involving 7 panels of frail
older people throughout Fife.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Monthly meetings
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
53
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
54
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Beattie, A. (a)
The views of housebound older people
Briefing paper 1, 1997
Age Concern London
Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=12
3 had a carer living with them (all spouses), 7 non residential
carers (family and friends)
Interviewees from 8 surgeries in 7 boroughs
3 women, 9 men
11 out of 12 75+, all white
5 in house, 6 flats (2 sheltered) 1 maisonette
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
55
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
56
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Beattie, A. (b)
The views of black and minority ethnic older people
Briefing paper 3, 1997
Age Concern London
Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Informal meetings.
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=12 groups
Interpreting by project workers where needed.
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
57
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
58
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Bodie, L.
The views of older people expressed through focus groups
Briefing Paper 2: Age Concern 1997
Age Concern, London
Study design
Focus groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
59
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
60
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Boneham, M. A. et al
Age, Race and Mental Health : Liverpools Elderly People from
Ethnic Minorities
Health & Social Care 2 113-125,1997
Liverpool University
Is appropriate mental health care being offered to people from
ethnic minorities?
By measuring extent of depression and dementia in people aged
65+ from ethnic minorities and look at barriers to use.
Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
61
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, with an acknowledgement that the prime concern is mental
health
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
62
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Brighton CVS
We dont know what were missing Report of the Brighton
Hove and District Ethnic Minorities Representative Council
Health Needs Project.
Brighton CVS: Brighton, 1994
Study design
Interviews, discussion groups and questionnaires and interviews
with professional employees (not reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
June-September 1993
Members of black and ethnic minority communities main 6
communities.
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
63
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, although the groups contained younger participants as well
as those over 50.
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
64
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
2 Surveys, one of the general public (not reported here) and one
of carers. Surveys conducted by Gallup.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1996
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
65
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
58% of the carers were women. 56% were over 45 years old
(18% over 65).
Only about half of those working said that their employer was
helpful and supportive of their role as a carer.
60% had not thought about who would care for them if they
needed care.
The majority were more likely to think that the family will look
after them than the state or social services.
66% believed that the state should pay the major part of the cost
of care.
25% thought that the state and family should share the costs.
Carers were more prepared than non carers to make extra
payments towards the cost of long term care.
Carers are most likely to turn to other family members for help
with caring than to turn to social services.
Yes
Yes, although the study includes carers of all ages.
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
66
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Carlin, H.
The Housing Needs of Older People from Ethnic Minorities:
evidence from Glasgow
Occasional papers on housing, 6, University of Stirling 1994
University of Stirling
Investigate housing needs of older people from ethnic
minorities. Special interest in housing and experiences with and
awareness of other options and whether these were seen as
appropriate.
Study design
Housing association survey (not reported here)
Survey of ethnic minority elders interviews conducted by Urdu
and Punjabi speakers.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
67
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
68
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
In-depth interviews and group discussions with Asian and Black
middle aged and older people and with service providers (not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
69
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
70
Health not identified as a priority. Many said they were fit and
healthy. Others identified the influence of poor health on their
working lives, often having to stop work, or work causing
health problems. These problems affecting their financial
situation.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
71
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Central IT Unit
Electronic government: the view from the queue.
Comprehensive research into potential customer take-up of online government services, Report, 1998.
Cabinet Office
Research question
Aim
Study design
Surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews with the public,
benefits customers and providers (only the research with the
public is reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
72
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Older people are less likely to say that they will use new
technology. They are less likely to say that they will use touch
tone phones, PCs, touch screens and interactive television.
They showed more interest in the touch tone phone option
than in screen based methods.
Of those 55+25% were very willing to use the new technology
options (compared to 37% aged 25-34). Of those saying no
over a third said that they would prefer to talk to someone face
to face.
Retired people were also more resistant to smart cards (along
with people in social classes D and E).
With lower social classes and older people there was a strong
mistrust of technology along with an unwillingness to use it.
Yes
Yes, although the survey includes other age groups, the results
are broken down by age.
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
73
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Clark, A.
Community participation in determining the needs of users and
carers of rural community care services
Health Bulletin 55 (5), 1997 p 305-308
Study design
Local people involved in study design through workshops,
interviews and focus groups with users and carers (carers not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Service users
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
74
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, although not all the respondents were older people
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
75
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Interviews with older people, one third of whom were
interviewed on 2 or 3 separate occasions to get some idea of
change over time. Also interviewed professionals (not reported
here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used? Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
76
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
77
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=50
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
78
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
79
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1991/92
50+
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
80
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes
81
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Davis Smith, J.
The 1997 National Survey of Volunteering
National Centre for Volunteering, London, 1998
University of East London
Study design
Survey, designed to be directly comparable to early surveys of
volunteers in 1981 and 1991.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
June-July 1997
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
82
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes, although it also includes non-attitudinal data
83
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Davis Smith, J.
Volunteering: Widening horizons in the third age
Paper no 7
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust: Dunfermline, 1992
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
Study design
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
84
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, the report does include some surveys on attitudes to
volunteering as well self reported volunteering behaviour
Theme
Active ageing
85
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Autumn 1995
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
86
Questionnaire
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes
87
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Ellis, S.W.
The Intergenerational Programme Mentoring Project: Final
Research Report
Report, 1998
The Beth Johnson Foundation/Manchester Metropolitan
University
What are the gains for all those involved in mentoring (older
people, young people and education providers), looking
particularly at changes in attitudes, effects on intergenerational
understanding and impact on educational setting.
Study design
Action research evaluation, using qualitative (in depth
interviews) and quantitative methods (baseline and follow up
survey) Research with teachers and pupils is not reported here.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=10, 6 female (one lost to follow up) and 4 men, mean age 63
and median 61.
5 were married, 4 were widowed and 1 was single
Often history of voluntary work, previous contact with children
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
88
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes
89
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Discussion groups and survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Discussion Groups
60+
Survey
60+
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Not given
5 Groups
2 of learning in later life
course members.
1 CASE, Maryhill
1 Alive and Kicking project
1 Senior citizens groups of
Dixon Halls.
N = 358 completed
(response rate not known)
Age concern groups, SCC
Network Poll, Strathclyde,
Elderly Forum.
53% live alone
53% owned their property
Broadly reflects Scotlands
retirement population, but
more women interviewed
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
90
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
91
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
92
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Qualitative study
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
93
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
94
Yes
Yes
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Forster, J.
Potential of a lifetime
The Carnegie United Kindom Trust: Fife, 1997
The Carnegie United Kindom Trust, TSB Foundation
Study design
1) Survey of volunteers, interviews with a key member of staff
or volunteer and a group discussion with volunteers in each
org.
2) Evaluation of Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
95
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative results
96
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes
97
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Examine gender differences in attitudes to employment of midlife men and women and reasons for early exit from the
workforce.
Study design
Further analysis of Social Change and Economic Life
Initiative survey(SCELI)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
1986
(Men and women aged 40-50) to cover period of greatest
labour market involvement (late 40s) followed by rapid decline
in 50s.
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
98
Multivariate analysis
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes, although the sample is of 40-50 year olds they have been
included because of the light they throw on issues of
employment of men and women in later life.
99
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
100
Administered questionnaire
Yes, 5 point Likert scales
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
101
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Hedges, A.
Pensions and retirement planning
DSS Research Report no. 83, Corporate Document Services,
Leeds 1998
Study design
Group discussions
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Recruitment questionnaire
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
102
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes, but mainly on pensions
103
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Meetings
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
104
N=93 participants
7 groups across the country (Nottingham, Exeter, Newcastle,
Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Manchester).
Results
Qualitative results
SARA
Safe, reassurance and assistance provided by conductors
Accessible
- information
- ease of access to system e.g. bus stop
- getting aboard
- getting there
Reliable
Affordable debate about freely available transport as a right of
older people versus those who think of transport as part of
transport market catered for by commercial schemes, eg
railcards.
All over the country people felt it was unfair that access to
concessionary schemes was determined by geographical
boundaries and lots of different local schemes.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
105
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
May 1998
General population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
106
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
107
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Focus groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
108
Notes were made during the discussion and a report was written
on each session. Cross-cutting themes were identified.
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
109
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
60+
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
110
Interview schedule
Yes with 12 respondents
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
111
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Horne, S. Broadgate, A.
The Charity Shop Volunteer in Scotland: Greatest Asset or
Biggest Headache?
Voluntas, 5(2) 205-218, 1994
Study design
Survey of individual volunteers
Survey of shop managers (not reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
(N=810). 98% respondents female. Majority 55-64 years old 300, 2nd largest group 65-74 - 275, 75+ 4%).
72% volunteer workforce were 55-74.
66% retired, 22% home, 40% voluntary for more than 3 years.
Live nearby 60% <2 miles away, 27% walk to work, 37% family
car, 28% bus.
48% response rate
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
112
used SPSSx
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Yes
Yes, although a minority of the volunteers were under 55
113
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Jarvis, C.
Family and friends in old age, and the implications for informal
support: Evidence from the BSAS of 1986
Working paper, 1993
ACI0G/supported by JRF
Examine the informal relationships of elderly people and to
gauge levels of informal support.
Study design
Secondary analysis of the 1986 British Social Attitudes Survey
This survey is conducted in 2 parts: part 1 is face to face 1 hour
interviews and part 2 is a self completion supplement.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
114
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
115
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
116
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Majority of carers (90%) said that they would not accept long
term residential care for their dependant if it could be arranged.
Those caring for someone with very severe disabilities were
more likely to make people think about long term care (though
still only 15%).
Many thought that even with a change in circumstances they
would manage somehow. Those who had high stress levels
were more likely to think about future problems, and to
consider other options.
Majority felt that children should do do all they can for their
parents.
Family and state should share responsibility for older people.
The majority preferred the thought of being looked after by
their family in old age, a third would like to be looked after in
an institution.
Yes
Yes, although not exclusively a sample of older people
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
117
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Leaper, R.
Age speaks for itself in Exeter
Social Policy & Administration 27(3), 1993
Study design
Face-to-face interviews either in the home or in private at a
club meeting.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
118
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
119
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Participatory rapid appraisal methods including document
analysis, key informant interviews, public meetings, focus groups
and a postal questionnaire
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
120
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
(combined)
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
121
Theme
Active ageing
122
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Consultation meeting.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
January 1994.
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Unit of analysis
Attrition rate (if over time)
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
123
Results
Qualitative results
124
Information
Often inappropriate length, the way it is written/language style,
legibility.
Not available in places frequented/accessible to older people
social workers, when approached, cannot give advice on
information sources.
Assessment
Waiting time varies/often too long.
Language/jargon on forms and at interview a lack of
consideration of ethnic minorities, e.g. who the assessor is?
Were there interpreters?
Insensitive approach to personal grievances.
Need for reassessment not met.
Not prepared well enough to take a full role in assessment sometimes not asked all the right questions to get what is
needed.
Training staff need more training on community care/sensitivity
to individual needs/culture.
Housing
Unhappy with belief that home owners have enough money to
buy services elsewhere/or from Social Services.
Home owners encouraged to sell up to go to residential care
older people resist this - fear of lack of stimulation/lack of actual
consideration, not a home near family and friends.
Home Care Support
Home help cannot be flexible to meet needs/plans of older
people.
Lack of recognition that help with simple tasks in the house or
garden can make a big difference and quality of life, housing
choices.
Home helps sometimes do not consider cultural needs and
interests of older people.
Home helps not being adequately trained for new home care
role.
Complaints
Unclear on how to complain and if they do there is a fear of
service withdrawal.
Poor communication
Not contacted regarding service charges if temporary.
Social Services and Health Departments seem unco-ordinated in
approach.
Charging
Discrepancy between boroughs and costs.
Transport costs often a barrier to access.
Hospital discharge
Often hastily, badly planned and inappropriate time - little
regard for home site.
Aspirations/recommendations
Imaginative advertising community care - including local media,
TRAs, chemists. Use of volunteers for extra support (and
acknowledged in care plan).
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
125
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey of sample of Londoners, here presenting a sub-sample of
older people
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1992
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
126
Survey administered.
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
127
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
McCafferty, P.
Living independently - A study of the housing needs of elderly
and disabled people
HMSO, London, 1994
Department of the Environment
Explore the housing needs and care cost of older and disabled
people. The survey reported here looks at characteristics,
circumstances and aspirations of older people with regard to
housing.
Study design
Using a range of methods including several large scale national
surveys. The survey including the aspirations of elderly people
in the community is presented here.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=8969 (of which n=5734 aged 75 and over). The data was
weighted to ensure that the correct proportions of people aged
75 and over were interviewed (using data from the Labour
Force Survey).
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
128
Results
Quantitative results
Just over 3 in 5 older people felt that their home did not need
repairs or improvements so that it would be easier for them to
carry on living there. 3/10 felt they needed further aids and
adaptations. Those renting privately, those living in terraces and
those wanting to stay in their home were more likely to see a
need for at least one repair.
4/5 older people wanted to remain in their own home. 15%
wished to move. Of those who would like to move 2/3rds
would like to move to a bungalow and 1/6 would like to live in
a flat or maisonette.
3/4 of those who wish to stay in their own home do not feel
that they need help and support to remain in their home. Help
with household tasks was the most commonly identified need
for support.
41% said that they would not prefer specially designed, easy
accessible accommodation, 24% thought that they would prefer
this option, 30% had no preference. The very elderly the most
likely to prefer housing specifically designed for easy access.
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
129
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Intensive home interviews followed by a survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Retired men
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
130
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
131
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Secondary analysis of Family and Working Lives Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1994-1995
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
132
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, although looking at characteristics of workers as well as
attitudes to work.
Theme
Active ageing
133
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Means, R.
Home, independence and community care: time for a wider
vision.
Policy and Politics 25 (4), 1998
Bristol University
Explore the importance of home and independence to older
people.
Study design
Begins by looking at past policy assumptions about the
important role of home and independence to older people (not
reported here).
Interviews with older people
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Early 1996
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
134
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
135
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
136
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, but only 32 of the respondents were older people.
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
137
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Midwinter, E.
The British Gas Report on Attitudes to Ageing
Report, 1991
British Gas, fieldwork by NOP
Study design
Interviews with older people and with people between the ages
of 16 and 24, and some questions added to a survey of the
population as a whole (not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
May 1991
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
138
Questionnaires
Yes and revisions were made for the main survey
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
139
Theme
Active ageing
140
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Further analysis of data from 1991 Scottish Housing Condition
Survey.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
141
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
75% of over 60s been resident for 5+ years, retired, with very
low mobility levels. 70% with retired head of household not
moved for 5+yrs; 43% 20+ years - people progressively less
likely to intend to move, the older they become - 90% 81+yrs
think they will not move in next 2 years.
<8% of those 60+ plan to buy their own homes (maybe income
related). People express quite high level of satisfaction with
their home.
Generally push factors involved in moving, eg, to more space
with household change, not a factor with older people.
Yes
Yes, although the survey includes all age groups, the data is
analysed and presented by age.
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
142
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Completion of care monitoring forms by workers, interviews
with practitioners (not reported here), interviews with users
about assessment and care planning.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
143
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Users and carers felt the worker gave them time to express their
views and listened to them.
But when it came to decision making their voices may not have
carried as much weight as others (eg other professionals and
agencies).
Dependence of user and carer on the worker coming to do the
assessment (unequal power relationship).
Yes
Yes, although users and carers results presented together and
no ages given for carers
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
144
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Adult population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Questionnaire
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
145
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
146
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Survey by telephone
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
147
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
148
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Evaluation in 12 Anchor homes through in-depth interviews.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
149
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
150
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey followed by semi structured interviews with older
people and their relatives (results from interviews with relatives
are not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
151
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Older people still felt that their families were the most important
source of support. However locally available friends act as a
source of complementary or alternative help and support,
especially for those with no children or those who are single.
There is more variety in the support people receive than there
was in the 1950s.
Retirement is less problematic for older people than the
previous studies demonstrated (in the 1950s) although in
Bethnal Green the older people were much more likely to view
retirement as the beginning of old age than in Wolverhampton
or Woodford. 42% reporting problems keeping busy in
retirement (as opposed to 1/5 in the other areas) 42% said there
was nothing they particularly liked about retirement. In Bethnal
Green more older people also lacked social networks.
96% of the older people in the study were able to discuss a
variety of activities that they saw as important to them
indicating that leisure has become increasingly important to
older people.
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
152
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Qualitative consumer interviews with patients (and carers - not
reported here)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
People who were discharged into another hospital and not their
home or that of carer or residential care. Patients with cognitive
impairment or communication problems.
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
153
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
154
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Evaluation of the home care support scheme through interviews
with users (and carers, management and purchases that are not
reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
155
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
156
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Qureshi, T.
Living Britain, Growing older in Britain: A Study of
Bangladeshi elders in London
CPA Report 22 1998
Centre for Policy on Ageing
Look at the lives and experiences of older Bangladeshis in
Camden, focusing on their contribution to society, their
participation and social exclusion.
Study design
Ethnography including in-depth interviews and observation of
activities and networks. Also had discussions with key workers
(not reported here) and held focus groups with elders.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1996
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N=20 elders
14 men and 6 women aged between 58 and 72, women tended
to be younger, all living in the community.
Interviews were conducted in Bengali and Sylheti.
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
157
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Activities
Most had relatively few economic resources to rely on in their
old age.
Family, the local mosque and shopping central to daily activities,
with mobility and health problems having an obvious impact
on activity, also fear of racist attack increasing isolation.
Older interviewees increasingly relying on family and friends
Some of the men still working out of economic necessity, those
who were retired or long term unemployed took part in a range
of activities eg - one man volunteering as a teacher at the
mosque, another as a voluntary welfare and advice worker.
One widow said how she had enjoyed activities at the
community centre before she lost her husband.
Language as a real problem (especially when combined with age
and infirmity) limited activities. Need for local activities.
Participation
Interested in British and Bangladeshi national politics, all felt
voting locally and nationally was a civic duty, all voted labour
but were not party members.
Often participation about making demands of the council for
resources or involvement in community centre management.
Problem of elders having to compete with the agenda of the
younger generations.
Barriers to more active involvement in local politics - feel
under-educated and poor, community leaders speaking on their
behalf, not feeling fully part of society plus health and age.
Local racism also an issue, eg hostility of tenants and residents
association - also issues on internal conflict.
Many expressed the view that they had never been consulted.
Concern for the younger generation in a changing world,
changes to the family, host community not valuing its elders.
Concern for their own future care, not wanting to be a burden
but wanting care from family rather than residential care, some
wanting to return to Bangladesh, for others this was not
possible.
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
158
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Descriptive using life histories and personal narratives of the
older people.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
159
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
160
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Riseborough, M.
Listening to and involving older tenants. Part 1: Anchor
tenants views on Anchor and tenant involvement
Report, 1997 Anchor Housing Trust, Oxford
Anchor Housing Trust/Birmingham University.
Look at tenant participation in sheltered housing from the point
of view of tenants themselves.
Study design
Focus groups interviews and a survey
When was the fieldwork conducted?
March 1995
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Survey 50+
N=973 (1500 questionnaires sent out, 59% response rate - prize
draw). Sample reflected the age and gender profile of the
population in each region, after that selection was random.
Focus groups
6 groups around the country.
62-88 years old (average 73) 73/102 E
50% + single, 20 couples, 5 widowers, 40% previous owner
occupiers.
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
161
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Survey
Respondents positive about being kept informed plain
English, as most important thing. Want information about
welfare benefits, about changes, how charges are calculated, etc.
Positive about views being asked on a range of issues, including
costs, services, maintenance.
Less support for the idea of being actively involved.
Most support for ballots from time to time. 34% strongly agree,
least important nominating scheme representatives to regional
tenant forums, or tenant committees.
Information and consultation seen as more important
dimensions of participation (+suggested 2 more; influence and
collaboration) no. issues including timing of consultations so
can be influential. Gaining more, better quality information,
and dialogue with anchor, be treated as equal partners, exert
more influence, work collaboratively, have more control.
Good information very important.
Suggestion socio-economic differences and
Education - affect disposition to tenant and involvement.
Those 70-74 more into tenants representatives.
Focus groups
Respondents said they had valued opportunity to talk and
discuss. Suggests tenants need to know more about
involvement options.
Older people wanted to choose when and how they got
involved. Time precious, must be worthwhile. Focus groups
also talking about growing older. Time thought involvement
often meant a long term commitment which seemed
inappropriate to tenants as Life span short; Might get ill;
Might not live to see the benefits of involvement.
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
162
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Robertson, S.
Fed and Watered - the views of older people on need,
assessment and care management.
Age Concern Scotland: Edinburgh, 1995
Glasgow University/Age Concern Scotland
Explore older peoples perceptions of their needs and how they
would like them to be met.
Explore the role of care managers/assessment pilot new
materials for involvement.
Study design
Group meetings (3/4 meetings per group)
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
163
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
164
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Interviews with grandparents in Luton, St Lucia and Pakistan.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Grandmothers
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
N= 32 grandmothers in Luton
N= 29 grandmothers in St Lucia
N= 24 grandmothers in Pakistan
Grandmothers aged 40 - 94, living in very different
environments, from very rural to urban.
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Interview schedule
165
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
166
Roles
As a surrogate mother, as a disciplinarian and educator, as a
cultural and family historian
Emigration had affected grandparenting, especially for Pakistani
families (left behind) as their day to day role in education,
cultural and religious development etc were part of the role of
paternal grandparents.
Younger grandparents are likely to be working which also
affects their role.
Yes
Yes
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Interviews with key staff (not reported here) and consultation
with groups of older people. Used a control group of fit and
active older people.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1997
Older people
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
167
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Key finding that there has been very little consultation with
older people about services, including when cuts are made.
Housing- popularity of wardens as a source of information and
support, rental properties in need of maintenance, some needing
improved security, lack of information about housing options.
Transport - was essential for accessing services but buses were
seen to provide an unreliable, limited service, buses were hard
to get on to. Patchy information about alternatives.
Health care - satisfaction with GPs, more difficult to attend
hospital appointments, pick up prescriptions.
Domiciliary care - need for help with housework, gardening,
shopping, home maintenance eg like changing a light bulb, but
home carers had fixed, inflexible shedules to follow.
Appreciation of lunch clubs and day centre meals.
Effects of individual interests, finance, access and transport to
sport and leisure.
The needs of older people in rural areas were less easily met needing to rely on family, friends etc for info, shopping,
transport.
Information - there is lots of information for older people, but
they do not seem to be aware of it/access it.
Older people unlikely to access formal channels for complaint.
Carers - feeling undervalued and unsupported, often excluded
from decision making concerning their relative, problems of
their own health problems as older people.
Ethnic minorities - language as a barrier, loss of details in
translations (could be embarrassing to use family member).
Need for Asian home care workers.
Information was gathered by word of mouth, in communities,
or day centre.
Finances restricting leisure activities of African Caribbean group.
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
168
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Skucha, J. M.
Womens retirement from part-time employment: Issues for
pre-retirement education
Occasional paper, no 9, Pre Retirement Association, 1995
Research Institute for the study of mid and later life, Pre
Retirement Association and Marks and Spencer.
Study design
Review of the literature (not reported here), interviews and a
survey. Designed as pilot for further work on pre retirement
education.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Content analysis
169
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
170
Felt that their positive attitude to their jobs was in conflict with
negative external view of their role of workers accepting
womens work as inferior to mens, but superior to younger
workers (premium placed on full-time, continuous
employment) lack of choices in the type of work available to
them.
Re-entry difficult especially as skills become outdated, childcare
costs, loss of confidence.
Main reason for part time work was convenience and options
available planning for retirement often beyond their control
early retirement would depend on circumstances at the time
Work providing an escape from full time domestic role. Lots of
references to the social rewards of working. Personal
satisfaction from independent income, company, stimulation
and job satisfaction despite the restricted opportunities for them
in the workforce.
Retirement
Most thought men would enter a leisurely retirement, while
they took up the domestic responsibilities. Men as having
earned the right to relax after years of full-time work. Event of
retirement viewed as of secondary concern compared to longerterm issues of ageing and later life.
Often attaching the term retirement to mens experiences.
Pre retirement education (PRE)
Most showed an interest in PRE especially financial advice
preferring group discussions and expert advice to written
material.
Older, lower paid, married women less interested in PRE
Intending to use improved social and leisure (not specifying
what) activities to move away from the stereotype of the older
woman.
Widowhood as a significant life event necessitating much
readjustment (comments from widows).
Participants not wanting to discuss widowhood or
future health and care issues.
A decent income, company and good health are seen to be the
major determinants of a happy retirement.
Perception that they have a distinct position as working women
-no role models, mixed attitudes to retirement.
Yes
Yes, although some of the women in the study were under 50
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Survey - face to face in respondents home
When was the fieldwork conducted?
July-August 1996
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
171
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
172
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Thomas, M.
Home care - users views and service guidelines
Age Concern Scotland: Edinburgh, 1995
Age Concern Scotland
Study design
Survey and interviews
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1994-1995
Survey
Older people in receipt of
home help services.
Exclusion criteria
Interviews
Older people in receipt of
home help services.
Those not willing to take
part.
Recruitment procedures
N=36, approximately 6
interviews in 6 areas of
Scotland.
5 living with their partner,
1 living with son, 9 men and
21 women living alone
5 were 60-74, 19 were 7584 and 12 were 85 and over
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
173
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes, although not just attitudes and aspirations
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
174
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
175
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
176
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Study design
Literature review (not reported here), interviews with elderly
people - 2 group interviews and 50 individual interviews and 18
interviews with information providers (not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
177
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
178
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Toffaleti, C.
The older peoples initiative: giving older people a say acting
locally to improve housing choices.
Report, 1997
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations
To emphasise the importance of decent and suitable housing for
the success of care in the community and to engage others in
voicing their needs to authorities and providers.
Study design
Action research
Survey followed by discussion groups
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
1996
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
179
Results
Quantitative and qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
180
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Walker, A.
Age and Attitudes: Main Results from a Eurobarometer Survey
Report, 1993
EC Commission (DG5/CEC)
Study design
2 surveys; one of the general population over 15 and a second of
people aged 60 and over.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
The main survey 1000 per country (where the data is broken
down results from the over 55s are given).
400 people 60+ from UK and 12 other states (some variation).
The sample for all countries 41% men, 59% women
25% 65-69, 20% 70-74 16% 75-79, 14% 80+.
Questionnaire
Yes
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
181
Results
Quantitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
182
Details of publication
Author
Title
Walsh, J.
Across the Generations - An Age Concern report into
grandparent/grandchild relationships published to celebrate
Grandparents Day
Report, September 1998
Age Concern, England
What does it mean to be a grandparent?
Study design
In-depth interviews with grandparents and grandchildren
(grandchildren not reported here).
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Grandparents
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Characteristics of participants (age,
sex, class, ethnicity, geographical
location, health status, income
status, other information)
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
183
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
184
Nearly half the respondents felt the stresses of modern life were
influencing the relationship between grandparent and
grandchild. Grandparenting brought a lot of pleasure.
2/3rd more involved than their parents were with their
children.
The roles of a grandparent included; looking after the children
for busy parents, providing love and listening.
Grandparents on the mothers side had more contact with the
children.
Many grandparents had to travel some distance to visit their
grandchildren.
Yes
Yes
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Watson, L.
Housing Need and Community Care: The Housing Pathway
Pilot Programme
1996: National Federation of Housing Associations: London
NFHA/CIH
Evaluation of housing pathway model intended to assist planners
to work across traditional boundaries in agency provision and to
recognise different perspectives on housing need including
potential sources of demand and the needs of marginal groups.
Study design
Evaluation of housing pathway pilots, including Islwyn - which
focuses on older people and is presented as a case study.
When was the fieldwork conducted?
Participation in the study
Target population
Exclusion criteria
Not given
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
185
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
Health and care
Consultation and involvement
186
Details of publication
Author
Title
Source (journal/conference etc)
Year/volume/pages/country of origin
Institutional affiliation
Research question
Aim
Wenger, G.
Reflections: success and disappointment - octogenerians
Current and retrospective perceptions
Health Care In Later Life 2(4), 1997
University of Bangor
Explore range of salient areas of their lives so far and their ideas
of what is successful ageing
Study design
Interviews with a sub sample from a longitudinal study
When was the fieldwork conducted?
1995
Octogenarians
Exclusion criteria
Recruitment procedures
Research tools
What were the research tools used?
Were they piloted?
Was a specific attitude scale used?
Which?
Guided interview
No
Theory
Was any theory referred to in the
research?
Analysis
Statistical techniques used
Qualitative analysis computer
packages used? Which?
187
Results
Qualitative results
Reviewers decision
Is the paper to be included?
Is the paper about attitudes and
aspirations?
Yes
Yes
Theme
Active ageing
188
REFERENCES
189
190
191
*Help the Aged (1998b) Pensioners Transport Survey, Help the Aged:
London
*Henwood, M. and Waddington, E. (1998) Expecting the Worst? Views
on the future of long term care, Help the Aged: London
*Hirst, R., Allen, G., and Watson, L. (1995) Now or Never : Older Peoples
Decisions about Housing, University of Southampton: Southampton
*Horne, S. and Broadgate, A. (1994) The Charity Shop Volunteer in Scotland:
Greatest Asset or Biggest Headache? Voluntas, 5(2): 205-218
Itzin, C. and Phillipson, C. (1993) Age Barriers at Work: Maximising the
potential of mature and older people, METRA: Solihull
Jack, R. (1995) Empowerment in Community Care, Chapman and Hall:
London
Jarvis, C. et al (1996) Getting around after 60: A profile of Britains older
population, ACIOG: London
*Jarvis, C. (1993) Family and friends in old age, and the implications for informal
support: Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey of 1986, Working
paper
Johnson, P. and Falkingham, J. (1992) Ageing and Economic Welfare, Sage:
London
*Jones, D. and Salvage, A. (1992) Attitudes to caring among a group of informal
carers of elderly dependants, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Volume
14: 155-165
Jowell, R. et al (1997) British Social Attitudes Survey, 14th report: The end
of conservative values?, Ashgate: Aldershot
Laczko, F. and Phillipson, C. (1991) Changing Work and Retirement, Open
University Press: Milton Keynes
*Leaper, R. (1993) Age speaks for itself in Exeter, Social Policy &
Administration 27(3): 191-210
*Lewisham Borough Council (1998) Research into leisure, community
involvement and older people in Lewisham, Lewisham Borough Council:
London
Local Government Management Board (1996) Citizens Juries in Local
Government, LGMB: London
192
193
194
195
196
No. Title
ISBN
Price
1.
6.65
2.
0 11 761755 5
5.65
3.
0 11 761821 7
16.50
4.
9.70
5.
0 11 761819 5
5.50
6.
0 11 761868 3
15.00
7.
0 11 761910 8
17.20
8.
0 11 761952 3
9.00
9.
0 11 761953 1
22.00
0 11 761956 6
16.00
13.75
0 11 761977 9
8.00
0 11 761834 9
7.25
0 11 762060 2
15.00
0 11 762061 0
5.65
0 11 762064 5
18.00
0 11 762073 4
5.00
12.00
10.75
0 11 762087 4
197
198
0 11 762088 2
19.95
22.95
18.95
0 11 762131 5
17.75
0 11 762147 1
23.75
0 11 762147 X
12.95
0 11 762157 9
18.50
12.95
0 11 762220 6
20.00
33.00
0 11 762228 1
16.75
0 11 762249 4
8.50
0 11 762272 9
13.50
16.50
0 11 762299 0
24.95
0 11 762316 4
13.95
0 11 762317 2
25.00
0 11 762339 3
21.00
0 11 762340 7
22.00
0 11 762341 5
35.00
0 11 7632349 0
20.00
0 11 762351 2
40.00
0 11 762358 X
18.00
0 11 762370 9
19.00
0 11 762371 7
16.00
0 11 762405 5
20.00
0 11 762407 1
22.00
0 11 762408 X
47.00
0 11 762411 X
18.00
0 11 762422 5
35.00
0 11 762423 5
25.00
0 11 762424 1
22.00
0 11 762390 3
17.00
0 11 762394 6
26.00
0 11 762398 9
30.00
0 11 762399 7
25.00
0 11 762434 9
25.00
0 11 762440 3
25.00
0 11 762443 8
30.00
0 11 762447 0
35.00
0 11 762448 9
26.00
0 11 762450 0
25.00
0 11 762452 7
30.00
0 11 762468 3
20.00
0 11 762471 3
30.00
0 11 762533 7
30.00
30.00
0 11 762536 1
35.00
0 11 762541 8
23.00
0 11 762553 1
27.00
199
200
0 11 762557 4
20.00
0 11 762568 X
27.00
0 11 762571 X
36.00
34.00
0 11 762583 3
27.00
0 11 762584 1
27.00
0 11 762585 X
27.00
0 11 762598 3
31.00
0 11 762598 1
34.00
33.00
1 84123 000 6
26.00
28.00
1 84123 002 2
28.00
1 84123 003 0
28.00
1 84123 004 9
28.00
1 84123 052 9
26.00
1 84123 087 1
34.00
1 84123 088 X
38.00
1 84123 098 7
36.00
1 84123 101 0
26.00
1 84123 103 7
26.00
1 84123 104 5
26.00
1 84123 107 X
29.00
1 84123 118 5
31.50
1 84123 119 3
35.00
1 84123 120 7
37.00
1 84123 126 6
28.50
24.00
1 84123 138 X
31.50
1 84123 146 0
33.00
1 84123 148 7
29.00
0 11 761747 4
8.00
0 11 761833 0
12.00
0 11 762150 1
13.75
0 11 762302 4
16.50
0 11 762362 8
20.00
0 11 761446 2
20.00
0 11 762570 1
27.00
1 84 123 086 3
34.00
201