Taking an outcomes focussed approach to improving care for older people with dementia and other needs

This report by Social Finance calls for systemic financial change to improve outcomes for older people with dementia and other needs, unpaid carers and the system that exists to support them, underscoring an urgent need for coordinated action across the health and social care sectors, including on the integration of new technologies.

Finding that the health and social care system is bound by funding models that do not prioritise sustained investment in preventative, community-based care that will help people to live and age well, the report has detailed short, medium and long-term recommendations and its calls to action for funders, commissioners and service providers include to:

• Invest in flexible and personalised care models that support longer term investment in adaptable care solutions.
• Promote equity in care by supporting culturally adaptable care initiatives.
• Leverage existing resources through strategic partnerships and integration of new technologies.
• Recognise the critical role of unpaid carers and allocate resources to sustain and expand respite services.

The report argues for the need to incorporate social determinants of health into service design by considering factors such as housing so healthcare organisations can design services that address the broader context of patients’ lives, and how this may impact an older person’s care trajectory. Its medium and long term recommendations reference the work of the Technology for an Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) and the TAPPI Principles, and highlight the need to establish a series of technology support offers and to shape sector practices on technology use so that technology can be used equitably and to its full potential.