Frail older people's experiences and use of health and social care services.

AIMS

To highlight older people's experiences and expectations of services and the consequences for service provision, service development and research.

RATIONALE

A large amount of resources have been invested in providing services for frail older people who experienced multiple hospital admissions. However, their own views are under-reported.

METHOD

Semi-structured interviews with frail older people were conducted in four Scottish Health Board areas to explore the context of emergency admissions and the use of extramural services.

OUTCOMES

Frail older people are high users of services but claim that services are not responsive to their main concerns: meeting individual needs, maximizing independence and helping to live fulfilled lives. Services not catering for these needs are often cancelled or left in abeyance.

CONCLUSION

The same people who are targeted by care services are reluctant to engage with them. Care providers need to adopt older people's priorities to provide them with responsive patient-centred care.