Decision making and residential home placement of the elderly : a study of referral, assessment and allocation

Spackman, Angela Jane (1981) Decision making and residential home placement of the elderly : a study of referral, assessment and allocation. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

A major service in the care of the elderly continues to be the Local Authority residential home. Over the past twenty years or so, fears that many elderly people are misplaced in residential homes has led to a concern over the way in which places are allocated. Despite such concern, however, there has been relatively little research into decision making in relation to residential care. In view of this situation the present study was carried out to examine the residential home decision making process. It identifies three major stages in the process, that is, referral, assessment and allocation. Fieldwork for the study was carried out in area offices and hospital social work departments in the area covered by the Wessex Regional Health Authority during 1979 and 1980. Data collection involved interviews with elderly people, the distribution of self completion questionnaires to social workers and senior social workers and interviews with the chairmen of the panels responsible for allocating residential home places. In addition, information was also collected from referral forms and referral books. The study demonstrates that decision making in relation to residential care is a complex activity and draws attention to themes and problems common throughout the decision making process. It is hoped that such attention may contribute to an increase in awareness among decision makers that may eventually lead to more appropriate decisions being taken.

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