Ageless at Work - Skills for Care

Table 16
Health status of
the population
Lifestyles and
values
Health and social
care funding
regimes
Prevention and
self-care
Main features of the ‘integrated visions’
Indicator Best ‘guesstimate’ Problem plagued Visionary Implications for project
Life expectancy increases by 4
years, with half this increase
spent in good health. Health
divides widen slightly as the more
expensive treatments are
available only to those who can
afford them
Individualism and personal
consumption are more
pronounced than today. Lifestyle
drugs are extensively used.
Expert knowledge is treated with
some scepticism. The elderly are
seen as a resource, reflecting in
part the influence of ‘grey power’.
Dependency ratios deteriorate as
expected, but are manageable.
Healthcare costs grow slightly
faster than GDP. Substantial
marketisation of provision occurs
within budgetary frameworks set
by the State and other funders.
Level of copayments increases
leading to some self-rationing and
contributing to health divides.
Health promotion and prevention
have some impact, with many
people taking greater
responsibility for their own
wellbeing. But the poorer sections
of society largely ignore the
message, exacerbating health
divides.
Life expectancy increases by 2
years, with this increase spent
mostly in ill health. Health divides
increase markedly as health
systems are unable to cope with
the pressures of an ageing
society.
Rampant individualism and
consumption extend to health and
social care, creating distortions in
the welfare system. Life-style
drugs are used by those who can
afford them. Expert knowledge is
treated with disdain. The elderly
are viewed as a burden on society
and are regularly vilified in the
youth oriented media.
Dependency ratios deteriorate
markedly leading to large
cutbacks in health and social care
provision. Still, healthcare costs
rise considerably faster than GDP
growth. This leads to considerable
tension between funders, e.g. the
State, and providers. Private
insurance and co payments
increase significantly, contributing
to health and social divides.
Health promotion and prevention
initiatives are largely ignored, with
people expecting health funders
to provide ‘technological
fixes’ to their healthcare
problems. Only those who can
afford to pay benefit from such
fixes.
Life expectancy increases by 10
years, with more than half this
time spent in good health. Health
divides are slightly reduced, as
prevention programmes and new
therapies benefit all, especially
the poor.
Whilst consumption is high,
greater local activism breeds a
stronger sense of community.
Lifestyle drugs are used, but most
people prefer to follow the
‘Natural Plan to Wellness’. Expert
knowledge is treated with
a healthy dose of scepticism, but
people widely marvel at the
benefits they enjoy from new
technological developments. The
elderly are seen as an important
resource.
Dependency ratios remain stable
as more women and the elderly
take up employment. ‘Wellness’
costs grow significantly but only
slightly outstrip GDP growth.
Funders introduce a series of
intelligent incentives to encourage
self-care. Level of copayments
increases leading to some selfrationing
– these contribute to
health divides, but are offset by
self-care initiatives.
Self-care and prevention are
cornerstones of the health and
social care system. All sections
of society take greater
responsibility for their own
wellbeing, aided by communityrun
initiatives. These lessen
health divides.
Life expectancy is not likely to
increase substantially over the
during of the project. Increases in
the number of years spent in poor
health could potentially raise
demand for adult social care.
Again, changes likely to be small
over the lifetime of the project.
Potential to support social workers
and other affected occupations
explore their new roles.
Possible and as yet, undefined,
potential risk to adult social care
budgets and project budgets as a
result of public spending cuts.
Potential to involve clients in the
design of learning opportunities.
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Ageless at Work: Change workplace cultures, development skills. Good practice report