Assessment of Older People's Health and Social Care Needs and ...

ForewordAs Chairperson of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, it gives me great pleasure topresent the Proceedings from the Conference on the Assessment of Older People's Health and SocialCare Needs and Preferences.The Conference took place on May 30th, 2002 in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoigaire. It attractedover 250 delegates from across the statutory, voluntary and private sectors and the interest that wasexpressed in the Conference was indicative of the growing recognition of the importance ofestablishing a more co-ordinated way of conducting health and social care assessments for olderpeople. The Conference provided the opportunity to both discuss the necessity for a standardisedapproach to conducting assessments and to explore the merits of establishing a national frameworkfor the multi-disciplinary assessment of older people's health and social care needs and preferences.I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairs of each of the four Sessions and to thespeakers for presenting such excellent papers. I would also like to thank the Conference participantsfor their contribution.On behalf of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, I would like to thank the editor, MsPatricia Con boy, for her commitment and dedication in preparing the Conference Proceedings. I wouldalso like to thank Mr Bob Carroll, the Council's Director and .Ms Sinead Quill, Research Officer for theircommitment in the planning of this Conference. A very special thanks is due to Ms Michelle Rogersand the administrative staff of the Council who co-ordinated the planning and organisation of theevent. Finally, thanks to Ms Deirdre Fitzpatrick who prepared the Proceedings for publication and toSandwell Third Age Arts for prOViding the image used on the cover of the report.Dr Michael LoftusChairperson NCAOPAssessment of Older People's Health and Social Care Needs and Preferences