Decorative Abstract Image

PROJECT PR-PRU-1217-21101.07

Analyses of trends in unpaid care for older people

BACKGROUND

Whether supply of unpaid care for older people rises in line with demand for care will be a crucial factor affecting future demand for formal social care services and associated expenditure.

AIMS

This project aimed to:

  • Examine what factors are likely to affect future supply of unpaid care for older people and whether available evidence suggests likely changes in the prevalence of those factors.
  • Model scenarios investigating the impact of possible changes in these factors on the future supply of unpaid care, the gap between demand for and supply of unpaid care and the impact on demand for formal care services and associated expenditure

METHODS

This scoping project included consultation with stakeholders, and is focusing on supply of unpaid care. It considered what factors are likely in principle to affect future supply of unpaid care, whether available evidence suggests likely changes in the prevalence of those factors, what evidence is available on the size of the impact of those factors on supply of unpaid care and what data are available to conduct modelling of the relationship between those factors and supply of unpaid care.

Scenarios were modelled investigating the impact of possible changes in these factors on projected future supply of unpaid care, the future gap between demand for and supply of unpaid care and the future impact on demand for formal care services and associated expenditure. To conduct this modelling, an existing model of the supply of unpaid care to older people was update through multi-variable analyses of Health Survey for England (HSE) to examine the characteristics of carers and of those for whom they provide care and the association between those characteristics and intensity of care provided.


RESEARCH TEAM

Raphael Wittenberg (Lead), Bo Hu, Amritpal Rehill, Katarina Swanson

TIMING

  • Start Date: January 2019
  • End Date: December 2023

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