Improving personal budgets for older people research overview

An evidence overview of key pieces of UK research between 2007 and 2012 focuses on the implementation and uptake of personal budgets and direct payments for older people in England, including those with dementia.

Published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence in January 2013, this short report is not a systematic research review or an exhaustive examination of published research on the topic. Rather, it aims to give an overview of the main themes of research findings, which help to identify the challenges and solutions to improving choice and control for older people, including those living with dementia, using personal budgets and direct payments.

Early findings on the barriers and facilitators for older people using and benefiting from direct payments predicted many of the challenges for implementing personal budgets for older people. These are some of the key themes from the UK literature overview:

• Independent living and older people: system and culture change
• Making choices and decisions
• Information and advice
• Understanding allowance and spend
• Budget management, monitoring and review
• Risk management and contingency planning
• Time
• Continuity and consistency
• Dementia: data and systems

Website:  SCIE Report 63  Improving personal budgets for older people: A research overview