Older People

The Older People’s Programme (OPP) joined forces with the National Development Team on 1 April 2009 to create NDTi - placing its work on improving the life chances of older people within a broader context of equality, inclusion and citizenship across the life course.  The team working on older people and ageing issues are passionate about policy, service and practice development that embraces the opportunities of an ageing population, whilst working in partnership with local communities, authorities and national bodies to address the challenges in a productive and sustainable way. 

Increasingly our work is carried out on a cross cutting basis, on specific themes or circumstances that affect us all such as housing, inclusion, health and wellbeing, commissioning and personalisation. Other parts of the website refer to the full range of work undertaken by in policy development, training and development consultancy, research and evaluation, events and publications.

Specific examples of major initiatives currently being undertaken in relation to ageing and older people include:

  • Working with the Office for Disability Issues on a regional initiative focused on independent living with and for older people who have high support needs. This two year programme (2008-2010) encompasses change management support to three local authorities in the South East and qualitative research to track the experiences and aspirations of a cohort of older people in each of these 3 areas. A dedicated website on independent living and older people has recently been established by the Centre for Policy on Ageing to capture this learning and emerging evidence about “what works” (go to www.odi-seri.org).
  • An independent evaluation of the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) of Northern Ireland. Funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, this partnership involves Age Concern NI, the Institute of Governance at Queens University, Help the Aged, the Workers Educational Authority, and the NI network of older people’s forums and groups, known as the Age Sector Platform. The evaluation aims to identify whether CAP is achieving its intended outcomes and advise on resultant implications for the future.  
  • Working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the cross Government team responsible for developing the new national strategy on ageing, to design, facilitate and record a series of inter-active discussions between Ministers and older people across the country. This will inform the focus next steps of the Ageing Strategy – including how older people are engaged in this process. 
  • Practicalities and Possibilities: An 18 month development programme working with 9 different local authorities and their partners, and a national leadership group of government departments, advisers, age sector organisations and regulation bodies. The best practice materials from this work on person centred thinking and planning with older people is available to download; or contact sarah.morris@ndti.org.uk for the full resource pack. Copies of the original “P and P” book can also be obtained (Publications). The next phase of P and P is currently being developed. If you are interested please contact Helen Bowers.
  • Working with the Department of Health and representatives from Local Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, older people’s organisations and groups to develop a suite of materials on Personalisation and Older People. Materials will be available from the early Autumn.
  • Ongoing evaluation of the Dorset POPP programme: Mapping and evaluating how the Dorset partners successful pilot programme is strengthening communities and older people’s leadership in promoting healthy ageing and responsive public services in a whole system context.   
  • Working with the Alzheimer’s Society to develop and implement a shared vision of life “beyond services” for people living with dementia, and for those who support them – including a training and development programme for volunteers, family carers, staff and people living with dementia to raise awareness and develop new ways of providing support that increase choice and control and greater opportunities for inclusion in family, community and civic life
  • Working with a range of agencies and older people’s organisations to design solutions to local challenges in commissioning and providing a much broader range of accessible, inclusive supports for older people – contact us if you think we can help you to improve, review or extend what’s available in your area.

To find out more, please see the attached leaflet (Read more).

Alternatively for more information contact Helen Bowers.