Extending choice to users of publicly-funded services is central to current policies. New opportunities for choice have been introduced in social care and personal budgets are being piloted for some health conditions. But how important is choice about services for disabled and older people and their families? Is choice empowering and important for wellbeing, or a challenge in the context of pain, poor health and uncertain prognosis? Most importantly, do choices lead to satisfactory and durable outcomes, given changes in health, support needs and wider circumstances?
This study investigated the realities of making choices about services and support over time, by disabled people of working age and older, who were likely to experience repeated choices due to their changing circumstances.
This summary focuses on many aspects of choice:
• the importance of choice to disabled adults and older people
• the use of information
• the role of emotions
• the long term use of direct payments
• changing circumstances and revisiting choices
• learning from experience
• choice and independence
and
• the implications for professionals involved in their care.
This research was the result of a three year longitudinal panel study undertaken for the Department of Health as part of a major research programme at SPRU.