The Reservoir of Goodwill: Conceptualising a Community Care Model for Later Life Care

Context: Concerns about an ageing population with long-term care needs putting strain on health and social care systems have prompted interest in community care models for later life care, as already exist in palliative and end-of-life care. Objectives: To identify existing later life care and support within communities, willingness to participate in a community care model, and barriers and enablers to such a model. Methods: We adopted a qualitative approach, involving in-depth interviews and focus groups with 39 participants aged 70–91 years old. Data were transcribed, and a deductive thematic analysis conducted. Findings: Most participants were involved in help-giving within their local community, with friends, neighbours, and nearby residents. However, whilst participants were willing to receive home care from volunteers in the community, they considered it inappropriate for volunteers to provide personal care, and perceived considerable barriers to enacting a community care model. Limitations: This study does not aim to be representative of the population aged over 70 in England, and instead presents an in-depth exploration of the views and experiences of a small sample of this group. Implications: There is currently a broad but shallow reservoir of goodwill towards caring within the community. Later life community care relies heavily on a core of family and friends, and there will continue to be increasing demand for professional care services to fill the gaps where this core does not exist, and where medical and personal care needs exceed what can be supported by informal carers.