Improving quality of life for older people in the community: findings from a local Partnerships for Older People Project innovation and evaluation.

BACKGROUND Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) was a national initiative in England aimed at improving health, well-being and quality of life (QoL) for older people by developing local services. This development paper reports the key findings of a local evaluation in relation to quality of life, well-being and health-related QoL to provide practical understanding at the local level about what this means in relation to the schemes delivered. OBJECTIVES To identify the impact of POPP schemes received by older people in Wigan on their QoL and well-being; and establish their feedback on services using local indicators. METHODS Convenience samples of older people receiving services from three selected 'community facing low level' schemes were recruited over a two-month period. They completed a semi-structured questionnaire at baseline (T1) and at follow-up 6 weeks later (T2). Information was collected on health status and health-related QoL using the EQ-5D, biographical information, overall QoL and well-being as part of the national evaluation and a local indicator, feedback on services. RESULTS Response rates were 70% (T1 45/64, mean age 72 years) and 43% at T2 (25/58, mean age 55 years). Following receipt of these schemes improvements were found for self care, anxiety and depression, health status and QoL although these differences were not statistically significant due to the small sample size and loss to follow-up. Feedback on local service use related to schemes 'being fit for purpose' and 'aspects of service delivery'. CONCLUSION This local evaluation illustrates a pragmatic approach to service development and delivery of preventative services, with potential to benefit health and well-being of older people and support their continued living independently in the community. It provides detail and better understanding of what this means locally to people in context of national findings.