Primary and Community Care

Ninety per cent of people in the UK accessing health care will do so through a primary care or community care service (DH, 2004), and, for many, this is the only setting in which they will receive healthcare advice and treatment. The ultimate aim for many older people when accessing health care is to maintain independence; they want to feel secure and safe in knowing that any necessary support and resources will be effectively utilized to achieve this (Kane, 2001). This, alongside the older person's quality of life, must also be seen as the aim for health professionals when involved in healthcare planning and delivery.