In conclusion: Commissioning home care for older people

This section of the guide is by no means an exhaustive survey of what constitutes good commissioning practice. But it does show that this user group needs services that provide consistent care, with a focus on what can be achieved. Also:

• A whole-needs approach – where attention is paid to the needs of the whole person rather than treating them as a series of discrete problems – should become embedded in every stage of service delivery, from assessment and treatment to aftercare.
• Service providers should be encouraged to be flexible and creative in their responses to older people with complex needs.
• What users and their unpaid carers have to say should be listened to and valued – even the frailest and most-vulnerable older people can be helped to take part in their own care.