This work package focuses on the implementation of policy change, the identification of opportunities and barriers in the implementation process, and their potential population health gains.
AGE-THE EUROPEAN OLDER PLEOPLE'S PLATFORM will gather the international experiences from a decision-makers' perspective how to move the policy agenda in relation to the existence, familiarity, availability, use and acceptability of services to assist family carers. To this end, existing data will be reviewed. The starting point of the review will be the experience in the development of health policies in specific public health areas. AGE has for a long time assumed that by observing, analysing, planning, deciding, implementing and evaluating, a policy circle could be established that would drive development with respect to reducing health problems and improving population health. However, AGE lacks data that would focus on the many events beyond the control of a particular sector and that have direct or indirect health implications. Further more, these sectors interact with each other and might have impacts on health in unpredictable ways. The health policy field can thus be described not only as complex, but as uncertain with changing complexity. The most neglected tools to support family carers of older people in Europe may well be the lack of co-operation between different sectors, assessments on the possible (positive as well as negative) health effects of certain policy decisions, and public participation. Planning in the area of family care would run short if policy makers would fail to look for ways of influencing the direction of change of unpredictable social processes. In the review, the key lessons how to manage change within the policy environment will be extracted from selected health promotion projects. A report of the findings (10-15 pages A4) will be fed back to the group in month 15.
There is a lack of understanding with regard to the concrete obstacles that prevent policy makers to implement research evidence. Where are the opportunities within the complex policy environment and what would be the "triggers" that would make change possible? To access first hand information on how they would be able to implement the findings of the national surveys and where would be the difficulties AGE will hold a series of interviews with key policy makers. The interview partners will be selected as to their specific roles in decisionmaking in politics and administration and at national and regional levels. Semi-structured interviews with about 12 health ministries key decision makers will be conducted, whereas the interview questions will be based on the results of the National Surveys (NASUR) that will be available in month 22. The interviews will focus on the policy makers’ perceptions vis-à vis the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities within their responsibilities to support family carers. The interviews will be taped and analysed according to established methods in qualitative research. This analysis will result in a report that will be reviewed with the partners of the project during the meeting in month 30 and serve as one contribution to the final overall report.
The policy dimension has to be closely linked to one of organisational development, as the implementation of identified recommendations, action plans or guidelines depend on the readiness of organisations (including the administration in Member States) to take them up. Key organisational issues related to the implementation of the recommendations will be identified starting in month 31. These organisational issues will then be analysed vis à vis the results from the report of the policy makers.
Finally, a set of benchmarks should provide policy makers with a self assessment tool to judge which policy options would be efficiently supporting family carers of older people at different policy levels. The benchmarks should focus on the system characteristics that should be applied to support family carers. In addition to the work against the work packages, AGE will contribute to the work of the International Advisory Board.
No not listed: Report of the findings of a first data review.
No 13: European NGO Report
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