National Consumer Study in One Hundred Local Authority Old Peoples Homes, 1980

UKDA study number:2196

Principal Investigators

Willcocks, D.M.
Peace, S.M.
Kellaher, L.M.
Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Data Collectors

NOP Market Research Limited
Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Sponsors

Department of Health and Social Security
Economic and Social Research Council

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

April 1987

Bibliographic Citation

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Willcocks, D.M., Peace, S.M. and Kellaher, L.M., National Consumer Study in One Hundred Local Authority Old Peoples Homes, 1980 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], April 1987. SN: 2196.

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2196 . National Consumer Study in One Hundred Local Authority Old Peoples Homes, 1980

Depositor:

Peace, S.M. , Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Principal Investigators:

Willcocks, D.M. , Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Peace, S.M. , Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Kellaher, L.M. , Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Data Collectors:

NOP Market Research Limited
Polytechnic of North London. Survey Research Unit

Sponsors:

Department of Health and Social Security
Economic and Social Research Council

Other Acknowledgements:

File creation and manipulation was carried out by Jin Ring, then at the Survey Research Unit, Polytechnic of North London.

Abstract:

The aims of the survey were:
(a) to assess the reaction of elderly residents in LA Homes to their present environment and to interpret the practical implications this may have for planners and architects;
(b) to explore the attitudes of old people to residential care and identify consumer preferences, or aspirations for environmental improvement;
(c) to investigate attitudes and experiences of staff and to look at the impact of physical environment of the home on working life;
(d) to determine the way in which quality of life may be influenced by a range of factors relating to the physical environment, institutional environment and resident mix
(e) to determine the importance of locational factors.

An associated qualitative dataset, Consumer Study in Old People's Homes : Four Homes Studied in Detail, is available via Qualidata at the University of Essex.

Main Topics:

The main variables studied were:
(a) Physical environment, e.g. building features, floors, facilities, room sizes, etc.
(b) Resident characteristics, e.g. age, sex, mental/physical state, length of stay, reasons for admission, residents' preferences for aspects of the physical environment, measures of well-being, resident views on staff.
(c) Staff characteristics, e.g. age, sex, position, reasons for taking job, qualifications, job satisfaction, measures of well-being, preferences for aspects of physical environment, working practice, routines.
Nine files of data are held. In addition to the description of the physical environment (2 files) and the resident and staff interviews, others include: (i) Interviewer schedule (questions concerning home atmosphere, answered by interviews; (ii) Population and (iii) Sample files containing information from 872 homes (Population) and 100 homes (Sample) in 29 Local Authority areas (data on number of beds, daycare places, short-stay group living, location, resident characteristics, regime measures; (iv) Resident listing containing data concerning characteristics of all residents in the 100 homes; (v) Staff listings with characteristics of all senior and care staff in the sample of 100 homes.
Measurement Scales
Adjustment to ageing, worry and dissatisfaction since coming to the home, mental/physical state was measured using Crichton Royal Behavioural Rating Scale. (Wilkin, D. and Jolley, D., Behavioural problems among old people in geriatric wards, psychogeriatric wards and residential homes, 1976-78, University Hospital of South Manchester Psychogeriatric Unit Research Section Research Report 1).
Other Scales used were:
(i) a modified version of Abrams' Adjustment to Ageing Scale (Abrams, M., Beyond three score and ten published by Age Concern, England, 1978);
(ii) measures of anxiety after Srole, L. et al in Mental health in the metropolis : the midtown Manhattan study (New York: McGraw Hill, 1962);
(iii) Bradburn's Affect Balance Scale from Bradburn, N.M., The structure of psychological well-being (Chicago: Aldine, 1969).

Coverage:

Dates of Fieldwork: May 1980 - November 1980
Country: England
Spatial Units: No information recorded
Observation Units: Institutions/organisations

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: National
Population: Local Authority old people's homes and their inmates in England

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Multi-stage stratified random sample
three stages (local authorities, homes and residents).
Number of Units: (A) Inspector checklist 100 (obtained) homes
(B) Resident questionnaire 999 (obtained) residents
(C) Staff questionnaire 399 (obtained) staff
(D) Interviewer checklist 100 (obtained) homes
(E) Population data 872 (obtained) homes
(F) Sample data 100 (obtained) homes
(G) Resident listings 4278 (obtained) residents
(H) Staff listings 2655 (obtained) staff
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Observation

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.

In addition, ESDS is required to request permission from the depositor prior to supplying the data.
Availability: UK Data Service
External note: Users should note that these data are only available in ASCII .dat format with SPSS syntax setup files.
Contact: Get in touch

Date of First Release:

1 April 1987

File last updated:

29 April 2013