Understanding the Contribution of Community Organisations to Healthy Ageing and Integrated Place-Based Care: Evidence from Integrated Care Data

Abstract

(1) Background. There is interest in the role community organisations can play to support healthy ageing and the integration of health and social care. This study explored the contribution community organisations can make to this goal through the Leeds (UK) Neighbourhood Networks (LNNs), a novel example of community-based support. (2) Methods. An observational study of 148 LNN beneficiaries compared to the Leeds population aged 64 and over (n = 143,418) using the Leeds Data Model, and an analytical resource developed to support care planning. Measures included demographic characteristics, Electronic Frailty Index (EFI), the number of long-term health conditions (LTCs), and public health management cohort categorisation. (3) Results. LNN’s are primarily focussed on older people who are fit (44 percent) or experiencing the onset of LTCs (27 percent) and/or mild frailty (41 percent). However, they also support smaller numbers of people with moderate/severe frailty (15 percent) and five or more long-term conditions (19 percent). (4) Conclusions. Community organisations are well placed to support the ambitions of integrated care by providing support for older people with mild to moderate health and care needs. They also have the capacity to support older people with more severe needs if resourced to do so.

Keywords

• community organisations
• healthy ageing
• frailty
• health and social care integration