A sharper focus

Abstract

In the first of two articles Andrea Ward and Jan Dewing describe how focus groups were used to give older people a greater say in shaping health care

A belief held by many professional healthcare workers is that older people have few views on the quality of care they receive and, to a large extent, are unable to comment on issues or make decisions for themselves (Brooker and Dinshaw 1998). As the movement towards patient-centred care advances rapidly in clinical practice, nurses must become more responsive to older people’s needs (Wallace et al 1999, McClymont 1999). But becoming responsive requires patients’ and carers’ involvement in decisions affecting their care (Wallace et al 1999). Only a real understanding of their views will facilitate nurses in providing truly patient-centred care( Ainsworth and Killingworth 1995).