Speaking for ourselves

The improvement of the quality of life for older people is high on the agenda of national and local government, funding bodies, the health service and a large number of voluntary and non-governmental organisations. In particular there has been an emphasis in policy documents on the importance of involving older people in the planning and delivery of services and in the research process (DoH 1999a, 1999b, 2001, Scottish Executive 2000). Indeed the Department of Health has claimed that involving people in influencing decisions that may affect them has a positive effect on their self-esteem and self-confidence.