Presenter(s):
Janine Charnley; Xenia Dolja-Gore; Julie Byles, University of Newcastle, Australia
Abstract
Background: Understanding the unmet health and social care needs of older people requires a clear definition of normative care needs — the baseline level of care every older person should expect, regardless of socio-cultural or economic context. This protocol outlines a study designed to develop a standardized list of normative care needs for older people through expert consensus.
Objectives:
1. To explore how contextual factors (socio-cultural, economic, policy) influence unmet health and social care needs of older people.
2. To identify commonalities and differences in normative care needs across diverse settings.
3. To develop a comprehensive, consensus-based list of normative health and social care needs for older people.
Methods: This study employs a two-phase, mixed-methods approach:
1. Expert Interviews: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight international experts identified through networks such as CARETRACK, the MENARAH Network, and the APHRC. Participants are selected for their expertise in ageing, healthcare policy, health economics, and social care.
o Interviews explored experts’ perspectives on what constitutes essential health and social care for older people.
o Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring needs and contextual differences.
2. Consensus Process: A Delphi study was conducted to prioritise and refine the information gathered from the expert interviews. For the Delphi, 20–30 experts from contrasting countries provided feedback through 2–3 rounds:
o Round 1: Experts rated the inclusion of identified care needs using a 4-point Likert scale.
o Round 2: Non-consensual items were re-evaluated, with opportunities for comments and feedback.
o Consensus Threshold: Items reaching ≥85% agreement (“totally agree” or “agree”) with <5% disagreement were accepted. Items with <60% consensus were excluded.
Expected Outcomes: The study aimed to produce a validated list of normative care needs for older people. This list will serve as a foundation for developing standardized measures of unmet need, ensuring data comparability across regions. Ultimately, the findings support policymakers in designing targeted interventions that address the fundamental care requirements of older populations.
Significance: By establishing normative care needs, this research enhances the quality and consistency of data collection, strengthening the evidence base for informed policy decisions and advancing global efforts to address the unmet care needs of older people.
Keywords: Normative care needs, older people, unmet health needs, social care, consensus methodology, Delphi study
Bio(s):
Janine Charnley is a researcher specializing in global ageing, health and social policy, and unmet care needs, with a recent focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Her work examines the unmet health and social care needs of older people, aiming to inform policy and strengthen data collection frameworks for evidence-based decision-making.
Currently, Janine is completing her PhD, which focuses on advancing methodologies to ensure robust measurement and monitoring of unmet health and social care needs among older populations globally. She has collaborated with the WHO on ageing-related research, including projects funded by the WHO Centre for Health Development (Kobe Centre), Japan, and the South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), New Delhi, as part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Her work contributes to improving regional understanding of health and social care challenges.
Beyond research, Janine is actively engaged in knowledge translation and policy discussions. She has experience in social media strategy, event organization, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that research findings are accessible to policymakers and practitioners. She is also involved in CARE∞TRACK, an international research consortium dedicated to the equitable measurement and monitoring of older people’s unmet health and long-term care needs.
Committed to advancing ageing research and policy, Janine continues to contribute to global discussions on ageing and the future of health and social care systems.
