Health needs assessment: Involving older people in health research

This paper reports on an action research study whose aim was to elicit the health needs of older people as part of a wider health needs assessment exercise. The sample consisted of twelve older people (n=12) who lived in East Lancashire. Focus groups were used to identify perceived health needs. The majority of older people in the sample expressed concern about access to primary care, lengthy out‐patient department appointments and poor transport facilities to access health resources. An indirect consequence of their perceived health needs was reduced socialisation due to fear of going out, particularly at night. The findings raise issues to do with developing a more considered view of methods for eliciting the views, beliefs and attitudes of older people about health needs. The study has implications for primary care trusts and statutory services regarding the provision of health care to older people.