Choice and Change

The Choice and Change study explored, for disabled young people, adults and older people, the realities of exercising choice about support and other related services in the context of changing circumstances. Extending choice to users of publicly-funded services is central to current policies. New opportunities for choice have been introduced in social care and personal budgets are being piloted for some health conditions. But how important is choice about services for disabled people and their families? Little is known about choice-making processes within families when disabled young people with degenerative conditions and their parents are faced with decisions about health, social care and education. We also know very little about choice-making by disabled adults and older people with fluctuating conditions or the sudden onset of poor health. Is choice empowering and important for wellbeing, or a challenge in the context of pain, poor health and uncertain prognosis? Most importantly, do choices lead to satisfactory and durable outcomes, given changes in health, support needs and wider circumstances? This study aimed to address these issues.