title: The perceptions of older people in Wales about service provision.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 'Age Well Feel Good' programme is a cohort study of older people in Wales. There is a gap in knowledge on how older people in Wales perceive health and social care services. Research is necessary to help address this gap and to provide an evidence base that informs  policy making and service delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 15 000 men and women aged 50 years and over, living in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, were invited to participate in a web-based study of successful ageing. A wide range of data were collected in the study. These  included psychological and cognitive assessments, self-reported health, financial status and deprivation measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on over 500 responses, information on health and social care service perceptions was analysed. Overall, the perception of service availability was rated  as good, yet there was widespread dissatisfaction. Furthermore, only 14% of older people were aware of a major health and social care programme in Wales, the National Service Framework for Older People.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main observation is the difference between service availability  and satisfaction that views are sought. In the main, health service availability is good, yet there is widespread dissatisfaction. This raises some questions about the services provided. The evidence provided in this article is a further contribution to the policy-making process. Further work  is needed.
authors.affiliation: National Leadership Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Llanharan, UK. Gareth.Morgan5@wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallacher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003729:Dental Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014852:Wales