This proposal is directly relevant to DIAL call theme 4 (labour market participation in later life and retirement), as analysed from the perspective of DIAL call theme 3 (labour market and family trajectories and the growth of inequalities). The aim is to investigate the gendered impacts of policies aimed at extending working life (EWL) in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, using a mixed methods research design, based on insights from life-course and gender studies. The project has 5 objectives, each addressed though a dedicated work package: 1) to analyse EWL policies from a gender-sensitive perspective, assessing tensions between “active aging” and gender equality goals, at the national and international level; 2) to trace intra-national continuities and change in gendered employment and family formation patterns over time, using existing panel data sets and sequence analysis techniques; 3) to assess the current working conditions of the 50+ group, across countries and occupations; 4) to explore the wellbeing and health issues faced by male and female 50+ workers in 3 contrasting occupations (health, transport, financial services), using innovative case-study methods to illustrate the combined effect of employment histories, family life events and intergenerational care services on the dynamics of inequality in later life; 5) to consult stakeholders and disseminate findings to policy makers, via gender-sensitive policy toolkits. All co-applicants will contribute equally to each work package. Expected outcomes include: innovative analytical framework; new research instruments; working papers and referred journal articles; dedicated databank; innovative policy toolkit.

To meet societal and economic challenges, health and care welfare regimes will need to become much more focused on the outcomes that matter to people and deliver these programmes effectively and efficiently. Central to this goal is the need to accurately measure outcomes and reflect the value of those outcomes. We propose a cross-country study to measure outcomes in the field of long-term care (LTC). We will use a care-related outcome tool, ASCOT, to assess the comparative effectiveness and efficiency of non-institutional LTC (e.g. home care) for older adults and their informal carers in Austria, England and Finland. The study has four analytical workpackages (WPs) with these goals: " Establish a valid basis for international comparisons of LTC-outcomes in non-institutional settings, by developing rigorously translated and tested versions of ASCOT. " Generate country-specific ASCOT utility weights and explore variations in preferences for ASCOT quality of life domains across countries. " Explore variations in ASCOT-quality of life (QoL) within and between countries, providing evidence on QoL for service users, carers and the relationship between them, as well as QoL inequalities. " Explore and compare the relative costs, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of specific LTC services. We will use econometric methods, combining estimates of the effect of services on QoL and service cost. This study should strengthen the research base and help guide policymakers and practitioners to make outcomes-focused, economically-sound decisions about LTC. It will also provide useful tools for future evaluations.

Background Older adults increasingly live independently and receive care in their own home. To evaluate outcomes of care for older adults living at home, it is important to measure and value quality of life from a broader perspective than health only. ASCOT The Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) was recently developed based on extensive philosophical reflections to measure quality of life as outcome of UK social care. Aim This project has three aims: 1) to develop the Dutch version of the ASCOT (ASCOT-NL) by adopting the instrument to the Dutch context; 2) to develop a set of preference weights for the ASCOT-NL; 3) to assess the normative adequacy and applicability of ASCOT-NL for policy purposes Method This project has three phases. In phase 1 we will develop the ASCOT-NL using a mix of philosophical analysis, literature review and qualitative empirical research resulting in the final version of ASCOT-NL. In phase 2, preference-based weights for the ASCOT-NL will be developed. In this phase the empirical validity of the ASCOT-NL based utilities for allocation decisions are also explored, using a ?hypothetical preferences? study and homogeneous focus groups. In phase 3, we will investigate philosophical debates concerning resource allocation and discuss consequences of using preference-based weights by policy makers, and we will identify facilitators and barriers for implementation of ASCOT-NL in a pilot study in two care organisations. Result Firstly, this project will result in a more in-depth understanding of the meaning of important domains of quality of life for older adults living at home. Secondly, the ASCOT-NL developed in this project will be applicable to measure and value quality of life outcomes of care. Societal relevance As a conceptually sound and empirically valid instrument, the ASCOT-NL will improve the quality of allocation decisions of care directed at these older adults.

How European welfare states will develop is hard to predict. People?s current aspirations, ideas and assumptions will be important drivers of change and persistence and of the extent to which conflict and solidarity surround change. This project uses innovative methods (deliberative democratic forums, a qualitative cross-national focus group survey) to develop understanding of people?s aspirations for the Europe their children will inhabit. The interactive and discursive methods proposed deal directly with people?s ideas, but are rarely used in comparative welfare studies. The project is essentially forward-looking. It will contribute to theoretical work on the main cleavages and solidarities driving social policy in different European welfare states and to more practical consideration of the parameters of acceptable policy change. It will supply new findings relevant to the politics and sociology of welfare and provide data for reanalysis and as a base-line in future studies. The team have led major cross-national projects and will press home findings in national and EU-level policy debate. The applicant will co-ordinate the work with partners and an Advisory Board in three stages: - European-level literature review (co-ordination team); national reviews of attitudes to welfare and welfare politics (all partners); - Data gathering: Deliberative Forums and Focus Group studies (all partners); - Analysis, dissemination and engagement of research users (co-co-ordinating team/national partners). Co-ordination will be facilitated by setting clear objectives at each stage and will be pursued through conferences to assess progress, plan work, integrate findings and agree publication, dissemination and engagement strategies.