ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the feminist ethic of care to an analysis of the personalisation agenda in the context of care for dependent older people. It highlights fundamental political questions posed concerning the nature and extent of older people’s need for care, responsibility for meeting these needs and the associated costs. The chapter describes the personalisation agenda could potentially offer a more responsive form of care, by placing more power and control in older people’s hands. It deals with an assessment of the feminist ethic of care as a basis for policy evaluation. Demographic trends have generated a sense of urgency for policy makers and strategic managers as they seek solutions to predicted pressures on the social care system. However, demographic trends have another implication which is rarely considered in policies but which is highly relevant to a discussion of social care for older people.
