Healthy ageing

cyclists, Healthy AgeingThe healthy ageing cluster includes research on physical, mental and social wellbeing, healthy work and retirement, and effective health and ‌social care.  In the cluster we will develop, evaluate and translate public health interventions to maintain and improve health, and reduce health inequalities in later life.

Average life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last three decades.  Present challenges include extending healthy life expectancy and reducing the social, economic and health burden which comes with people living longer.  Achieving a good quality of life in later years requires primary prevention, to protect healthy people from developing a disease, and secondary prevention, to halt or slow the progress of disease (if possible) in its earliest stages.  We focus on both health related behaviours and social interventions to promote wellbeing, in particular among socially and economically disadvantaged groups.

The research involves collaborations with the Institute for Ageing at Newcastle University, NIHR School for Public Health Research and other national and international collaborators. There are strong links with other Fuse clustetrs, in particular those focused on behaviour change and inequalities.

The cluster objectives are to:

  • Promote healthy ageing in retirement, including interventions to promote exercise, healthy diet, safe drinking, and socialising.
  • Investigate the implications of people working longer and develop, evaluate and translate appropriate workplace interventions to maintain and improve health.
  • Evaluate the role of social and welfare interventions in later life for disadvantaged groups.
  • Evaluate the roles of formal and informal care in promoting health among older adults and develop interventions to maximise health gain and minimise health inequalities.

Contact

Dr Sheena Ramsay - Cluster co-lead, Newcastle University
Email: sheena.ramsay@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Sonia Dalkin, Cluster co-lead, Northumbria University
Email: s.dalkin@northumbria.ac.uk

Dr Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld - Cluster co-lead, Northumbria University
Email: gemma.wilson-menzfeld@northumbria.ac.uk

PDF
Fuse Healthy Ageing Research Cluster strategy PDF 458Kb

Fuse Healthy Ageing Research Cluster strategy

The Gentle Years Yoga Trial

A UK-based trial evaluating an adapted yoga programme in older adults with long-term medical conditions.

Last modified: Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:20:17 BST

Social connection through technology

Technology as a tool for social connection

This study set out to explore older people’s experiences of using technology, including social media, to connect with others.

Last modified: Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:08:15 GMT

Exploring and evaluating the War Widows in Touch (WW.it) Programme

The WW.it Programme aims to connect war widow(er)s at a national and local level and build an online community.

Last modified: Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:08:26 GMT

Adapt Tech, Accessible Technology (ATAT) Project

To understand from a new user perspective what basic adjustments need to be made to existing affordable technology, to support digital confidence and literacy among people aged 50 years-or-older.

Last modified: Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:08:35 GMT

Other ongoing, related projects

Dr Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld is also the lead for the ageing strand of research at the Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families’ Research, Northumbria University and has several other projects ongoing.

Last modified: Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:46:29 GMT