We are delighted that the CHAD seminar series has now launched!
The first seminar of 2016 took place on Wednesday 19th October 2016. The topic was ‘Healthy Ageing’ and we heard about two studies that focused on alcohol use in retirement, and ageing without children respectively.
Our two speakers were Fiona McCormack, Research Officer at CHAD, and Lynne Wealleans, Director of Policy and Engagement at the Beth Johnson Foundation. Fiona and Lynne presented studies that were published earlier this year. Both studies used qualitative methods to investigate the views and experiences of people aged 50+ and explored issues related to ageing well in later life.
Fiona McCormack – Research Officer, CHAD
Fiona presented findings from the study: ‘Alcohol use across retirement: a qualitative study into drinking in later life’ (Glasgow Centre for Population Health, 2016). She completed this study whilst at the University of West of Scotland, before joining CHAD early in 2016. The study was a collaboration between University of the West of Scotland, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Brunel University and Glasgow Centre for Population Health.
The study consisted of interviews with 20 ‘key informants’ with expertise in alcohol policy and/or older people’s services, and in-depth interviews with 40 retired men and women aged 55-79 years. This presentation focused on what life in retirement was like for the men and women involved, including the importance of structure and ‘routines’ to participants and responding to changes associated with ageing.
The full report is available to download from Glasgow Centre for Population Health’s website here.
Lynne Wealleans – Director of Policy and Engagement, Beth Johnson Foundation
The Beth Johnson Foundation recently funded the Our Voices report by Ageing Without Children (AWOC). It intended to raise the profile of this potentially ‘hidden’ group and begin to address issues and concerns that people have about the future for older adults without children. AWOC defines people ageing without children as people aged over 50 who have no children in their lives either because they have never had them or because they have little or no contact with them.
Lynne’s presentation explored the findings from the Our Voices report including people’s experiences; key themes and trends for people ageing without children; potential solutions and recommendations.
The full report is available to download from the Beth Johnson Foundation’s website here.
The presentations were followed by smaller group discussions to reflect on the research presented and discuss what is important to local older people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. There was also discussion about potential next steps in relation to research on this topic. The healthy ageing seminar was attended by 20 people both from the University (11 internal) and beyond (9 external), including the local councils and third sector.
Healthy ageing is a theme CHAD is keen to continue to grow, and we are currently working on evaluations related to healthy lifestyles and cancer, and cognitive stimulation therapy in older adults with mild/moderate dementia.
