Enabling environment: Modelling Well-being in Ageing
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Sch of Health Community and Education
Abstract
The traditional view of older people emphasises experiences of loss and decline. However, there is a growing body of work which challenges this view as an inadequate explanation for experiences which older people themselves identify as associated with well-being.
The Network on Enabling Environments (Modelling Wellbeing in Ageing) aims to develop expertise to investigate major determinants of health and well-being in later life. It will achieve this by bringing together staff working on health and social care research into wellbeing of older people, a 25 year cohort study of ageing and mathematical and statistical models.
The outcome will be a research proposal for a study that will model and predict well-being in older people, better understanding the relationship of wellbeing to social and community environments, to psychological resourcefulness, and to mental and physical health.
The Network on Enabling Environments (Modelling Wellbeing in Ageing) aims to develop expertise to investigate major determinants of health and well-being in later life. It will achieve this by bringing together staff working on health and social care research into wellbeing of older people, a 25 year cohort study of ageing and mathematical and statistical models.
The outcome will be a research proposal for a study that will model and predict well-being in older people, better understanding the relationship of wellbeing to social and community environments, to psychological resourcefulness, and to mental and physical health.
Technical Summary
The traditional view of older people emphasises experiences of loss and decline. However, there is a growing body of work which challenges this view as an inadequate explanation for experiences which older people themselves identify as associated with well-being.
The Network on Enabling Environments (Modelling Wellbeing in Ageing) aims to:
1. Develop interdisciplinary expertise to investigate major determinants of health and well-being in later life. The outcome will be a research proposal for a study that will model and predict well-being in older people, better understanding the relationship of wellbeing to social and community environments, to psychological resourcefulness, and to mental and physical health.
To achieve this aim and objectives, the Network brings together several key areas:
1. Health and social care research into wellbeing of older people, linking also to understanding wellbeing as a key public health concern and so to the work of the UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health and to the British Academy International Collaborative Research Network on Ageing Populations.
2. A 25 year psychology cohort study of ageing with a particular interest in cognitive ageing (North East Age Research NEAR).
3. Methodological expertise in building mathematical and statistical models and risk evaluation.
4. Computer Science and informatics expertise in data mining, artificial intelligence and visualisation of complex data.
This work will develop the core interdisciplinary research expertise and concepts/strategies for a research proposal that will allow conceptualisation and hence management of older people which moves beyond the current decline and problem orientated approach of society and services. It has the potential to identify those aspects of the social, psychological and physical environment which enable older people to use their inherent adaptive capacities to best effect. As such, services may be able to support these environments and facilitate alignment between the reported experiences of older people and well-being. As a result health and social care resources may orientate to maximise people?s capabilities. The resultant reduction in iatrogenic dependence has the potential to improve quality of life.
The Network on Enabling Environments (Modelling Wellbeing in Ageing) aims to:
1. Develop interdisciplinary expertise to investigate major determinants of health and well-being in later life. The outcome will be a research proposal for a study that will model and predict well-being in older people, better understanding the relationship of wellbeing to social and community environments, to psychological resourcefulness, and to mental and physical health.
To achieve this aim and objectives, the Network brings together several key areas:
1. Health and social care research into wellbeing of older people, linking also to understanding wellbeing as a key public health concern and so to the work of the UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health and to the British Academy International Collaborative Research Network on Ageing Populations.
2. A 25 year psychology cohort study of ageing with a particular interest in cognitive ageing (North East Age Research NEAR).
3. Methodological expertise in building mathematical and statistical models and risk evaluation.
4. Computer Science and informatics expertise in data mining, artificial intelligence and visualisation of complex data.
This work will develop the core interdisciplinary research expertise and concepts/strategies for a research proposal that will allow conceptualisation and hence management of older people which moves beyond the current decline and problem orientated approach of society and services. It has the potential to identify those aspects of the social, psychological and physical environment which enable older people to use their inherent adaptive capacities to best effect. As such, services may be able to support these environments and facilitate alignment between the reported experiences of older people and well-being. As a result health and social care resources may orientate to maximise people?s capabilities. The resultant reduction in iatrogenic dependence has the potential to improve quality of life.
