Connectivity and Digital Design for Promoting Health and Well-being Across Generations, Places and Spaces
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Applied Social Science
Abstract
This 3-year research programme aims to examine how we can design, test, deliver and evaluate digital resources to facilitate structured activity programmes for 'health connectivity' in older age. Through examining the feasibility and impact of a digital approach to two existing initiatives, intergenerational physical activity (IGPA) and sports-based intergenerational reminiscence (SBIR), the research will demonstrate the potential for development of related products and services to enhance support for health in later life. Developing and strengthening older people's 'connectivities' - their links with community, resources and meaningful activities - is a key part of supporting healthy ageing and reducing health inequalities in later life. Social connectivity and increasingly, digital connectivity, are pillars of what we here term 'health connectivity', or an individual's links to supports for health and well-being. Both IGPA and SBIR are designed to deliver activities in ways which foster social connectivity for participants within and between generations, increasing mutual understanding and empathy. The impact of social connectivity on older people's health behaviours and health outcomes is well established, as is risk of reduced social connectivity in later life due to factors such as area deprivation and conditions like visual, hearing and cognitive impairment. Far less is known about the most effective ways to maintain and improve connectedness and so optimise those benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the need to be able to deliver programmes which support older people's social connectivity such as IGPA and SBIR effectively in a socially distanced world, but digital connectivity-connectedness through digital technology - was already of growing importance to older people in enabling them to access community, information and other resources in addition to eHealth applications and online healthcare services. COVID-19 has also brought into stark relief the need to urgently address so called 'digital divides', inequalities in access to digital connectivity through age, economic disadvantage and functional limitations, and this programme will stimulate developments which help to reduce such inequalities. The research programme, to be delivered by an interdisciplinary team of researchers based at the Universities of Plymouth and Stirling, consists of six 6-month inter-linked and co-dependant work packages (WPs) and will employ an innovative intergenerational co-production approach throughout. In WP1, information sharing mechanisms will be developed, a consultative Reference Group constituted, reviews and interviews with intergenerational programming providers to inform subsequent WPs conducted, and outcome measures developed for a pre- and post- testing of IGPA and SBIR participants. In WP2 community dwelling older people and younger participants in Cornwall (64) and Scotland (32) and 48 residents from 12 care homes (16 Stirling/32 Cornwall) will be recruited via partner organisations and form 20 researcher-supported intergenerational co-production groups (ICGs) for WP3. Following baseline outcome assessments, each ICG will meet bi-weekly for 6 months to share experiences of sport and physical activity and explore and test assistive technologies for either IGPA or SBIR. Recording of meetings and researcher observations will be thematically analysed to document those processes and identify themes around user needs and product ideas. In WP4 findings will be shared and the WP team will work with SME business partners to innovate new technologies to support IGPA and SBIR, with SMEs design concepts tested by the ICGs to inform development of prototypes tested by the ICGs in WP5, ending with post-test outcome assessments. Project-spanning implementation of the impact, knowledge exchange and communications strategy, coordination across interlinked empirical WPs, and dissemination activities are all included within WP6
Organisations
- University of Stirling (Lead Research Organisation)
- Active Stirling (Collaboration)
- Cornwall Rural Community Charity (Collaboration)
- SPORTING HERITAGE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY (Collaboration)
- iSightCornwall (Project Partner)
- South Asian Society (Devon and Cornwall) (Project Partner)
- St. Breward Community (Project Partner)
- Sporting Heritage (Project Partner)
- Sports Heritage Scotland (Project Partner)
- Breathers (Project Partner)
- ukactive (Project Partner)
- Active Stirling Ltd (Project Partner)
- Nudge Community Builders (Project Partner)
- Generations Working Together (Project Partner)
- Hearing Loss Cornwall (Project Partner)
Publications
Alejandro Veliz Reyes
(2024)
Toolkits for the ethical co-creation of health technologies for ageing: A multidisciplinary approach
Bradwell H
(2024)
Remote Scoping of an Audio-Reminiscence Tool for Care Home Residents
Haynes R
(2023)
GENERATING OLDER ACTIVE LIVES DIGITALLY (GOALD) THROUGH SPORT-BASED REMINISCENCE
in Innovation in Aging
Hennessy C
(2023)
INTERGENERATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION IN DIGITAL DESIGN FOR HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION
in Innovation in Aging
| Title | Digital Technologies for Older Active Lives |
| Description | This video demonstrates how digital technologies are being used and adapted through the input of older people in the GOALD project to promote physical activity in later life. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Dissemination of this output through national print media, social media, academic conferences and stakeholder events has raised awareness of GOALD's work in the use of digital technology to promote physical activity in later life. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRBDgvorWN0 |
| Title | The GOALD project is using virtual reality scans to bring heritage sites alive |
| Description | This video film demonstrates how the scanning of heritage and natural landscape sites is being used in virtual reality applications to promote health, well-being and social connection by the GOALD project. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The GOALD project has received significant media attention as a result of this video film. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuiXCC2esdw&t=86s |
| Title | The GOALD project: Involving users in the design process |
| Description | This video describes the co-production process employed in the GOALD project to engage older people in the design and adaptation of digital tools to promote health, well-being and social connection in later life. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Coverage in the national print media, social media, academic conferences and stakeholder meetings have raised awareness of the GOALD project's approach to co-designing digital tools for promoting health, well-being and social connection in later life. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ox18uFLLNI |
| Title | Using digital tools for sports reminiscence in the community |
| Description | This video demonstrates how the GOALD project worked with sports reminiscence groups to develop digital tools to use in these activities with older people. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | This video resulted in the co-development and adoption of digital tools for sports reminiscence activities by Football Memories Scotland which runs these groups throughout the country. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5yfggmHf58 |
| Description | The work of the GOALD project has demonstrated that older adults have an interest in contributing to the design of digital resources for promoting health, well-being and social connection in later life. Older people living in both the community and residential care settings with a range of functional abilities and circumstances are capable and willing to participate in the co-design of digital resources for supporting and enhancing health. Their reactions to a range of existing digital technologies for physical activity and reminiscence and ideas for new digital products were captured and used to create a 'toolkit' of recommendations for digital designers. Ten small to medium enterprises (SMEs) used these toolkit recommendations to create new or adapted digital products tailored to the needs and preferences of older users. These SMEs reacted positively to this co-design approach with older people and felt that it benefitted their design process and enhanced the market appeal of their products to an older demographic. The principal findings from the GOALD project relate to four distinct areas: 1) digital health technology to promote and/or sustain physical activity; 2) digital health technology in supporting structured reminiscence activity; 3) the functionality of digital health technology; and 4) impact of co-design for digital technology developers. Sustaining physical activity: Our overarching finding is that, despite some initial trepidation, digital technology can play a role in providing structured physical activity for older adults. This would be particularly as a prompt, resource, or support for activity for less active individuals, and through providing 'off the shelf' activities for carers to use with older adults. GOALD participants with access to in-person classes did not see digital technology-based physical activity as equivalent, or superior, to physical activity delivered in-person. Rather it was viewed as another opportunity to engage in being active or something which could enhance in-person offerings, or be used on its own. Participants viewed their motivation to engage with digital technology as centring around its potential to be a source of social activity and fun; the extrinsic rewards like score boards, and external prompts which can be provided through digital technologies were seen as opportunities to help improve engagement levels. Participants saw the potential for a range of valued and valuable outcomes from engaging with digital technology, including physical benefits and cognitive aspects. For example, participants noted that many of the technologies kept them moving but also 'kept their brains active'. They also valued the range of ability levels considered in some technologies, for example, providing both seated and standing exercises so that people with difficulties with leg movements could still take part to maintain their current physical activity levels and ability, but also build up confidence in those concerned about their balance or abilities. GOALD participants also raised concerns around safety, accessibility of technology and the availability of appropriate space for the technology to be used to its fullest potential. For example, issues with WiFi speed, access to large enough screens for content to be visible, and space, particularly within care homes to house equipment or to exercise were acknowledged. Findings from GOALD indicate that digital health technologies that seek to be sources of structured physical activity for older adults must also consider the suitability of activity. GOALD participants felt that the most successful digital technologies for promoting healthy ageing in older populations would be those which provide and allow participants to choose from a variety of relatable content as well as allowing users to control the type, duration, and intensity of activities. Such technologies could provide tailored experiences to suit the needs and likes of a diverse older population. Further, GOALD participants identified the relatability of digital content, regardless of how it was delivered (e.g. via video, live sessions, or gamification of activities), the clarity of demonstrations and instructions for using digital technologies, and the need for an engaging approach as critical factors in motivating continued engagement over time from older users. Recommendations included incorporating demonstrators of a similar age to the intended end-users rather than featuring only younger people or young avatars to enhance confidence and motivation. Reminiscence activity support: GOALD found that older people's 'connectivities', their links with community, resources and meaningful activities such as heritage experiences, are essential contributors to health and well-being. Findings indicated that the use of digital resources, including live video streaming, themed short-form-video and the use of digital archives, as memory triggers in the delivery of sport-based reminiscence to community groups enhanced participant experience of this activity. GOALD found that the social dimensions of group-based reminiscence activities and the familiar locations in which community sport-based reminiscence groups were often held enhanced participant experience, sense of belonging and camaraderie. Another significant dimension of the sport reminiscence meetings was their regularity in the calendar, with groups often meeting at the same time and on the same day of the week on a pre-scheduled basis. A key feature of the regularity of meetings, often at sport clubs, was the motivation to attend to avoid social isolation. The GOALD study explored the potential for using off-the-shelf technologies for remotely streamed video access to sporting heritage sites as part of structured sport-based reminiscence activities for older people in different community contexts. The researchers remotely streamed from five different sporting heritage locations including a football museum, a public statue, the archaeological sites of former football stadia, a motorsport museum and a national rugby stadium tour. Such live-stream heritage visits require prior research to make heritage content intelligible and engaging. They also require stable internet connectivity at the heritage site and the receiving community context and contingency for when connectivity gets lost. The key findings from live-streaming during the GOALD project established that remote access to sites of sporting heritage can trigger personal memories of sport, creating forms of nostalgia, pleasures of experiencing both the familiar and the unknown, and social connectivity between sport reminiscence participants. Groups expressed preference for themed sport reminiscence delivered in person and incorporating digital content-such as short-form video content including well-known former sports people-which stimulated engagement in new ways. Older participants emphasised how the blend of digital content with material heritage enhanced the experience, The GOALD co-production groups demonstrated that it is possible to deliver remote and in-person digital access to sporting heritage using relatively readily accessible and affordable technologies such as smart phone and smart TV. GOALD findings highlight the need for digital devices and technologies to be adaptable to the context of delivery for community sport reminiscence sessions, e.g., able to access the internet and stream live and recorded media from reminiscence session locations when required, and to be accessible to and appropriately featured for participant inclusivity given the potential socio-economic, cultural, physical and cognitive diversity within reminiscence groups. GOALD found that realising the full potential for digital technology to enhance reminiscence requires novel partnerships, willingness and ability to invest time, and confidence in the reliability of supporting infrastructure. Functionality of digital health promotion tools: GOALD findings confirmed that even where digital developers recognised the importance and benefits of working with older people to develop services and products aimed at older users, they did not necessarily have access to the time, financial or knowledge-based resources to do so themselves. GOALD established both demand for and a perception of the usefulness of a 'toolkit' designed to disseminate GOALD findings to developers, researchers and other stakeholders interested in the creation of technologies for older people, with a focus on promoting physical activity. Findings from the GOALD co-production activities indicated that the toolkit should address three core themes: 1) general recommendations for technologies for older adults, 2) physical activity technologies (including websites, apps, games, etc.), and 3) virtual reality (VR) for those working with immersive technologies. Accordingly, the toolkit contains three sections. Each section addresses one of the identified themes, bringing together and synthesizing findings from across the project into a series of recommendations and providing GOALD participants' priority rankings for each recommendation to support developers in exploring the importance of design features to the end users. Impact of co-design for digital technology developers: GOALD project activities found that a toolkit which synthesized its findings to produce more general recommendations could be of immediate practical use to developers of digital products and services aimed at supporting healthy ageing for older users. GOALD determined that insights provided by involvement in research and supplying appropriately tailored resources can lead to the adoption of new practices in digital technology development processes and ultimately to products and services that are more inclusive and fit for purpose. Interviews were held with digital developers to understand the impact the toolkit had on their products, how they used the toolkits, challenges they faced and suggestions to improve the toolkits. The organisations reported how the toolkits were useful in validating their products, including to potential investors and funders, and offered a wealth of information to speed up the development of products. For some organisations it provided them with new ideas, and for others it altered their development priorities to better reflect end-user requirements. All organisations expressed the usefulness of the toolkits, regardless of the stage of development and were motivated to continue engaging in the codesign practices. Challenges around time to develop and access to funding were discussed as barriers. Bringing GOALD findings directly to business partners and providing codesign input directly from end-users was one of the key goals and successes of the GOALD project. Many industries, particularly smaller developers, find the skills and costs required to systematically engage with older users to be prohibitive at the design stage for their products. The codesign and the testing of technologies with older people and resulting GOALD toolkit provide a legacy of recommendations for future technology developments that businesses can use. |
| Exploitation Route | The GOALD design guidance for digital product developers can be used by businesses to inform and upscale the creation of a wider range of technologies to support health, well-being and social connections in older age. The participation of older users of digital products should be included as a key element in the design process. Academics will have interest in further exploring how the routinisation of co-production with older people in the design of products and services for ageing populations affects societal perceptions of ageing and older people. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Early project findings from the trialling of a health promotion tool (the ROVR treadmill system with virtual reality) with the project's co-production groups identified user needs not accommodated by the original design of the equipment. The manufacturer employed these findings to re-design the equipment better enabling older persons with a range of functional abilities to make use of the equipment that can enhance users' physical activity and well-being. Subsequently, reactions and ideas produced from trialling a range of other digital health technologies with GOALD's co-production groups were used to produce a toolkit of recommendations for digital designers of health promotion tools for older adults. The toolkit summarised design features geared to the needs of persons with differing functional capabilities, preferences, and other requirements. Ten SMEs were successfully recruited to produce design adaptations and new prototype designs for digital products based on the GOALD toolkit. Examples of the developments produced based on the toolkit included creating a way of tracking the level of physical activity completed within virtual reality, increasing the usability and inclusivity of a physical activity platform website, developing an app to promote intergenerational connectivity and the creation of guides for carers to use a virtual reality product. GOALD found that insights provided by involvement in research and supplying appropriately tailored resources led to the adoption of new practices in digital technology development processes and ultimately to products and services that were more inclusive and fit for purpose. Participating digital developers reported the impact the toolkit had on their products, how they used the toolkits, challenges they faced and suggestions to improve the toolkits. The organisations commented how the toolkits were useful in validating their products, including to potential investors and funders, and offered a wealth of information to speed up the development of products. For some organisations it provided them with new ideas, and for others it altered their development priorities to better reflect end-user requirements. One organisation, for example, that offered a subscription-based web platform for delivery of online pre-recorded music and movement videos used the toolkit to redevelop their existing web-based platforms to create a unified, enhanced user experience incorporating new features such as intuitive navigation and user customisation options. Other added features such as a new chat function allow for real-time communication among users, fostering a stronger community, in line with GOALD's advice on community building. Commenting on the outcomes of their experience with GOALD, the organisation reported: "An enhanced user experience has positively impacted sales and subscription rates. The clearer, more accessible presentation of our resources has led to a higher conversion rate to ongoing subscription. The GOALD toolkit has proven to be an invaluable resource for our development process." All organisations expressed the usefulness of the toolkits, regardless of the stage of development and were motivated to continue engaging in the codesign practices. Challenges around time to develop and access to funding were discussed as barriers. Bringing GOALD findings directly to business partners and providing codesign input directly from end-users was one of the key goals and successes of the GOALD project. Many industries, particularly smaller developers, find the skills and costs required to systematically engage with older users to be prohibitive at the design stage for their products. The codesign and the testing of technologies with older people and resulting GOALD toolkit provided a legacy of recommendations for future technology developments that businesses can use. Engaging directly with businesses to incorporate GOALD recommendations into further and new technology development has enabled us to evaluate and therefore claim real world impact of our project findings for industry partners. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | Evidence to Parliamentary consultation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/37152/html/ |
| Description | DSC for ScotGov - light touch evaluation and exploratory. 1912870. Wider care homes roll-out and evaluation of programme. |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 1912870 |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | GOALDen Memories |
| Amount | £40,964 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/Z506527/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Intergenerational co-creation of novel technologies to reconnect digitally excluded people with community & cultural landscapes in coastal economies |
| Amount | £1,013,064 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W024357/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | Leader award via Stirling Council |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 1945282 |
| Organisation | Stirling Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Title | Design considerations for developers creating technologies to support physical activity for older adults |
| Description | This toolkit has been created for an intended audience of technology developers to offer support with the future creation of digital products for older adults with a focus on physical activity. The document is made up of three sections: (1) General recommendations for all technologies designed for older adults; (2) Virtual Reality (VR) sub section for those working with immersive technologies; (3) Physical activity platforms sub-section (i.e. websites, apps, games). The recommendations are based on feedback from older participants in co-production groups who trialled digital technologies from a menu offering of 20 items including virtual reality AI voice technology, mobile applications, websites and more. These sessions allowed participants to familiarise themselves with the technology, enabling them to give informed design considerations for future technologies. Each group of participants were then invited to a formal evaluations focus group/interview to give their thoughts on the technology as well as their motivators for use, potential benefits, barriers and improvements. Based on these technology trials, participants then engaged in creative design sessions which involved ranking their priorities for the technologies, based on their earlier feedback, and capturing their ideas for future technologies. Recommendations presented in the toolkit are based on thematic analysis of participant preferences in the trial phase and their co-design ideas in the creative sessions. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | To date, the toolkit has been used by 10 SME (small and medium enterprise) digital developers to produce new and adapted technologies aimed at promoting health, well-being and social connection in older adults. The experiences of these SMEs in using this GOALD toolkit design guidance has been captured and are the basis of a forthcoming publication which will highlight its prospects for use in developing digital products for older adults. |
| Description | Active Stirling/GOALD project partnership |
| Organisation | Active Stirling |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The GOALD project provided the opportunity for Active Stirling's 'Generations Active Together' programme to contribute expert input into the development of digital tools for promoting physical activity with older adults based on their experience with an intergenerational health promotion initiative. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Active Stirling's 'Generations Active Together' programme assisted the GOALD project in the recruitment of its Advisory Board members and participants for its intergenerational co-production groups. |
| Impact | Outputs include publications on the approaches, activities and findings of the GOALD project, including those for sports-based reminiscence and physical activity. These are included under the 'Publications' section. This collaboration was multi-disciplinary, including researchers and practitioners with backgrounds in sports heritage, the social sciences, informatics, health sciences, digital design, education and community development. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Cornwall Rural Community Charity/GOALD project partnership |
| Organisation | Cornwall Rural Community Charity |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The GOALD project has used the input of Cornwall Rural Community Charity as an integral part of its understanding of the needs of older people living in rural areas in respect to the design/use of digital technologies for health promotion in later life. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) assisted with the recruitment of members to the GOALD project's Advisory Board and participants for its co-production groups. CCRC's expertise on the needs of rural citizens around digital connectivity contributed to GOALD's understanding of these challenges for older rural residents in respect to its digital design activities. CRCC also assisted with the dissemination of GOALD's findings. |
| Impact | Outputs include publications on the approaches, activities and findings of the GOALD project, including those for sports-based reminiscence and physical activity. These are included under the 'Publications' section. This collaboration was multi-disciplinary, including researchers and practitioners with backgrounds in sports heritage, the social sciences, informatics, health sciences, digital design, education and community development. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Sporting Heritage/GOALD project partnership |
| Organisation | Sporting Heritage Community Interest Company |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The GOALD project provided an opportunity for Sporting Heritage to contribute expert input in regard to sports heritage content and its potential use in the development of digital tools for sports-based reminiscence groups with older people. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sporting Heritage assisted with the recruitment of GOALD's Advisory Group and participants for its co-production groups. It also assisted with the dissemination of project findings. |
| Impact | Outputs include publications on the approaches, activities and findings of the GOALD project, including those for sports-based reminiscence. These are included under the 'Publications' section. This collaboration was multi-disciplinary, including researchers and practitioners with backgrounds in sports heritage, the social sciences, informatics, health sciences, digital design and education. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | 'Healthy ageing: interactive tech session' was part of the ESRC Festival of Science, Alloa, 10th November 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The activity was an interactive showcase of the technology University of Stirling researchers have recently been trialling or developing with older adults to enhance their social connectedness, physical activity levels and other healthy ageing outcomes. Opportunities were provided to try out technologies including a balance board maze game, Retrorehab, VR headset and seated treadmill at this Healthy Ageing pop-up event. Members of the public could explore how digital technology can be used to improve health and social connections in older age. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/healthy-ageing-interactive-tech-session/ |
| Description | 'Intergenerational Co-production to Increase Physical and Social Activity For Health in the GOALD Project (Generating Older Active Lives Digitally)' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation given by Professor Anna Whittaker at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in San Juan, Puerto Rico that took place 8th-11th March, 2023. The international audience of academics and professional practitioners were made aware of how the GOALD project is using intergenerational co-production to help in the development of digital tools to engage older people in physical and social activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://psychosomatic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/APS_ProgramBOOK_2023_FINAL3.4.pdf |
| Description | 'Intergenerational Connectivity for Promoting Health and Well-being Across Ages, Places and Spaces' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation delivered by Professor Catherine Hennessy at the annual conference of the British Society of Gerontology that took place online 6th-8th July 2022. The international audience of academics, professional practitioners, post-graduate students and representatives of third sector organisations were made aware of the aims, structure, methods and planned outcomes of the GOALD project as part of the UKRI's Healthy Ageing Challenge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.britishgerontology.org/events-and-courses/past-conferences/2022-uwe-bristol |
| Description | 'You are the experts': lessons learned from engaging with an intergenerational advisory group in the GOALD project' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an oral presentation delivered at the annual conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology which took place in Regina, Canada on 20th-22nd October 2022. The international audience of attendees were academics and professional practitioners working in the field of gerontology. The presentation garnered interest in the GOALD project's intergenerational co-production approach to the development of digital health promotion tools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://cag2022.ca/ |
| Description | BBC 'Spotlight' report on the GOALD project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This BBC Spotlight piece was intended to raise public awareness of innovations in health promotion for older people, including those in advanced older age. The report showcased the use in care homes of one of the digital applications being trialled by intergenerational co-production groups in the GOALD project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-60960232?fbclid=IwAR1QbDvGqQRqFEtRME4YRVrylNbaQwBQcHG... |
| Description | Conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Invited panel presentation at the Healthy Ageing Challenge Conference (15th-16th November) hosted by Innovate UK. Presentation delivered by GOALD project team member Dr. Hannah Bradwell (Research Fellow) in the conference session 'New experiences -opening up possibilities in ageing via the creative industries'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://cop.ageing-better.org.uk/healthy-ageing-2021-conference-mon-15-tue-16-nov-9am-130pm#:~:text=... |
| Description | First GOALD stakeholder conference in Plymouth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | GOALD's first stakeholder event took place on 27th March, 2023 in Plymouth, attended by over 50 project partners and stakeholders including representatives from partner organisations whose involvement focused on improving the accessibility and feasibility of GOALD's work with diverse populations of older people. The event included presentations from the GOALD research team reporting on the project's activities to date and planned work, as well as the filming of the co-design workshop process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/project-stakeholders-discuss-latest-developments-in-health-technolog... |
| Description | GOALD project newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | To date, there have been 16 GOALD project newsletters, with the most recent (February 2023) sent out to 96 subscribers. The intended purpose of the newsletter is to highlight activities and progress, developments and opportunities associated with the GOALD project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/centre-for-health-technology/goald |
| Description | Invited Keynote talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Whittaker, A.C. Psychosocial influences on physical health and healthy ageing. Invited Keynote talk presented at Psychological Society of Ireland Psychology Health and Medicine Conference, Cork, May 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ucc.ie/en/phm/ |
| Description | Invited talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Whittaker, A.C. Digital Health Technology to promote physical and social activity in older people: The GOALD project. Invited talk presented at Healthcare Buildings Forum Scotland, Dunblane, April 2024. Talk and discussion about the implications for the provision of physical activity resources to older adults. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.healthcaredm.co.uk/the-hb-forum-scotland-returns-this-april |
| Description | Keynote talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Whittaker, A.C. Wellbeing for care home residents and staff via physical activity. Invited Keynote talk presented at Stirling and Clackmannanshire Health and Social Care Partnership Development Day, Ludgate Resource Centre, Alloa, Dec 2024. Presented to care home staff and discussed how the research findings could support activities in their care homes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Panel member in pre-conference workshop 'Evidencing Impact' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | GOALD team member Dr. Simone Tomaz took part as an invited speaker in a pre-conference workshop ('Evidencing Impact') at the 2022 UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge (HAC) conference on 15th November 2022 in London. The audience comprised of professional practitioners, academics, representatives from third sector organisations, business/industry and others were made aware of how the GOALD project's activities are contributing to the HAC's goals for promoting healthy ageing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.healthyageinguk.org/2022/agenda/?VID=381&EVID=5898 |
| Description | Participation in a 'Toolbox Session' (Entrepreneurs' Checklist for Successful Scaling of Healthy Ageing Innovations' at the AgeingFit 2023 conference, Lille, France, 11th-12th March. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This session provided practical guidelines for entrepreneurs in the silver economy on how to effectively develop and scale up their innovation. The experience of the GOALD project was described in relation to issues around the development of digital tools for promoting health and well-being in later life. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ageingfit-event.com/2023-conference-programme/#track1 |
| Description | Presentation 'Digital Health Technology in Physical Activity Promotion in Older People in Scotland: The GOALD Project' delivered at the SPARC (Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections) conference, Edinburgh, 8th November 2023 November |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This presentation on the GOALD project's work to co-develop digital technology for promoting physical activity in older people was delivered to the Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections conference. SPARC is a network of physical activity researchers, policy-makers and practitioners in Scotland organised by the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) at the University of Edinburgh and the Active Scotland Division at the Scottish Government. Attendees were made aware of GOALD's activities and outcomes relevant to the group's mission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://www.sparc.education.ed.ac.uk/sparc-2023/ |
| Description | Presentation and discussion session with Cafe Scientifique |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | GOALD team members delivered a presentation 'The GOALD project (Generating Older Active Lives Digitally'): Co-producing digital tools for healthy ageing' to the Pitlochry-Aberfeldy-Dunkeld Cafe Scientific group, the regional branch of an international science and technology discussion group for the public. This was attended by 30 members of the public who were all older adults. The purpose of this activity was to raise awareness among older adults of the GOALD project's innovative uses of digital technology for health promotion activities with older people and to elicit their views on the project's findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | http://cafescientifique.org/uk/pitlochry-aberfeldy-dunkeld |
| Description | Presentation on the GOALD project at the Football Memories Scotland 2022 conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This presentation by Professor Richard Haynes on the GOALD project at the Football Memories Scotland conference ('Moving Forward Together') took place at Hampden Stadium on 6th May 2022. Football Memories Scotland is one of the GOALD project's partner organisations, and this presentation provided relevant audiences with an understanding of how sports reminiscence is being used in GOALD to promote healthy ageing, and the opportunities for sports reminiscence groups to participate in GOALD's intergenerational work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://memories.scot/news/the-football-memories-scotland-conference-2022 |
| Description | Presentation on the GOALD project at the Sporting Heritage Scotland 'Sharing Stories' event held at the University of Stirling, 13th July 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the GOALD project and its use of digital technology in sports reminiscence activities for older people was delivered to attendees of this event convened by Sporting Heritage Scotland. Opportunities were provided for attendees to ask questions and engage in discussion about the use of digital tools in practice related to sports-based reminiscence and sporting heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.sportingheritage.org.uk/content/nations/sporting-heritage-scotland/sharing-stories-at-st... |
| Description | Presentation on the GOALD project in conference session 'Innovation for Active Ageing' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This presentation by Dr. Simone Tomaz on the GOALD project was part of the session 'Innovation for Active Ageing' at the annual conference of our project partner organisation UK Active. The conference 'Active Uprising' took place on 30th June 2022 in Birmingham. The audience of professional practitioners and others in the sports and leisure industries were provided with an understanding of GOALD's activities to promote healthy ageing through physical activity and social connection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukactive.com/active-uprising-speakers/ |
| Description | Press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A joint press release from the Eden Project (one of the GOALD virtual reality sites) and Cornwall Care (a GOALD care home project partner) appeared on 26th January 2022, highlighting their participation in GOALD's work (https://sbpr-ltd.com/2022/01/18/keeping-older-brains-active) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://sbpr-ltd.com/2022/01/18/keeping-older-brains-active |
| Description | Project newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The GOALD project has disseminated 5 newsletters to subscribed project partners (currently 89 subscribers) and other stakeholders since the start of the project. The newsletter is intended to highlight project activities, collaborations and outputs to a wide audience of relevance to the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/centre-for-health-technology/goald |
| Description | Public engagement event 'Healthy ageing: remembering Scottish football' at the ESRC Festival of Social Science, Alloa, 9th November 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A participatory showcase highlighted the GOALD project's use of technology in Sports-Based Reminiscence sessions. The principles and development of a football-inspired session that can be used anywhere in Scotland and beyond were explored. The session provided opportunities to meet the researchers behind the project, and explore how groups and partner organisations co-designed these memories sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/healthy-ageing-remembering-scottish-football/ |
| Description | Second GOALD stakeholder conference in Stirling |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The second GOALD stakeholder event took place at the University of Stirling on 6th October 2023. This 'GOALD Research Festival' attracted 80 attendees including GOALD participants, project partner organisations Generations Working Together and Active Stirling, service providers, council and policymaker representatives [Stirling and East Dumbartonshire councils], other interested members of the public, and the Healthy Ageing Challenge Director. The work of the GOALD project was highlighted in presentations by GOALD team members and videos on various aspects of the project's co-production process. Workshops and audience participation provided opportunities for discussion of GOALD's accomplishments and outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ageing-sbdrp.co.uk/goald-research-festival-bridging-the-digital-divide-for-older-generat... |
| Description | Social media posts on GOALD project accounts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The GOALD project has been active since its beginning on various social media outlets including LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74289390/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GOALDPlymStir and Twitter: https://twitter.com/GOALDStirPlym Instagram https://www.instagram.com/goald_research/ The current numbers of followers of GOALD on each of these are: LinkedIn: 45; Facebook: 34 (10), Twitter: 485, Instagram: 200 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Social media posts on the GOALD project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The GOALD project has been active since its beginning on various social media outlets including LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/74289390/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GOALDPlymStir and Twitter: https://twitter.com/GOALDStirPlym Instagram https://www.instagram.com/goald_research/ The current numbers of followers of GOALD on each of these are: LinkedIn: 63; Facebook: 46, Twitter: 668, Instagram: 241 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/GOALDStirPlym |
| Description | Webinar presentation. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Presentation in the webinar 'Framing Ageing and Making Your Comms Age-Inclusive' hosted by the Healthy Ageing Challenge's Community of Practice (16th December). Professor Catherine Hennessy delivered an invited presentation titled 'Towards Intergenerational Positivity in Designing Health Promotion Tools for Later Life' (video recording available at https://cop.ageing-better.org.uk/video-framing-ageing-and-making-your-comms-age-inclusive-thur-16-dec-2021-930am-11am). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://cop.ageing-better.org.uk/events |
| Description | Workshop presentation at the annual conference of Generations Working Together, 9th March 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation on the activities an planned outcomes of the GOALD (Generating Older Active Lives Digitally) to the annual conference of our project partner organisation (Generations Working Together) titled 'Project GOALD (Generating Older Active Lives Digitally): An Intergenerational Approach to Health promotion in Later Life'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://generationsworkingtogether.org/events/conference |