Centre for ageing and
biographical studies (CABS)
People
Dr Sandy Fraser
My research focuses on personalisation in health and social care, spanning ‘looked After Children’, ‘International Social Work’ and ‘Vulnerable Children in Southern Africa’. I am also interested in e-learning pedagogy including use of ICT in social work practice.
Dr Manik Deepak-Gopinath (current co-chair of CABS)
My particular focus concerns environments of ageing. I am especially interested in critically exploring: the role of place(s) in shaping wellbeing in later life; home, personal and family life at older ages; and the challenges related to engaging meaningfully with diverse communities in addressing contemporary ageing-related concerns.
Dr Aravinda Guntupalli
I am based at the University of Aberdeen with research expertise inn health inequalities across the lifecourse among people with protected characteristics, especially, NCD-related inequalities and multidimensional poverty among middle-aged and older adults. I also work on nutrition and health inequalities among migrants in low and middle-income countries.
Dr Caroline Holland
My current and recent research concerns aspects of ageing, particularly in relation to the use of technologies, living environments, learning in later life and experiences of social isolation and discrimination.
Dr Kerry Jones
With expertise in End of Life Care, my work explores caring for carers’ across the life course including older, former and bereaved carers and carers of people with dementia. She has a particular interest in end-of-life care and palliative care; and peoples’ experiences of grief.
Dr Rebecca Jones
My core research interests are in later life, sexuality and especially sexuality in later life. I use a variety of broadly narrative and discursive approaches to investigate a range of topics including: age discrimination, how people imagine their own ageing and later life, normative and non-normative life courses, the ageing of LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ issues in health and social care, and especially ageing and bisexuality.
Jenny Kartupelis MBE
I am a Visiting Fellow and an Open University consultant on Relational Care: a concept I have developed in the context of older adult social care. The OU research project on this subject has resulted in a report – ‘The Value and Practice of Relational Care’ – and a practitioners’ toolkit. I have published numerous articles and books on the topic of relational care.
Dr Jeanne Katz
My core research interests are in the area of death, dying and bereavement in a variety of settings. I have explored the management of dying and death of older people residing in residential and nursing homes as well as the training needs of care staff.
Dr Chris Kubiak
My main passion lies in understanding practice-based learning in health and social care and in other settings. My work focuses on learning in work-based settings, learning networks, non-formal settings and educational institutions.
Dr Mary Larkin
My main research interests are primarily: care carers and caring (paid and unpaid) but more specifically include adult social care, relational care, student carers, former carers, carers of people with type 2 diabetes, older carers, carer and service user empowerment, the third sector and the life course approach to health and well-being.
Dr Hannah Marston
My interdisciplinary research covers gerontechnology, (digital) health, wellbeing, fall prevention, technology adoption, age-friendly cities and communities. I have contributed to the World Health Organization’s digital health symposium and published extensively. My work features in UK, EU, Australian and North American policy documents.
Find out more about Hannah and her research or @hannahRmarston
Professor Shailey Minocha
I am Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. My research has two strands: learning technologies and social computing. In relation to ageing, I explore how online social interactions can offset social isolation and loneliness in older people.
Dr Helena Ann Mitchell
I have contributed to mental health nursing as practitioner, educationalist, and researcher. I am chair of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Mental Health Committee ethnic minority subgroup which addresses the inequality in healthcare provision for the Global majority and the need for leadership development for ethnic minority mental health nurses.
Professor Sheila Peace
I am Emeritus Professor of Social Gerontology in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies at The Open University, an Academician of the Social Sciences and a previous president of the British Society of Gerontology. An environmental gerontologist, i am a social geographer by first discipline. My ageing research across diverse environmental settings spans 45 years.
Dr Catherine Pestano
I am a Visiting Fellow with WELS, and have taught and worked in social work, and business, including creativity. Research interests: carers, end of life, menopause, dementia, LGBTQ* and intersectional diversity, creative expressive arts and mental health.
Dr Mahera Ruby
I am a postdoctoral researcher on the Dunhill Medical Trust funded research project 'Amar Bari, Amar Jibon' (My home, My Life). I completed my PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specialism is in intergenerational learning and multilingualism and my current research is exploring the developing living environments for Bangladeshi elders.
Dr Jennifer Shepherd
My current research focuses on fictional narratives of aging across the twentieth century, with a focus on how these representations intersect with class, gender and national interests. I examine discourses around rejuvenation and anti-aging therapies in women’s writing of the interwar period (1918-1939) .
Dr Sandy Sieminski
My research explores person-centred care and older people; the development of professional identities; ways of strengthening social work students’ understanding of the links between theory and practice; service user involvement in social work education and the use of assessment feedback to support students struggling academically.
Dr Emma Stevens
My research interests are inter-professional in nature, spanning across health, social care and sociology, including a focus on safeguarding issues, the Mental Capacity Act, and leadership in health organisations. I apply ethnographic approaches to exploring dignity in community nursing care with older adults.
Sam Toolan
I am a part-time PhD student of migration and mental health and a Member of the Early Researchers in Ageing Committee of The British Society of Gerontology. I also work on external engagement in Higher Education.
Dr Jitka Vseteckova
My role with the Faculty of Health and Social Care in The Open University is multi-faceted and enables me to be involved in research, teaching, supervision and external collaborations. She leads the Ageing well series and the take five campaign.
Dr Verina Waights (current co-chair of CABS)
My research focusses on age-friendly cities and communities. I have with a particular interest in the use of new and emerging technologies to enhance the quality of life for older people, their families and carers through participatory co-production research approaches. I have been OU-lead for EU funded projects and an invited expert speaker at international conferences, developing recommendations for future EU policy and research.
Dr Philippa Waterhouse
I have a background in Social Statistics and Demography. My research centres on exploring population health in under-researched contexts and groups, with a particular focus on women and children.
Dr Linda E Walker
I am a Registered General Nurse with expertise is in operating theatre nursing which looks after patients of all ages. I worked in England and Wales holding senior nursing managerial posts for over 20 years. My research and teaching focusses on educational leadership and management and patient/clients’ experiences of healthcare.
Past members
Professor Joanna Bornat
Dr Geraldine Boyle
Dr Bill Bytheway
Dr Joyce Cavaye
Dr Jonathan Hughes
Dr Julia Johnson
Dr Jackie Watts
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