Seminar 1: How to age well?

Monday 27 November 2023 17.30 to 18:30 pm, online, MS TEAMS WEBINAR
What does Eating, Drinking, Moving, Connecting, and Thinking have to do with ageing well? This  topic is discussed further through a panel discussion between members from the Open University – Dr Jitka Vseteckova (Senior Lecturer) and Dr Lesley Fearn, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies; Dr Sinead Eccles (Staff tutor) Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr Grainne O’Connor, Professional Services; Dr Yoseph Araya (Senior Lecturer) Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).This seminar drawing on multi-disciplinary and global research perspectives will explore how making small daily changes in your life can lead to ageing better and discuss the outcomes from the recent four UK Nations Campaign Take Five to Age Well.

Watch the CABS Public Seminar Series 2023-24: How to age well?

Seminar 2: What is Artificial intelligence (AI) and what does it mean for older adults?

Monday 26 February 2024, 10.00 to 11.30 am, online, MS TEAMS WEBINAR

In these presentations, Dr Elena Moschini (London Metropolitan University, UK) and Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves (Monash University, Australia) explored the AI landscape and its implications for older adults.

Dr Moschini's talk offered a brief overview of the journey that has led to the current AI landscape and an outline of the various types of AI technologies. It considered examples of key areas of application and trends for future developments. The presentation highlighted benefits and challenges of AI, as well as implications for users and stakeholders.

In this talk, Dr Neves presented insights from her research exploring what ideas of ageing underline practices and perceptions of AI amongst AI developers and care home staff/advocates - to consider whether and how the use of AI in care homes may contribute to ageism. As AI is increasingly used in care environments, with promises of addressing systemic issues such as alleviating loneliness among residents, it is critical to consider its potential role in enhancing age-related bias and social inequalities in later life. 

Watch the CABS Public Seminar Series 2023-24:What is Artificial intelligence (AI) and what does it mean for older adults?

Seminar 3: Keeping safe using digital devices and online: what do older people want to know for daily activities?

Monday 29 April 2024 17:00 to 18:20 pm online, MS TEAMS WEBINAR.

What type of activities, knowledge and digital literacy would enable older people to positively engage with online activities via their digital devices? Join us for this discussion by Dr Deborah Morgan (Centre for Innovative Ageing, Swansea University) and Dr Hannah Marston (School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University) which will present insights from a series of workshops held with older people in South Wales (2023). The workshops explored issues raised by older people during earlier work, including, keeping safe online and protecting your data, social media WhatsApp accounts; blocking and removing contacts; installing apps onto a smartphone; and, in-app purchasing such as train tickets; seeking best deals online, editing online shopping carts and much more.

Seminar 4: Let us talk about Menopause!

Monday 24 June 2024 17:00 to 18:20 pm, online, MS TEAMS WEBINAR

The menopause transition is a key, and sometimes protracted, process of ageing which affects both those experiencing menopause and their loved ones and colleagues. Join activist and menopause collections editor Dr Catherine Pestano and Ms Alison Craig, author of the Open Learn Menopause course, to reflect on how the menopause impacts individuals, groups and systems as we age, and how we can move forward positively.

Seminar1: Climate change and older people

Can we understand the local without the global? Emeritus Professor Sheila Peace in her book, ‘The Environments of Ageing: Space, place and materiality’, draws attention to the fact that population ageing is co-occurring and intersecting with other major transformations such as migration, rapid urbanisation, technological development, and climate change. In this talk she explores the interactions between population ageing and climate change as they impact older people and environments of ageing.

When thinking of impact of climate change and climate change action, the focus is very much on younger generations with older people framed as part of the problem. What do we know about engaging with older people about climate change? Briony Latter, PhD Researcher at the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), Cardiff University discusses her research about language, values and framing in climate conversations with older people.

Watch the seminar on Climate Change and Older People

Seminar 2: Addressing the inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ people as they grow older

This joint panel discussion organised by the Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies and the charity ‘Opening Doors’ contributed to the LGBGQ+ History month. The panel discussion, led by Professor Ben Thomas (Research and Policy Coordinator, Opening Doors) and chaired by Dr Verina Waights (CABS Co-Chair), included Ms Janet Idowu (Royal College of Nursing Ethnic Minorities Subgroup) and an ambassador from Opening Doors. Opening Doors is the only UK national charity aimed at addressing the needs of older LGBTQ+ people.

Research shows that older LGBTQ+ people have worse outcomes across different aspects of their lives including physical health, loneliness, social isolation, mental health and experiences of violence. They are more likely to be single and live alone than their heterosexual counterparts, to be estranged from their biological families and are less likely to have children. In addition, they are often reluctant to engage with statutory services due to fear of discrimination. Moreover, they can dread the prospect of accessing care and residential services and, as a result, avoid planning for the care they will need in later life.

Seminar 3: Participatory Action Research with Older People – Challenges and Opportunities of Engagement

In this seminar, Professor Hilary Bradbury (CEO: Action Research Plus Foundation) discusses participatory action research with older people. She draws on examples of successful healthcare practices that have brought about change and transformations for older people with lived experiences, practitioners and policymakers involved in their care.

Watch the seminar on Participatory action research with older people

Seminar 4: Fuel or food? Health and policy implications for older people in the UK

In a time of economic turmoil, the UK is facing a stark cost-of-living crisis where people may be forced to choose between heating their homes and eating regular, nutritious meals. Limited research has explored this intersection of food and fuel poverty (FFP). Older adults are particularly vulnerable to a potential “heat or eat” trade-off and to the health repercussions of FFP. Excess mortality is the starkest of FFP’s potential health repercussions, which impacts the UK more than other neighbouring colder climate countries.

In this session, Dr Aravinda Guntupalli (Senior Lecturer in Global Health, University of Aberdeen) and Sarah Champagne (PhD Researcher, University of Aberdeen) jointly explore these largely neglected phenomena that are markedly salient for older adults, drawing on their current research.

Watch the seminar on Fuel or food? Health and policy implications for older people in the UK

Seminar 1: Building resilience in the BAME communities to improve their mental wellbeing

A joint virtual panel discussion between members from the Royal College of Nursing Ethnic Minorities Sub-group (RCN-EMS) and The Open University’s Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (CABS) chaired by Dr Helena Ann Mitchell [Chair RCN-EMS/CABS], and Dr Verina Waights (CABS Co-research Lead).The focus of the discussion was to explore the statement “Challenges such as racism, stigma and inequalities can affect the mental health of people from BAME communities.” [Mental Health Foundation]. The aim of the discussion was to highlight positive practices that practitioners and people who use services and their families to improve mental health wellbeing in their communities. The panel members consisted of Kojo Appau-Bonsu (Peer involvement worker); Zeba Arif (President, All Pakistan Nurses Association, APNA-UK and RCN Diversity Champion); Janet Idowu (Clinical Service Lead Acute Services); Professor Ben Thomas (Professor of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities).

Watch the seminar on Building resilience in the BAME communities to improve their mental wellbeing (2021-22)

Seminar 2: Health outcomes of racially minoritised older people: exploring key concepts

This virtual panel discussion between Dr James Nazroo (Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester) and Dr Halima Begum (CEO, Runnymede Trust) was chaired by Sam Toolan (Open University PhD student and CABS Member) and took place in association with the Early Researchers in Ageing group of The British Society of Gerontology. The free-flowing discussion focused on health outcomes concerning racially minoritised older people in the UK, including within the context of COVID and issues of terminology.

Watch the seminar on Health outcomes of racially minoritised older people: exploring key concepts (2021-22)

Seminar 3: Behind closed doors – nursing older adults in the home and community

Chaired by Dr Emma Stevens (The Open University/ CABS), the presentation was delivered by Dr Crystal Oldman CBE (Chief Executive of the Queen’s Nursing Institute).Dr Oldman explored the current context of health and care needs within the context of an ageing population. This included identifying that a large proportion of older adults live independent lives, yet a proportion of older people may have more complex health needs, leading to increased demands for NHS services.

Watch the seminar on Behind Closed Doors – nursing older adults in the home and community (2021-2022)