Series 1 (2019-2020)

The initial Ageing Well Public Talks series took place in the 2019/20 academic year. Please note that the below videos are all hosted on YouTube or on the Open University's Stadium video platform.

Are we prepared to live longer?

Dr Jitka Vseteckova

After introducing the Ageing Well Public Talk Series, this talk will cover basic biomedical and psycho-social aspects of ageing, age-related conditions e.g. bone health, frailty etc. and a brief overview of the next talks.

The ageing brain

Dr Jitka Vseteckova

This talk will cover basic facts on neurodegenerative conditions associated with ageing and age-related and non-age-related memory loss. We will also talk about how best to work with our ageing brain and types of mental/cognitive and physical exercise known for slowing the age related as well as non-age-related brain decline.

Nutritional needs while ageing

Mr Alan Hastings & Dr Jitka Vseteckova

Mr Alan Hastings – ‘In 2014 I was diagnosed as Pre-diabetic, i.e. close to Type 2. As an ex-Project Manager, I treat my health as a Project, so I control my diet with a colour coded chart (Red, Amber, Green) of everything I eat showing quantities, Calories, Sugar, Fat, Saturated Fat, Salt. Taking care of my health and creating healthy routines helped me to keep my blood sugar at acceptable levels.’

This talk will explore what we need to consider around nutrition while ageing and how to support people to eat regularly and well. We will also cover diabetes and ageing.

Pharmacotherapy while ageing

This talk will cover age-related changes affecting hydration, kidney & liver function, medication /polypharmacy, drug journey through the body and how to support our body to clear medication from our bodies quickly and efficiently. 

Sonal Mehta - Director/Founder Catalyst Health Solutions & VCSE Partnership Lead – Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System. Through her involvement, Sonal supports collaborative action on health inequalities while also creating strategic partnerships between the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and the health and care systems.

Dr Jitka Vseteckova - Senior Lecturer Health and Social Care, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, The Open University. Jitka has longstanding interest and passion in researching ageing and engaging with public.

Move it and breathe

Dr Jitka Vseteckova

In this talk we will go on more detailed journey into age-related changes in muscles, tendons, bones and the importance of breathing well, exercising well and enough.

Standing tall

Dr Jitka Vseteckova

In this talk we will explore further age-related postural alignment changes affecting postural stability and balance, and ways to compensate for 'gravity of ageing'.