Series 4 (2022/2023)

Are we ready to live longer? 

Dr Catherine Pestano and Dr Jitka Vseteckova

After introducing the Ageing Well Public Talk series, Jitka and Catherine will introduce basic biomedical and psycho-social aspects of ageing, and some most common age-related conditions such as osteoporosis and frailty. We will explore menopause, andropause and how hormonal changes associate with ageing may affect us. We will also share a brief overview of the next talks.

Dr Catherine Pestano - Visiting Fellow and Associate Lecturer at Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, The Open University. Catherine is a social worker, community musician and menopause warrior/activist. Catherine is working on a book gathering diversity informed menopause musings.

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.

Taking control of dying

Barbara Gale MBE & Amanda Whitehouse

In this talk Barbara and Amanda will present on what are the things we don’t talk about & preparing for our death and as a relative preparing for someone else’s death. We will also talk about ways we can take some of the control over our dying and what are the ways we can co-create our care plans.

Dr Barbara Gale, MBE - Visiting Senior Fellow in Integrated Care for the Integrated Care Academy (ICA). Barbara has 40 years’ experience working in end-of-life care, with a background in nursing, palliative care and systemic family therapy. Most recently Barbara was Chief Executive of St Nicholas Hospice Care from 2007 to 2021, developing innovative models of care, built on public health and asset-based community development approaches to palliative care.

Memory and preserving Sense of Self while ageing and spending time outdoors

Helen Joannidi & Ellie Broad

In this talk Helen and Ellie will discuss about age related and non-age-related memory loss and how to boost our memory. We will also introduce sense of self and discuss how important it is for our health and wellbeing and how using mindfulness and present moment awareness of nature can help to preserve and maintain a sense of self and well-being in older age. We will also share few tips on how we might enhance sense of self including walks in the parks.

Dr Helen Joannidi – Helen is Health Care and Professions Council and British Psychological Society registered Clinical Psychologist.

Ms Ellie Broad - Project Engagement Officer, The Parks Trust. Ellie has been working at The Parks Trust as community engagement officer for the Great Linford Manor Park Heritage Fund project, which focuses on engaging people living with dementia in our community.

Equality, diversity and inclusion in access and provision of care in health services

Carlos Moreno Leguizamon

In this talk Carlos will present issues around equality, diversity, and inclusion in access to provision and care in health services while ageing. We will also discuss access to and provision of palliative care.

Dr Carlos J Moreno-Leguizamon – Carlos is an Associate Professor of Health Inequalities and Programme Leader of the MSc Global Public Health at the School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich with longstanding interest in diversity and inclusion in access to provision and care in health services while ageing.

General Practice ‘COVID-19 and beyond’

Andrew Potter MD

In this talk Andy will focus on changes to general practice functioning (in how patients interact with GPs and the services on offer. GP surgeries now employ pharmacists, physios, social prescribers, paramedics and we will talk through these changes, looking specifically on how to navigate them and make the best use of what the GP practices offer today.

Andrew Potter MD – Andy is GP lead for the Milton Keynes community respiratory service and the GP lead for the Milton Keynes home oxygen assessment service and is passionate about developing strategies for improving health of our patients with long term conditions. Andy has a special interest in post COVID syndrome and GP lead for the Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes Post Covid Assessment Service.

What should we know about nutrition and living with Diabetes Type 2 while ageing

Jitka Vseteckova & Alan Hastings 

This talk Jitka and Alan will discuss what we need to consider around nutrition while ageing and how to support people to eat regularly and well. We will also discuss nutrition and what we need to know about living with Diabetes Type 2.

Mr Alan Hastings – In 2014 Alan was diagnosed as Pre-diabetic, i.e. close to Type 2. As an ex-Project Manager, Alan treats his health as a project, so he controls his diet and physical activity. Taking care of his health and creating healthy routines helped him to keep my blood sugar at acceptable levels.

Relationships and intimacy while ageing

Dr Andreas Vossler

This talk Andreas focuses on things we usually don't talk about - especially around relationships, intimacy and ageing. The talk will cover assumptions and facts about sex and ageing, sexual health in older age, importance of intimacy and positive relationships in later life.

Dr Andreas Vossler - Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, The Open University. Andreas focusses his research on promoting individual and collective health and well-being by applying concepts such as empowerment, participation, social networks and social support, social and economic justice.

Let’s talk about sleep

Dr Abigail Methley

Sleeping while ageing – why do we might struggle to get good night sleep and how to change that? In this talk Abi will help us to understand why it is so important to sleep well and enough and will include few practical tips on how to do so.

Dr Abigail Methley - Senior Clinical Psychologist in North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, specialising in neuropsychology (the relationship between the brain and human behaviour). Abi’s role involves supporting people to understand and live well with the cognitive and emotional changes accompanying long term conditions including dementia. Prior to this she was the specialist clinical psychologist for an NHS older peoples' mental health and memory assessment service.

Health inequalities and ageing

Sonal Mehta

In this talk Sonal will explore how may health inequalities impact our ability to make the right lifestyle choices and what we can do to change that.

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.

Ways to exercise while still having fun

Dr Jackie Richards and David Curry

How do we build a strong and resilient musculoskeletal system and how can we have fun at the same time? Jackie will talk to us about dance and what are the benefits of dancing. What is creative dance and where can it take us?  Dave will share with us his journey of walks combined with his passion for travelling. We will explore how to exercise well and enough but how can we also make it fun.

Dr Jackie Richards - Advisor and Older Dancer, she has founded and managed a local creative dance organisation, regularly attends ballet, contemporary and creative dance sessions and danced in a variety of public performances and She advises several organisations concerned with ageing, adult learning, language, stereotyping. Jackie’s work is encouraging active lives, new friendships, more community involvement and Health & Wellbeing.

David Curry - Diabetes UK Service Champion, Middle Aged Old Goat (MAOG) The motto David lives by comes from Voltaire (French Philosopher) - "I have chosen to be happy because it’s good for my health".

Ageing, later life and caring in LGBTQ communities

Joe DeLappe & Tony Collins-Moore

The LGBTQ+ community is aging like other communities but are there different issues?  In this talk Joe and Tony will explore what is the appropriate way to support the LGBTQ+ community to age well and how caring can work from an alternative family dynamic perspective.

Tony Collins-Moore - Carers Wellbeing Academy Manager, Carers Centre Tower Hamlets. Tony describes himself as advocate or & safeguarding champion, husband, animal lover, honest, fun & life loving man.

Dr Joseph DeLappe – Research Associate, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies, The Open University. Joe works on a range of health, wellbeing, and social care projects at the OU. His own research interests include health inequalities for LGBTQ+ populations, particularly as they age.