Enhancing our understanding of later life

Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London have created an innovative framework, titled the Social Relationship Expectations (SRE) Framework, to explain the mechanisms behind loneliness in older adults and inform future research on interventions. The research, published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, identifies what older adults expect from their social relationships. These expectations get at the core of how loneliness is commonly defined: as the gap between expected and actual social relationships.

The global challenge Dementia is a devastating condition that can ruin lives and strip individuals of not just their memories, but their relationships, and identity too. Across the world, around 50 million people are currently living with the condition, 900,000 of whom are in the UK. It is estimated that 153 million people around the world will be affected by 2050. Although there is currently no cure for dementia, people with the condition can live well for years. Hospital admissions have been proven to increase the rate of decline, but the hope is that assistive technology can help people stay safe and independent in their home for longer. A survey by Alzheimer’s Society revealed 85% of people said they would want to stay at home for as long as possible if diagnosed with dementia.

Announcement: Forthcoming inter-and-multi-disciplinary co-produced book!

Friday marks three weeks since the close of "Better Futures for Older People - Towards Resilient and Inclusive Communities" BSG 2022 Online Conference hosted by UWE Bristol.

The following blog by Sheila Peace from Policy Press's Transforming Society series was launched on February 24th, 2022 alongside the publication of 'The Environments of Ageing: Space, Place and Materiality' in the BSG's Ageing in a Global Context book series. The aim here is to draw attention to the interaction of population ageing as a major global challenge combined with issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Issues discussed in the text above see: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-environments-of-ageing