Introduction

Established in 1987, the Centre for Social Gerontology at Keele University has developed an international reputation in the scientific study of old age. The Centre’s research focuses on the social analysis of ageing, reflecting the continued importance of gender, class and ethnicity through all phases of the life course. Drawing on a variety of disciplinary and multi-disciplinary perspectives to examine individual and social ageing, research addresses such themes as:

• Family and kinship.

• Inter-generational relationships.

• Retirement.

• Women and ageing.

• Social exclusion and inclusion.

• Globalisation.

• Self and identity in old age.

• The social policy of later life.

• Ageing in different types of environment.

The Centre specialises in conducting research that is relevant to public policy concerns. In recent years, substantive projects have explored ways in which older people may experience forms of social exclusion, the situation of older people living in disadvantaged urban communities, employment transitions for people aged 50 and over, the multiple roles of working carers, health promotion in later life, the ageing of Baby Boomers, and new housing and care choices for older people.

Centre activities

• Providing research services to a range of public and voluntary sector organisations.

• Developing inter- and multi-disciplinary research through links with Keele Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ageing and the Research Institutes at Keele.

• Engaging with national and international research on ageing.

• Organising academic meetings, including hosting the 2005 conference of the British Society of Gerontology.

• Organising a Masters degree in Gerontology.

• Founding participant in European Masters in Gerontology (co-ordinated by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).

• Supervising M.Phil and PhD research degrees.

Research expertise

Centre researchers have particular expertise in:

• The collection of data from specific populations in diverse settings and from potentially ‘hard to reach’ groups of older people such as those on very low incomes, those belonging to black and minority ethnic groups, and those living in deprived urban and rural communities.

• Combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.

• In-depth, biographical and focus group interviewing.

• Using innovative methods including observational methods and diary-keeping.

• Involving older people in the design and execution of research.

Selected recent publications

Baars, J., Dannefer, D., Phillipson, C. and Walker, A. (eds) (2006) Aging, Globalization and Inequality: The New Critical Gerontology, Amityville, NY: Baywood.

Bernard, M. and Scharf, T. (eds) (2007) Critical Perspectives on Ageing Societies, Bristol: Policy Press.

Bernard, M., Bartlam, B., Biggs, S. and Sim, J. (2004) New Lifestyles in Old Age: Health, Identity and Well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village, Bristol: Policy Press.

Chambers, P. (2005) Older Widows and the Lifecourse: Multiple Narratives of Hidden Lives, Aldershot: Ashgate.

Estes, C., Biggs, S, and Phillipson, C. (2004) Social Policy, Social Theory and Old Age: Critical Perspectives, London: McGraw Hill.

Phillips, J., Bernard, M. and Chittenden, M. (2002) Juggling Work and Care: The Experiences of Working Carers of Older Adults, Bristol: Policy Press.

Phillips, J., Ray, M. and Marshall, M. (2006) Social Work with Older People, Hampshire: Palgrave.

Phillipson, C., Allan, G. and Morgan, D. (eds) (2003) Social Networks and Social Exclusion, Aldershot: Ashgate.

Scharf, T. and Bartlam, B. (2006) Rural Disadvantage: Quality of life and disadvantage amongst older people – a pilot study, London: Commission for Rural Communities.

Scharf, T., Bartlam, B., Hislop, J., Bernard, M., Dunning, A. and Sim, J. (2006) Necessities of Life: Older People’s Experiences of Poverty, London: Help the Aged.

Scharf, T., Phillipson, C. and Smith, A.E. (2005) Multiple Exclusion and Quality of Life amongst Excluded Older People in Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods, London, Stationery Office: Social Exclusion Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Scharf, T., Phillipson, C., Smith, A.E. and Kingston, P. (2002) Growing Older in Socially Deprived Areas: Social Exclusion in Later Life, London: Help the Aged.

Selected research grants

2006-2009 Denham Garden Village: a longitudinal study on the consequences of managing a mixed tenure development without a physical care centre (Team: M. Bernard, B. Bartlam, J. Hislop, T. Scharf and J. Sim). £270,000 from Anchor Trust.

2000-2003 Older People In Deprived Neighbourhoods: Social Exclusion And Quality Of Life In Old Age, (Team: T. Scharf, C. Phillipson, A.E. Smith and P. Kingston). £182,116 from Economic and Social Research Council under the ‘Growing Older Programme’.

2000-2003 New Lifestyles in Old Age: Health, Identity and Well-being in Retirement Communities (Team: M. Bernard, S. Biggs, B. Bartlam and J. Sim). £177,000 from Community Fund.

2000-2002 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Support for Working Carers of Older Adults (Team: J. Phillips, M. Bernard and M. Chittenden). £90,000 from Joseph Rowntree Foundation under the ‘Work and Family Life Programme’.

Centre for Social Gerontology: The Team

Dr Bernadette Bartlam Lecturer in Social Gerontology

Professor Miriam Bernard Professor of Social Gerontology

Dr Pat Chambers Senior Lecturer in Social Work

Dr Jenny Hislop Lecturer in Social Gerontology

Professor Chris Phillipson Professor of Applied Social Studies and Social Gerontology

Dr Mo Ray Lecturer in Social Work

Professor Thomas Scharf Director of Centre, Professor of Social Gerontology

Dr Allison Smith Research Fellow

Contact the Centre for Social Gerontology at:

Jennifer Liddle, Centre Administrator

Centre for Social Gerontology, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom

Tel: +44(0)1782 584290 Fax: +44(0)1782 584069 Email: j.liddle@ilcs.keele.ac.uk

Website: http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/so/csg/index.htm