Programme co-ordinator: Demi Patsios
Ageing of the population is one of the most significant changes taking place in societies today nationally and globally. Changing life course patterns have influenced health and wellbeing, retirement and pension income, family structure, and social, economic and political participation in society. Quality of life and wellbeing in older age are profoundly influenced by experiences, choices, opportunities, and constraints earlier in the life course.
In post-industrial economies including the UK, older people have never been as high on the policy agenda with debates about retirement ages, pension reforms, the costs of long-term care, health and social care for older people, physical activity, nutrition and health and - more recently - human rights, equalities and personalisation agendas. The Research Programme on Ageing and the Life Course will reflect such current policy debates as well as theories and practices.
Our research explores themes including: