The CAP seed fund awards grants to academic researchers across Queen's University Belfast on an annual basis. The grants are designed to stimulate research in and around the issues which concern older people and which relfect the mission of CAP. The projects funded in 2006 and 2007 can be found here and here respectively.
CAP Seed Fund Grants Awarded 2008:
1. Indicators of disadvantage in older people.
Dr Sheelah Connolly and Dr Dermot O’Reilly Epidemiology and Public Health
Centre for Public Health Telephone: 028 90632738 sheelah.connolly@qub.ac.uk
Research into the scale and effects of inequalities in older people has been hampered by lack of suitable indicators of disadvantage. While much of what is currently known about the effects of disadvantage in younger people has come from analyses of census-based longitudinal studies, these tools have been relatively unproductive at older ages because traditional census based measures of deprivation are not available (coded) or are wholly inappropriate at older ages. However, modelling of data from the Family Resources Survey has recently enabled estimates of household income (measured as the likelihood that the household income is below the national poverty level) to be added to the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS). The proposed study aims to explore the relationship between income levels and health status and risk of dying in the five years following the census in approximately 200,000 community dwelling people aged 65 and over. It will be particularly interesting to see if income supplants or compliments other indicators of disadvantage such as housing tenure and house valuation. It is likely that this research will underscore the importance of income in maintaining the health of older people and help clarify policy issues related to income support and pension provision.
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2. Preventing falls in the elderly: a technological based approach
Dr Cathy Craig Cathy.craig@qub.ac.uk (
Falling and fear of falling have a significant impact on the lives of the elderly. Over one in four people aged 69years and over falls each year with that number increasing significantly for the over 74s. Although few sustain serious injuries, the subsequent fear of falling causes psychological distress which in turn restricts physical activity leading to a loss of independence. Movement-based balance training programmes developed using modern technology, such as Wii balance board, could help break this vicious circle and allow older people to move around and perform physical activities with more confidence.
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3. To Give or Not to Give?: A Comparative Study of the Transmission of Wealth on Death by the Elderly
Ms Lisa Glennon l.glennon@qub.ac.uk and Dr Heather Conway h.conway@qub.ac.uk (
In some countries, adult children have an automatic right to inherit from their parents. In Northern Ireland, however, an individual has the right to leave their property to whomever they choose although certain family members who have been left out of a will can apply to the court to seek a share in deceased’s assets. This study will look at how these laws operate in a variety of countries. Elderly persons also face the prospect of having to sell their property to pay for the cost of long-term care and this study will consider how this impacts on their wish to leave something to family members when they die. By contrast, we will look at the phenomenon of wealthy individuals who choose not to leave their property to family members but opt instead to benefit charitable, or other, causes.
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4: A Practical Exploration of the Arts in the Healthcare of Older People
Dr David Grant,
Dr Jenny Elliott, Artscare, NI and Dr Sue Morison, the Centre for Excellence in Interprofessional Education,
The aim of this study is to explore the experience of older people and their carers as they participate in arts activities within authentic care and arts-based settings. The study will examine the ways in which participation in the arts can offer older individuals stimulation and the opportunity to take active responsibility for their own overall well-being as well as the development of a meaningful quality of life within a healthcare facility. The research team combines expertise in the arts, education and health and includes a drama teacher of more than fifty years experience who can also represent the perspective of older participants.
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5: Older Women's Experiances of Coping with Domestic Violence in
Dr Anne Lazenbatt, NSPCC Reader in Childhood Studies, Institute of Child Care Research, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work Tel: 02890 975984 E-mail: a.lazenbatt@qub.ac.uk
Dr John Devaney, BA(Hons) Social Work, MSc Advanced Social Work, PhD
Lecturer in Social Work, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen’s University of Belfast, 6 College Park, BT7 1NN
E-mail: j.devaney@qub.ac.uk
Within
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6: An Investigation into Older Men’s Learning and Well-being beyond the Workplace in
Dr Rob Mark Co-ordinator of Lifelong Learning School of Education
Tel: 02890975163 E.mail: r.d.mark@qub.ac.uk
The proposed study will investigate and compare older men’s attitudes and experiences of learning in informal learning contexts in
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7. Hearing older voices: Citizen Government interaction in the context of devolved government
Professor John Morison,
This project examines how older people communicate with their political representatives and government officials in the context of the newly devolved administration. It looks at this both in relation to public services and with regard to the consultations for policy-making that are increasingly being employed in new government initiatives. The type and nature of this communication is examined through interviews and story collection. Through practical workshops the potential and limits of information technology for improving this communication and hearing better the voices of older people in the processes of government are assessed interactively.
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8. Exploring the nutritional needs of older people in a hospital environment: the education perspective
Dr Sue Morison, Director of the Centre for Excellence in Interprofessional Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science s.morison@qub.ac.uk
It is essential that older people have a good diet and positive eating experience whilst in hospital to aid recovery from illness or surgery. Medical and nursing staff are often unaware of the importance of nutrition for the older person in hospital due to lack of training and education in this area. The researcher will speak to older people about their eating experience whilst in hospital and investigate the provision of nutrition education for medical and nursing students. This study will help inform those involved in healthcare education and highlight the importance of nutrition in the care of older people.
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9. Transnational Families, Age Progression and Care
Dr Maruška Svašek, Senior Lecturer,
Elderly parents often rely (at least partly) on their children for practical care and emotional support, especially as they become less independent. But how do such care relations develop and function when parents and children reside in different countries? The study aims to provide answers to this question, and intends to assess current policies that aim to facilitate transnational care.