Research Interests: Sociology, Qualitative Research, Group Processes, Urban And Regional Planning, Medicine, and 11 moreApplied Economics, Community Based Participatory Research, Canada, Humans, Community Mapping, Social Services, Qualitative Research Methodologies, Public health systems and services research, Data Collection Methods, service Business, and Housing Services
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In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of... more
In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of Health Sciences and Dentistry, formed an Open Research Working group. To build on the University’s open research policy and infrastructure, the purpose of the group was to facilitate ongoing research and development of best practice approaches for our interdisciplinary environment to make outputs, data and other products of our research publicly available, building on University of Dundee’s Open Research policy and infrastructure. Through informal consultations with academic staff and students, the Open Research Working Group found that: → access and reach of research findings can be amplified through effective knowledge mobilisation, and stakeholder and patient and public involvement; and → there was a need for guidance and resources on how-to impl...
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In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of... more
In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of Health Sciences and Dentistry, formed an Open Research Working group. To build on the University’s Open Research policy and infrastructure, the purpose of the group was to facilitate ongoing research and development of best practice approaches for our interdisciplinary environment to make outputs, data and other products of our research publicly available. Through informal consultations with academic staff and students, the Open Research Working Group found that: → access and reach of research findings can be amplified through effective knowledge mobilisation, and stakeholder and patient and public involvement; and → there was a need for guidance and resources on how-to implement knowledge mobilisation activities with and for stakeholders throughout...
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In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of... more
In 2020, the University of Dundee initiated the development of an Open Research strategy. As part of this initiative, in February 2021 the University’s Library and Learning Centre together with Open Research Champions from the Schools of Health Sciences and Dentistry, formed an Open Research Working group. To build on the University’s open research policy and infrastructure, the purpose of the group was to facilitate ongoing research and development of best practice approaches for our interdisciplinary environment to make outputs, data and other products of our research publicly available, building on University of Dundee’s Open Research policy and infrastructure. Through informal consultations with academic staff and students, the Open Research Working Group found that: → access and reach of research findings can be amplified through effective knowledge mobilisation, and stakeholder and patient and public involvement; and → there was a need for guidance and resources on how-to impl...
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The provision of home and community supports can enable people to successfully age-in-place by improving physical and mental health, supporting social participation, and enhancing independence, autonomy, and choice. One challenge to... more
The provision of home and community supports can enable people to successfully age-in-place by improving physical and mental health, supporting social participation, and enhancing independence, autonomy, and choice. One challenge to ageing in place concerns the integration of place-based supports available as older people transition into affordable housing. Sustainable solutions need to be developed and implemented with the full involvement of communities, service organisations, and older people themselves. Partnership building is an important component of this process. This chapter details the intricacies of developing partnerships with low-income older people, local service providers, and non-profit housing associations in the context of a Canadian housing development. The findings confirm that the drive towards community partnerships is a necessary process in supporting seniors to live independently and age well within their homes and communities.
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Regeneration projects which re-house older people can potentially situate elderly residents in unstable, uncertain circumstances, which include residential eviction, loss of social support networks and access to health and wellbeing... more
Regeneration projects which re-house older people can potentially situate elderly residents in unstable, uncertain circumstances, which include residential eviction, loss of social support networks and access to health and wellbeing resources. Alongside this, the loss of the home as a place of safety and security can create psychological distress. Housing that is not only affordable but also supportive of the psychosocial needs of seniors is essential to the well-being of our ageing population, and this is particularly important in current times when Metro Vancouver is experiencing a significant increase in its older adult population during a period of rapidly rising market rents. This situation threatens housing adequacy for older citizens and places them at risk of isolation as well as social and societal disconnection and retrenchment from community life. Local and regional policy has advocated for affordable housing as a potential solution to provide stable, secure housing for t...
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This study explores end-of-life (EoL) beliefs, values, practices and expectations of a group of seldom heard Chinese women living in England. A Cultural Safety approach was undertaken to interpret the meaning of EoL care in eleven... more
This study explores end-of-life (EoL) beliefs, values, practices and expectations of a group of seldom heard Chinese women living in England. A Cultural Safety approach was undertaken to interpret the meaning of EoL care in eleven in-depth, semi-structured interviews. End-of-life discussions can be an arduous, painful and uncomfortable process particularly for migrants living on the margins of society in unfamiliar cultural setting. For some Chinese people living in the UK, end-of-life care requires attention to acculturation, in particular, Western versus Eastern beliefs on religion, spirituality, burial practices and provision of care and the availability of culturally-specific care. The analysis revealed variations between/within Eastern and Western culture resulted in pronounced differences in the meaning of EoL care.
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The Northamptonshire Prevention and Demand Strategy highlights the importance of consistent and safe early help orientated towards the ‘child first’ within a family-based approach. “Information sharing is key to the goal of delivering... more
The Northamptonshire Prevention and Demand Strategy highlights the importance of consistent and safe early help orientated towards the ‘child first’ within a family-based approach. “Information sharing is key to the goal of delivering better, more efficient public services that are coordinated around the needs of the individual. It is essential to enable early intervention and preventative work, for safeguarding and promoting welfare and for wider public protection. Information sharing is a vital element in improving outcomes for all.” (Northamptonshire County Council, 2013b:35). A pilot in Corby was implemented to integrate case management meetings within a day. The case management meetings that were aligned included: the Early Help Forum (EHF), the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum (ASBF), Domestic Abuse Forum (DAF) and the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).
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Institutional long-term care (LTC) settings have been acknowledged as environments that detract from older adults’ health and well-being; diminish resident dignity, personal autonomy, and choice; and result in loss of personhood. However,... more
Institutional long-term care (LTC) settings have been acknowledged as environments that detract from older adults’ health and well-being; diminish resident dignity, personal autonomy, and choice; and result in loss of personhood. However, the neighborhood surrounding a LTC residence can also influence the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers and therefore requires consideration. To explore perceptions of the neighbourhood context of two institutional settings located in a downtown urban setting, we collected and thematically analysed in-depth interviews from 21 older residents, 22 of their family members, and 32 care staff. Participants reported both positive and negative features of the urban neighbourhood setting. On the one hand, the neighbourhood was described as noisy, dirty, and rough, with the presence of drug use; on the other, the LTC residences benefited from close proximity to cafes and restaurants. Participants suggested that the downsides to being ...
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Regeneration projects which re-house older people can potentially situate elderly residents in unstable, uncertain circumstances, which include residential eviction, loss of social support networks and access to health and wellbeing... more
Regeneration projects which re-house older people can potentially situate elderly residents in unstable, uncertain circumstances, which include residential eviction, loss of social support networks and access to health and wellbeing resources. Alongside this, the loss of the home as a place of safety and security can create psychological distress. Housing that is not only affordable but also supportive of the psychosocial needs of seniors is essential to the well-being of our ageing population, and this is particularly important in current times when Metro Vancouver is experiencing a significant increase in its older adult population during a period of rapidly rising market rents. This situation threatens housing adequacy for older citizens and places them at risk of isolation as well as social and societal disconnection and retrenchment from community life. Local and regional policy has advocated for affordable housing as a potential solution to provide stable, secure housing for those older people who are at risk of economic eviction. Yet, the provision of affordable housing in its built form often overlooks the notion of sense- of-place, defined as the social, psychological and emotional bonds that people have with their environment. A strong sense of place is articulated through access to supports for active participation, opportunities to build and sustain social networks, and assuming a meaningful role in the community. Using a community-based participatory research approach, this paper presents findings on how: (i) sense-of-place is experienced by older people relocating into an affordable housing development; (ii) lived experiences can inform the provision of effective formal and informal supports; and (iii) older people and other stakeholders can be located as active ‘place-makers’ in community planning and development. Project outputs will include tools and resources to assist the development of affordable housing developments that support the sense-of-place needs of residents at a local level.
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This rapid realist review explored the key components of age-friendly ecosystems that promote community participation among older adults. The study (undertaken in 2021 and updated in 2023) synthesized evidence from 10 peer-reviewed and... more
This rapid realist review explored the key components of age-friendly ecosystems that promote community participation among older adults. The study (undertaken in 2021 and updated in 2023) synthesized evidence from 10 peer-reviewed and grey literature databases to identify the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors that shape why, under what circumstances, and for whom an age-friendly ecosystems might be effective as well as the intervention outcomes. A total of 2823 records were initially identified after deduplication. Title and abstract screening produced a potential dataset of 126 articles, reducing to 14 articles after full text screening. Data extraction focused on the contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes of ecosystems for older adults’ community participation. Analysis suggested that age-friendly ecosystems that aim to promote community participation are characterized by the provision of accessible and inclusive physical environments, the availability of supportive social...
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Current conceptualizations of resilience have overlooked the lived expertise of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) – individuals who have much insight to offer in terms of progressing notions on how people ‘stand up’ to... more
Current conceptualizations of resilience have overlooked the lived expertise of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) – individuals who have much insight to offer in terms of progressing notions on how people ‘stand up’ to adversity and ‘bounce back’ to a state of physical and psychological homeostasis across the life course. Drawing from extant literature and data from a community-engaged research project, which interviewed 40 participants and examined the health supports needed for individuals experiencing homelessness upon hospital discharge, we provide a comparison of resilience among homeless individuals generally and resilience among OPEH. Based on narratives of significant adversity experienced by OPEH in Vancouver, Canada, we offer a critical analysis of ‘resilience in ecological context’ that identifies unique characteristics of resilience at micro, meso, exo, and macro system levels. We discuss how our conceptual model of resilience pertinent to OPEH can be used to...
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Smoking is understood as the primary cause of preventable morbidity and premature death in the UK. In Northamptonshire, UK, the rate of smoking among adults was 20.9% (approximately 144,607 people) in 2011/12. Among pregnant women,... more
Smoking is understood as the primary cause of preventable morbidity and premature death in the UK. In Northamptonshire, UK, the rate of smoking among adults was 20.9% (approximately 144,607 people) in 2011/12. Among pregnant women, compared to the national average (13.2%), the rate of smoking at time of delivery was higher in Northamptonshire (16%) in 2011/12. In terms of smoking cessation programs during pregnancy, incentivised smoking cessation schemes have been more frequently utilised when attempting to reduce rates of smoking among pregnant women. While smoking cessation interventions broadly accounted for a 6% increase in late-pregnancy abstinence rates compared to control interventions, only those that contained an incentivised component showed a significantly larger effect (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.81). This paper presents preliminary findings of an incentivised smoking cessation pilot intervention in Northamptonshire which aimed to recruit 50 pregnant women who smoke and e...
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For young persons living with type 1 diabetes, the condition adds to the task of shaping their identity around training, work and social life. We asked: What challenges do young adults face in terms of achieving best possible health and... more
For young persons living with type 1 diabetes, the condition adds to the task of shaping their identity around training, work and social life. We asked: What challenges do young adults face in terms of achieving best possible health and wellbeing when living with diabetes? How do they cope with selfcare and the attendant medical, psychological and social aspects of the condition in their everyday lives. Adults (n=25; 16-24 yrs) took part in in-depth semi structured interviews which focused on the challenges of the living with type 1 diabetes and how diabetes and selfcare of diabetes fits into everyday life, relationships and environmental settings. Interviews lasted between 45-60 minutes, were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. In terms of challenges, the young people talked of the difficulties of being defined by diabetes, something they fought against to retain their own sense of self and identity. They felt diabetes subsumed their hopes and presented them with frustr...
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Ageing-in-place refers to the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level. Often, ageing-in-place is assumed to be a positive experience; however, home... more
Ageing-in-place refers to the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level. Often, ageing-in-place is assumed to be a positive experience; however, home is not always a positive place and can be perceived as prison-like or a burdensome environment. For older, ethno-cultural groups in Canada, acquiring adequate, comfortable housing is a challenge, especially when living with limited financial resources and lacking social and cultural capital. Using a community-based participatory research approach and a Multidimensional Intersectionality Framework, this chapter problematizes dominant, positive ageing-in-place policy discourses and provides experiential data to inform place-based policy directives for enabling older people to age well at home and in the right place. Policy implications of this work include further developing current understandings of sense-of-place that emphasize community participat...
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BackgroundFunding bodies increasingly require researchers to write lay summaries to communicate projects’ real-world relevance to the public in an accessible way. However, research proposals and findings are generally not easily readable... more
BackgroundFunding bodies increasingly require researchers to write lay summaries to communicate projects’ real-world relevance to the public in an accessible way. However, research proposals and findings are generally not easily readable or understandable by non-specialist readers. Many researchers find writing lay summaries difficult because they typically write for fellow subject specialists or academics rather than the general public or a non-specialist audience. The primary objective of our project is to develop guidelines for researchers in Canada’s AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence, and ultimately various other disciplines, sectors, and institutions, to co-create lay summaries of research projects with stakeholders. To begin, we produced a protocol for co-creating a lay summary based on workshops we organized and facilitated for an AGE-WELL researcher. This paper presents the lay summary co-creation protocol that AGE-WELL researchers will be invited to use.MethodsEligi...
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Although moving from institutional to home-like long-term care (LTC) settings can promote and sustain the health and wellbeing of older adults, there has been little research examining how home is perceived by older adults when moving... more
Although moving from institutional to home-like long-term care (LTC) settings can promote and sustain the health and wellbeing of older adults, there has been little research examining how home is perceived by older adults when moving between care settings. A qualitative study was conducted over a two-year period during the relocation of residents and staff from an institutional LTC home to a purpose-built LTC home in Western Canada. The study explored perceptions of home amongst residents, family members and staff. Accordingly, 210 semi-structured interviews were conducted at five time-points with 35 residents, 23 family members and 81 staff. Thematic analyses generated four superordinate themes that are suggestive of how to create and enhance a sense of home in LTC settings: (a) physical environment features; (b) privacy and personalisation; (c) autonomy, choice and flexibility; and (d) connectedness and togetherness. The findings reveal that the physical environment features are ...
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A multidisciplinary collection examining how cultural engagement can enhance resilience, reduce social isolation and help older people to thrive and overcome challenging life events and everyday problems associated with ageing.