Ageing Projects

People worldwide are living longer and every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the number and proportion of older persons in the population. This proportion is continuing to increase. But, becoming older – at a population or individual level – needn’t be synonymous with becoming less healthy.

View our collection of Ageing Projects below, showing just a sample of the ARC-aligned research into this increasingly important area of health.

We also support a large number of projects linked with ageing, including Dementia and Stroke which can be viewed separately.

The Care Home Implementation and Knowledge Mobilisation Project (CHIK-P)

Research project
Background More people are living longer with higher levels of disability at older ages. Over the next 25 years, the…

Implementation of falls prevention programmes

Research project
Background Falls are an increasing problem, affecting a third of people aged 65 and over each year. The estimated number…

Effectiveness of mealtime interventions in elderly people living in residential care

Research project
This review was led by the Evidence Synthesis Team. Why did we do this review? It is estimated that…

Community pharmacist home visits for elderly and/or vulnerable populations

Research project
This review was led by the Evidence Synthesis Team. Background For many older adults, the ability to remain independent…

PDSAFE – Preventing falls among people with Parkinson’s

Research project
Background Parkinson's is a common, progressive condition that affects the body's nervous system. The aim of PDSAFE is to improve…

Getting Up Following a Fall

Research project
Background Falls are the most common reason for ambulance call-outs resulting in non-conveyance. Even in the absence of injury, only…

Home-based Extended Rehabilitation of Older people (HERO)

Research project
Background The majority of older people in hospital have frailty and are at risk of accelerated decline in skeletal muscle…

Effects of animals on the health and wellbeing of residents in care homes

Research project

What are the effects of ‘robopets’ on the health and wellbeing of residents in care homes? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence

Research project
This review was led by the Evidence Synthesis Team. Background The use of animals in a therapy context is…

My Nature’ – Supporting healthcare professionals to improve older people’s sensory experiences of the natural world

Research project
‘My Nature’ was a collaborative project with the Sensory Trust which aimed to enhance the quality of life…

Supporting older people to manage their medicines: a scoping review of medicine self-management tools

Research project
Background With an ageing population, the concurrent use of multiple medicines, or polypharmacy, is increasing. Polypharmacy is associated with multiple…

HemiSPAiRE (Save Piriformis and Internus, Repair Externus)

Research project
Introduction When someone breaks their hip they often need a partial hip replacement, also known as hemiarthroplasty. To perform this…

Modelling high level health and social care capacity needs in Cornwall

Research project
Introduction The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) have been tasked by NHS England to develop a high-level understanding of…

The University of Exeter and Care Homes Knowledge (ExCHANGE) Collaboration

Research project
Background ExCHANGE is a collaboration between organisations in Devon and the South West Peninsula concerned with the care and happiness…

Understanding stakeholders’ perspectives on implementing deprescribing in care homes (STOPPING)

Research project
Background Older people with multiple health problems often take many medicines. However, some medicines may not have benefits for those…

PhD Project – Using mixed methods to inform our understanding of maintaining independence in older people

Research project
Student: Emily Taylor Supervisors: Professor Vicki Goodwin MBE, Professor Andy Clegg (University of Leeds/Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS…

iGEN (Intergenerational practices and intergenerational learning in health and social care): Exploring the evidence from the perspective of older people

Research project
What is Intergenerational Practice? Intergenerational practice aims to bring people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities which promote greater understanding…

Care Home Conversations

Research project
Background During May and June 2020, teams from PenARC, NHSE South West Integrated Personal Commissioning team, the South West…

DREAM:Digital and Remote Enhancements for the Assessment and Management of older people living with frailty

Research project
Background The population is getting older. For some people this can mean having several health problems and difficulty doing everyday…

The FLEXI Study (FaLls EXercise Implementation)

Research project
Introduction Falling can cause injury, pain, loss of confidence and loss of independence. This is undesirable for the individual and…

WHELD into Practice: improving Wellbeing and mental HEaLth for care home residents with Dementia and reducing unnecessary sedative medications.

Research project
Introduction WHELD is an evidence-based person-centred training programme which, in 4 clinical trials involving 2349 care home residents with dementia,…