Christina Victor – författare

The changing demographic profiles of modern societies have led to a growing interest in understanding ageing and later life among those working within the social sciences and humanities. This edited volume addresses the methodological challenges entailed in studying the process of ageing and life course changes, as well as the experience of being old. The book focuses on the theory and practice of doing research, using a wide range of examples and case studies. The contributors, who are prominent researchers in the field, review the range of practices in the use of different methodologies and give in-depth examples, based on their own research experience. The book covers a variety of disciplines and methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, and a diversity of sources, including fiction, photographs, as well as the traditional social science sources. Researching Ageing and Later Life will be essential reading for those wishing for an insight into the realities of doing research in this area.

"A timely and welcome contribution to the research on loneliness and kindred phenomena."Lars Andersson, International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 2010.

Developments to the physical environment, scientific and technological innovation, the reorganisation of work and leisure and the impact of globalization and global capitalism have all influenced the nature of the world in which we now live. Social engagement and relationships, however, remain important at any age and their quality is a key element contributing to the quality of life of older people.

This book provides a detailed account of loneliness and social isolation as experienced by older people living in Britain. The authors consider the incidence and effects of isolation and loneliness, identifying the factors which lead to such experiences and considering potential interventions. They also argue that these feelings are experienced at all stages of the life course and not unique to the social world of older people.

Victor, Scambler and Bond rationalise that this is an important area, as both loneliness and social isolation are negatively associated with both quality and quantity of life - whilst the maintenance of social relationships is seen as a key component of 'successful ageing'.

The Social World of Older People is important reading for students of social work, gerontology, community care and social policy as well as being of interest to policy makers and practitioners in these fields.

How are individuals and society ageing towards the end of the twentieth century?How can different disciplines help us to understand the ageing process?What are the key developments in postmodern thought and critical studies in relation to ageing and later life? In answer to these questions, the editors of this volume have brought together some of the leading figures in the field. Gathered together for the first time in a single volume, the authors discuss the latest theoretical developments in the international field of ageing. Drawing on research from the USA and UK, the book is strongly multi-disciplinary in content with chapters from both social sciences and humanities. The book provides a critical approach to our understanding of the experience of ageing and later life. It has been written for advanced students of gerontology and those with an interest in ageing and later life, but it is also relevant to policy makers and practitioners in the field.

Key features:

First time work from the USA and UK has been available in one volume Wide coverage of the latest trends and theoretical approaches in gerontologyIssues addressed from a range of disciplines - unusual combination of humanities and social science in one volume Written by leading experts in the field.

“An excellent resource… This is a book that makes a step-change in our knowledge and thinking on dementia and how living well with dementia might be defined.”Professor Charles Musselwhite, Head of Psychology, Aberystwyth University, UK “This book is a beacon of hope and inspiration for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers alike.”Professor Emma Wolverson, Professor of Ageing and Dementia, University of West London / Research Lead, Dementia UK“This book teaches us about what it means to live well with dementia and also how it can be supported, truly inspiring.”Professor Yun-Hee Jeon, Professor of Healthy Ageing, The University of Sydney, AustraliaWhat does it mean to ‘live well’ with dementia? Why does this matter? And what could we do to help?Drawing on a decade of rigorous research and with the direct input of people with dementia and their carers, this book unveils the findings from IDEAL (Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life), the largest community-based dementia study in Great Britain, highlighting critical factors that significantly influence quality of life for both individuals with dementia and their carers.Gain first-hand insights from those living with dementia and the research team, exploring how different aspects of our lives intertwine to influence feelings of contentment and inclusion, or distress and exclusion. Each chapter culminates in a robust, evidence-based statement, building towards a compelling manifesto that advocates for a paradigm shift in how we understand and support people living with dementia and their carers.This book:Is uniquely co-produced with experts by experienceIs centred around a ten-point manifesto which is call for action to improve the lives of people living with dementiaDraws on the evidence of a ten-year research programme and over eighty scientific papersLiving with Dementia Reconsidered offers a holistic approach to reconsidering living with dementia from both evidence-based and experiential perspectives. This is a book for all those involved with dementia: students, practitioners, professionals, researchers, carers, family, friends, and people living with dementia.The Reconsidering Dementia Series is an interdisciplinary series published by Open University Press that covers contemporary issues to challenge and engage readers in thinking deeply about the topic. The dementia fi eld has developed rapidly in its scope and practice over the past ten years and books in this series will unpack not only what this means for the student, academic and practitioner, but also for all those affected by dementia.Series Editors: Dr Keith Oliver and Professor Dawn Brooker MBE.Linda Clare is Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and Dementia at the University of Exeter Medical School, UK and Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration, University of Exeter, UK.Catherine Charlwood is the Stakeholder Engagement and Impact Manager for the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration, University of Exeter, UK.Catherine Quinn is Associate Professor at the Centre for Applied Dementia Studies at the University of Bradford, UK.Christina Victor is Professor of Gerontology and Public Health in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences and Associate PVC for Research Culture and Governance at Brunel University of London, UK.

This comprehensive text focuses on the social contexts of ageing, looking at the diversity of ageing and older people, and at different factors that are important to experiences of old age and ageing. It includes key chapters on:theoretical and methodological bases for the study of ageingdemographic context of the 'ageing' populationhealth and illnessfamily and social networksformal and informal care and other services for older people.Providing an invaluable introduction to the major issues involved in the study of ageing, this book is essential reading for students of sociology, gerontology, social policy, health and social care, and professionals working with older people.

This comprehensive text focuses on the social contexts of ageing, looking at the diversity of ageing and older people, and at different factors that are important to experiences of old age and ageing. It includes key chapters on:theoretical and methodological bases for the study of ageingdemographic context of the 'ageing' populationhealth and illnessfamily and social networksformal and informal care and other services for older people.Providing an invaluable introduction to the major issues involved in the study of ageing, this book is essential reading for students of sociology, gerontology, social policy, health and social care, and professionals working with older people.

This comprehensive text focuses on the social contexts of ageing, looking at the diversity of ageing and older people, and at different factors that are important to experiences of old age and ageing. It includes key chapters on:

theoretical and methodological bases for the study of ageing demographic context of the ''ageing'' population health and illness family and social networks formal and informal care and other services for older people.

Providing an invaluable introduction to the major issues involved in the study of ageing, this book is essential reading for students of sociology, gerontology, social policy, health and social care, and professionals working with older people.