Dimensions and social determinants of health in old age in Nigeria and Kenya: implications for policy

A comparative investigation in Nigeria (Oyo State) and Kenya employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative social research methods. The research aims to examine, and generate a hitherto non-existent, interpretively based and comparative understanding of : the dimensions of health, functional status and well-being in old age; the extent, nature and patterns of older and middle-aged adults’ health investments [1] and risk behaviours, and their underlying rationales and perspectives; the social contexts, factors and life course influences (individual, familial/intergenerational and structural) that shape these health behaviours and perspectives and the relative capacity of older people compared to younger-generation family members to make investments in their health. In developing such an understanding, the goals of the research are (i) to contribute to the building of an urgently needed evidence base to inform the development of strategies to enhance health and health care for Nigeria’s and Kenya’s growing older population, as part of broader health and development agendas currently pursued in these countries, and (ii) contribute to key academic debates in social gerontology and public health, specifically on questions of the social and life course determinants of health in old age; the nature of intergenerational justice, resource allocation and old age support in families; the relationships between old age and poverty

[1] ‘Health investments’ are defined as comprising:
(i) Use of curative, palliative or preventive health care (from public, private or alternative providers)
(ii) Other health promoting undertakings (e.g. adequate, healthy nutrition, appropriate physical activity)

  Researcher: Isabella Aboderin
  Funding: Wellcome Trust

The implications of population ageing for health and long-term care: policy challenges and responses in Asia, Europe and the Pacific

This work is being undertaken as part of a collaboration with other universities in the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). The study compares the challenges for health & long-term care policy in five countries facing different demographic pressures and with different institutional capacities: UK, Denmark, China, Singapore, Australia. We ask how these differences in the context for the ageing of the older population shapes the formulation of policy.

  Researcher: Kenneth Howse
  Funding: Project under development

Fair and efficient targeting in subsidising social care for frail older people

The project analyses the implications of changing social and economic circumstances (including projected growth in populations at risk, changes in competencies and expectations), governmental policy values and priorities, and knowledge about the impacts of resources on outcomes for targeting the subsidisation of support in England.

  Researcher: Professor Bleddyn Davies

Equity and efficiency implications of changes in policy narratives for social and long-term care of frail older people since 1980

Political scientists and social policy analysts have described how policy ends and means for broad areas have differed between periods since 1980. This project analyses the content of policy statements supplemented with analyses of publicly available data and collections and analyses led by the author to investigate to analyse continuity and change in the prioritisation of policy goals, assumptions about the effects of policy means, and instruments for securing policy implementation for social and long-term care for older people.

  Researcher: Professor Bleddyn Davies