Social Care, Dementia and Ageing

Our theme addresses the varied social care and health needs of older people in our region and beyond. Our research will equip services with evidence on how to support older people to live well, promoting independence and wellbeing alongside their complex health needs. In addition, our work will provide evidence on ways to strengthen the workforce that supports them.

The East of England has a higher proportion of older people than the UK average, many of whom experience complex health needs, including Alzheimer’s, vision loss and multiple long‑term conditions. Age‑related conditions, including dementia, are also associated with the highest levels of social care need.

North Norfolk has the highest proportion of people aged 65+ in England and Wales, and Norfolk and Waveney have the highest prevalence of dementia in the UK. As more older people require support in care homes and other settings outside traditional healthcare, there is a growing need to better understand their experiences and improve the care they receive.

Research is essential to strengthen support for this population and the workforce who care for them.

What do we aim to achieve? 

We will explore the factors that shape older people’s ability to live well and ensure that social care and health services are informed and equipped to support them. Our work will examine differences in social care use across populations, including people affected by dementia, multiple long‑term conditions and vision loss. We will deliver and translate research that enhances the provision of social care, with a particular focus on people living in care homes and the effective use of digital technologies.

We will build upon our partnerships with local authorities, the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, healthcare organisations and community groups to shape research priorities and maximise the impact of our findings. We will also reach out to work closely with underserved groups, such as rural and coastal communities, LGBTQ+ people, GRT communities, to ensure their needs are fully reflected in our research.

To get involved with our theme, please contact Professor Kathryn Almack at k.almack@herts.ac.uk. 

Related networks and groups: