old Ageing Well Collection

We know many people are living longer lives, and the disparity between those who age well with fewer years of ill health and those whose ageing happens while living with multiple conditions or preventable illnesses is increasing. This leads to an inequality gap in ageing well. Evidence-based research offers suggestions that might assist people with ageing well, but that research is often inaccessible to those who need it most. This creates barriers and prevents people from accessing valid and reliable information. The academic language and inaccessibility of evidence-based research on ageing well represent some of those barriers. Other barriers may be digital exclusion, lack of education, and/or understanding of and/or interest in why we should learn about aging. Sometimes, our living conditions and arrangements may prevent us from learning about ageing well too. This often includes social inequalities (how different people may be affected by cost-of-living challenges) and/or caring responsibilities (O’Connor et al., 2023). All of the above barriers may prevent people from accessing the health care they need, which in turn may affect their health-related outcomes.

The Ageing Well team at The Open University (led by Dr. Jitka Vseteckova) has pioneered a novel educational intervention, followed collaborative and participatory approaches while addressing the above gap, supporting national/global and diverse ageing populations to adopt lifestyle changes that promote healthier aging.

Structured around the Five Pillars for Ageing Well (nutrition, hydration, physical activity, social and cognitive stimulation), this approach uses an evidence-based educational model which translates current research from the field of ageing into ‘bite-sized’ learning, easily manageable by its target audiences. Learning that is co-produced with people with lived experience of ageing at different stages, people living with long-term conditions, academics, clinicians, practitioners, and other professionals who support the ageing populations in their professional roles.

Over the past five years, an ongoing series of public talks structured around the Five Pillars have been facilitated and co-delivered by the AWPTS team in the UK and worldwide. The AWPTS, along with a portfolio of accompanying free resources (podcasts, short films, short, accessible articles, short online OpenLearn courses, and other resources), have been accessed by over 90,000 people across the globe. While doing this, the AWPTS team has built a network consisting of stakeholders, commissioners in health and social care, voluntary organisations across the UK as well as members of the public.

The Ageing Well collection offers a portfolio of co-produced resources such as OpenLearn Articles, five series of recorded talks, interactives, podcasts, and courses related to learning about ageing well. 

EXPLORE

The following free resources can help you explore how the Five Pillars for Ageing Well can start your journey towards keeping well & ageing well. The Ageing Well Hub can help you look at things differently and understand how the smallest changes can have a big impact, especially if we do them often.

“ I thought I knew that it was important to hydrate but I never realised how important hydration really is and how the numerous consequences and effects of being inadequately hydrated can be felt by the individual, that was a real eye opener for me…The Five Pillars, I can relate to them …it’s not just telling people new stuff but reinforcing the message in an engaging way”

George, Older person and Co-presenter on the Ageing Well Public Talks Series

EMPOWER

Maybe you are already aware of how you can support yourself to keep well & age well but feel unsure about what to do or where to start when it comes to taking the first steps. The following resources will help you decide how to begin your journey by applying the Five Pillars for Ageing Well framework to your daily life.

“I was attending the Ageing Well Public Talks Series since they started at The OU (2019), when I realised how helpful and well-presented these are I brought also my wife. Through the Series I was able to understand why some changes happen as we age and why working around the Five Pillars for Ageing Well is a great, efficient and easy way to do something about my health and health and lifestyle choices every day. Thanks to the talks I have been making healthier, better lifestyle choices and was able to support my family and friends to make theirs through sharing the Five Pillars for Ageing Well with them.”

 Ian, Older person with lived experience of a long-term health condition

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

Part of Ageing Well is thinking about the inevitable end of our lives. Increasing our knowledge around preparing for death will enable us to take action to care for each other facing death and grief. The following resources will empower you to take control of your own later life and help you to make informed decisions about your or someone you care for’s future peace of mind.

THINGS TO TRY

Feeling empowered to make a change?

You can join us monthly for our Ageing Well Public Talks so you can stay connected with others on the journey to enjoying living well for longer.

You can find out about local events that will help you get out and enjoy nature, physical activity, and social and cognitive stimulation.

LINK TO PARKS TRUST?

@jitka  - ask Ellie for links from the parks trust national pages

·         Vseteckova J & King J (2020) COVID-19 Interview podcast for The Retirement Café: ‘Ageing Well Under Lockdown’  https://theretirementcafe.co.uk/077-dr-jitka/

·        The Parks Trust & OU podcase series - YouTube Channel 

·        Vseteckova J & Broad E  (2020) Keep Me Walking - researching with people living with dementia and their carers - Podcast – Open University in collaboration with The Parks Trust https://youtu.be/0QHAS88C-LU

·        Broad E, Methley A & Vseteckova J (2021) Podcast OU & The Parks Trust & Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Spotter sheet and mindful walking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq5OXEBk3CA&feature=youtu.be

·        Vseteckova J, Methley A, Broad E (2021) Podcast The Parks Trust & OU Preventing brain decline while ageing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=965w7K8XPdo

·        Methley A, Broad E, Vseteckova J (2021) Walking therapy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M59FvUrqKH8

·        Vseteckova J, Methley A, Broad (2021) Understanding our memory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WGfWrQr1AU

·        Araya Y , Broad E, Vseteckova J (2022) Engaging with our environment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vVUdgHSeY

·        Joannidi H, Araya Y, Broad E & Vseteckova J (2022) Sense of self during aging: how mindfulness and nature can help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzj3NLtXARo

·        Araya Y , Broad E, Laura  Vseteckova J (2024) Learning in the outdoors  link tbc

·        And one more on health inequalities with Y Araya,

Take5

Did you know know that 70-80% of the rate at which we age is determined by environmental factors? That means no matter how old we are or what our situation is, we can make small changes which will help us live longer healthier lives[G4] . Check out our Take 5 to Age Well website and get tips and resources to support you on your journey. It’s never too late or too early to take the first step.

Are you interested in Ageing Well training for your members of staff? – do get in touch.

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