Course

As part of the 'Ageing Well Public Talk series' we are exploring how important it is, over our lifespan, to maintain a well-balanced nutrition and hydration as well as regular physical and social activity in the older age, also known as the 'Five Pillars of Ageing Well'. As we know we start ageing the moment we are born. It demonstrates more significantly when we reach certain age, the usual benchmark being 65+, but our ageing starts much sooner and the way ageing demonstrates when we are over 65 depends on decisions we have been making over our life span.

With ageing naturally occurs muscle atrophy, which means that our muscles are decreasing in size/volume and we may become …and feel weaker. Being mindful of the 'Five Pillars of Ageing Well' we support our well-being and protecting the functions we don't want to lose for longer. This means we feel better, stronger, can enjoy being active, are less prone to falls and falls related injuries and in the end, we maintain our independence and better health for longer.

Over the course of these series or mini lectures we will cover the 'Five Pillars of Ageing Well' which are: Nutrition, Hydration, Physical, Social and Cognitive Stimulation.

For the past 14 years I have been teaching clinicians, allied health professionals and the public, abroad as well as in the UK, on how to 'Age Well' using an easy model on 'Five Pillars of Ageing Well'. I have been presenting the ‘Ageing Well Public Talk' series in collaboration with Third Age University and Free Time University overseas & in the UK and more recently in collaboration with primary care practices in the UK.  

I have been presenting the ‘Ageing Well’ over the past 15 years in collaboration with Third Age University and Free Time University overseas and more recently in collaboration with primary care practices in the UK. Currently I am also collaborating with Age UK MK, Public Health Northamptonshire, Carers MK, UKeMED & Cambridge Medical Academy, East of England Academic Health Science Network and the and Voluntary Health Scotland on delivering ‘Ageing Well Public Talks’.

'Ageing Well Public Talk series' are being offered in the academic year 2019/2020 at The Open University in Milton Keynes and contain six talks.

Topics & dates:

1. 'Are we prepared to live longer?'– October 22nd 2019

2. 'Ageing Brain' – November 26th 2019

3. 'Nutritional needs while ageing' – January 28th 2020

4. 'Pharmacotherapy while ageing' – February 25th 2020

5. 'Move it and breathe' – March 24th 2020

6. 'Standing tall' – April 28th 2020

This work is accompanied by 5 mini lectures on specific topic relating to Ageing Well: Nutrition, Hydration, Physical, Social and Cognitive Stimulation. See also latest Open Learn article including mini video lectures: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/mental-health/five-pillars-ageing-well

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 we have also prepared specific resources relating to 'Keeping well while ageing and when self-isolating and or lock-down'. 

Vseteckova J, How to age well, while self-isolating (2020) https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/how-age-well-while-self-isolating

Vseteckova J, (2020) SHORT FILM - Ageing Well in Self-Isolation https://youtu.be/LU4pXFgcGos 

Vseteckova J, (2020) ANIMATION - Keeping healthy in Self-Isolation https://youtu.be/M9yUC-MUugA

Most recently (April 2020) an interview for Retirement Café podcast was recorded around how to keep ‘Ageing Well’ under lockdown. It can be found via this link https://theretirementcafe.co.uk/077-dr-jitka/.  

We have also started collaborating with Voluntary Health Scotland on delivering 'Ageing Well Public Talks'. More details about the talks can be found at  https://vhscotland.org.uk/event/ageing-well-virtual-talk-with-the-open-university/