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Comments/notes
Title / Contemporary issues in the health and wellbeing of older people
Code / HEM71
Level / 7
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / Normal entry requirements for the Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences.
Type of module / Intensive over 1 week
Aims / The aim of this module is for students to develop a critical awareness of the current evidence relating to health and wellbeing in older age and to be able to apply this knowledge to their own practice.
Learning outcomes/objectives / By the end of the module, students will be able to
  1. Critically evaluate the evidence relating to health and well being in older age.
  2. Critically discuss the implications of the ‘normal ageing process’ on the ability to manage day to day living
  3. Evaluate how physical, social, creative or everyday activity may be used to promote health and wellbeing in older age.
  4. Design an evidence-based programme to be used in practice that will promote health and well-being

Content / The module requires a notional 200 hours of student effort. This will be through a period of pre-course study, where students will be required to complete some preparatory reading and critical analysis and prepare a brief presentation to be used during the first session, a period of attendance and a period of independent study prior to completing the assignment. The module will cover Physical, psychological and social aspects of ageing and the impact these may have on everyday life.
Specialist lectures and workshops will consider the effect of ‘physical activity’ in older people (e.g. exercise, type of exercise- how to exercise and barriers to exercise?) The therapeutic potential of occupation e.g. Social benefits, types of occupations that might be suitable and why? The views of older people themselves will be considered and they will be involved in the teaching of some sessions.
The promotion of health and well being in various health, social care and community settings will be considered and participants will be encouraged to critical reflect on their role and the potential for health promotion in their own setting.
Teaching and learning strategies / The module will use a variety of teaching methods but will primarily focus on an action-based participatory learning model. Fixed resource sessions may be provided by subject experts. Group work will be used to develop skills of critical discussion.
At least two sessions will be workshops focussing on practical skills (for example, exercise session and creative occupations)
Some sessions may involve older people themselves as subject experts and/or participants.
Learning support / Library, Computer Centre, Personal Tutors
Aday RH et al.2005 Impact of Senior Center Friendships on Aging Women Who Live Alone. J Women Aging. 2005;18(1):57-73.
Drageset J. 2004 The importance of activities of daily living and social contact for loneliness: a survey among residents in nursing homes. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences;18(1):65-71.
Hakim RM, DiCicco J, Burke J, Hoy T, Roberts E, 2004 Differences in Balance Related Measures Among Older Adults Participating in Tai Chi, Structured Exercise, or No Exercise. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy;27(1):11-15.
Horowitz BP, Chang PF, 2004 Promoting Well-Being and Engagement in Life Through Occupational Therapy Lifestyle Redesign: A Pilot Study Within Adult Day Programs. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation;20(1):46-58.
Jansson S, Soderlund A , 2004 A new treatment programme to improve balance in elderly people - an evaluation of an individually tailored home-based exercise programme in five elderly women with a feeling of unsteadiness. Disability and Rehabilitation 16;26(24):1431-43.
Jones AY, Dean E, Scudds RJ, 2005 Effectiveness of a community-based Tai Chi program and implications for public health initiatives. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ;86(4):619-25.
Litwin H 2005 Correlates of successful aging: are they universal? Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2005;61(4):313-33.
Oken B S et al. 2006 Randomized, controlled, six-month trial of yoga in healthy seniors: effects on cognition and quality of life. AlternTher Health Med. 12(1) 40-7
Stevens-Ratchford RG 2005 Occupational Engagement: Motivation for Older Adult Participation. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 21(3):171-81.
Stevens-Ratchford R, Cebulak BJ 2004, Living Well with Arthritis: A Study of Engagement in Social Occupations and Successful Aging. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics;22(4):31-52.
Villaverde-Guitierrez C 2006 Quality of life of rural menopausal women in response to a customized exercise programme.JAdvNurs. 2006 Apr; 54(1):11-9.
Xu DQ, Li JX, Hong Y, 2006 Effects of long term Tai Chi practice and jogging exercise on muscle strength and endurance in older people. British Journal of Sports Medicine;40(1):50-4.
Assessment tasks / Students will be required to produce an evidence-based programme (3000 words) showing how health and wellbeing in older people could be promoted within the clinical/community setting in which they work.
All must be evidence based, critically evaluated and contemporary, considering the international and national contexts.
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / This module has been designed to enable health and social care practitioners working with older people to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to the health and well being of older people. It is supported by the NSF for Older People and elements of the Knowledge and Skills Framework. It can also be linked to the Post Graduate Certificate in Positive Approaches to Ageing. It will enable people working in all fields to critically evaluate their current practice and to consider ways in which they may include the promotion of optimum health for older people
Area examination board to which module relates / School of Health Professions
Module team/authors/ coordinator / Raija Kuisma – Module Co-ordinator
Elizabeth Bryant
Janet McInnes
Tracy Szekely
Semester offered, where appropriate / Semester 1
Site where delivered / Eastbourne,
Date of first approval / 05.07.06
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version / 15.06.11
Version number / 2
Replacement for previous module / N/A
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences
Optional Core module for MSc Occupational Therapy.
School home / Health Professions
External examiner / Dr Kenneth Gannon (to 2013)