Rural ageing research with OPeRA
Investigator
Catherine Hennessy, University of Plymouth
Team
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Background
Rural areas have some of the highest rates of population ageing in the UK, however comparatively little research has been done on the impact and implications of the 'greying countryside'.
Aims and objectives
The overall focus of the research programme was defined and developed as the determinants and impact of older people's involvement in civil society in rural areas.
The project was carried out based on three strands of input:
An interdisciplinary review of the research literature on older rural people and civil society covering areas such as older people's contributions to social and cultural capital, and barriers and facilitators to social inclusion in rural settings.
Consultation with an Older People's Panel of rural residents through face-to-face and 'virtual' meetings.
The participation of additional academic and non-academic partners. These included collaborations established with the University of Cardiff and the University of Swansea to expand the geographic coverage of the research programme, and the engagement of partner organisations relevant to the proposed programme's work packages in addition to existing non-academic alliances (eg, with South West Regional Development Agency, Age Concern).
A typology for differentiating rural areas and a related sampling strategy for selecting candidate areas for the research in England and Wales was developed by team members at the Wales Rural Observatory and the Countryside and Community Research Institute (UWE/ University of Gloucestershire).
Policy implications
The disciplinary coverage of the programme encompassed among other areas gerontology, social and behavioural sciences, rural studies, geography, informatics, the visual arts and heritage studies.