M. Murray, T.S. Scharf, R. Beech, & S. Maslin-Prothero Engaging older people in research in disadvantaged communities: the challenge of participatory approaches M. Murray, T.S. Scharf, R. Beech, & S. Maslin-Prothero British Society of Gerontology, Annual Conference, Bristol, 4-6 September.

Summary Description of NDA CALL-ME project Development of project Implementation of project Challenges

Background Previous research highlights key challenges faced by older people in disadvantaged urban communities There is limited work that explores how new initiatives can begin to address older people’s concerns and to clarify the issues involved in promoting independence and social engagement or active ageing. This project moves away from an assessment of the problems associated with ageing in disadvantaged urban communities towards a new focus on the ways in which community action by older people can contribute to active ageing.

PROJECT AIMS To clarify the issues older people resident in disadvantaged communities themselves identify as important regarding social engagement and independence; To assess the impact of different community initiatives on active ageing; To identify the particular social and psychological processes involved in promoting active ageing through such community initiatives; and To develop policy recommendations for promoting active ageing in disadvantaged communities.

Setting The research is based in four disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Manchester. The city of Manchester represents an ideal setting for the study, given the presence of a variety of initiatives, which aim to promote health and community well-being. However, these initiatives have often been disconnected and have had limited formal evaluation.

Community initiatives The impact of four different community initiatives will be explored: A community welfare advice initiative; A community arts initiative; A community health technology initiative; and A community health initiative The types of community initiative have been chosen not only because they build on existing work within the study communities, but also because of their contrasting approaches to social engagement and their potential policy relevance.

Approach The study adopts a participatory action design. This involves a cycle of research, encompassing: Agenda setting (assessing community concerns, collecting basic data); Planning (facilitating development of objectives, helping to develop an action plan); Implementation (action coupled with monitoring the process, communicating information); and Outcome (assessing community competence, detecting community outcomes, developing new action plans).

Involvement of older people Older people will provide information on their experiences and will also be involved as co-researchers in developing strategies for change and social engagement; Older people will be involved in the management of the study (through project coordinating groups) and ensuring that the project meets its objectives (through a project advisory group); Older people will be involved – through relevant age-sector organisations (including Help the Aged and Age Concern) – in taking the research forward.

Challenges Accessing the hard-to-reach Meetings with wide range of community organisations Similar challenge identified by them Many organisations cater for sub-groups

Challenges Doing participatory action research with older people Some older people keen to participate Focus often on limited inward looking projects Challenge in developing more inclusive projects

Challenges Independence and/versus social engagement Informal discussion with some older people indicate they are proud of their independence and apparent limited social engagement Seems to be a strategy for dealing with adversity – they are not placing demands on anyone

Challenges Ethical considerations in doing community-based research Long time engagement with large number of people Challenge of ensuring that all give consent Aim is to involve them in report development

Research team Core team Research Associate (NDA funded) Michael Murray, Tom Scharf, Sian Maslin-Prothero, Roger Beech Research Associate (NDA funded) Freiderike Ziegler Research Students Amanda Crummett, Sharon Middling, Jan Bailey Administrator Amy Bennion Partners Manchester City Council