SHN6022 - Valued Ageing

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Evaluate and consider the impact of psychological, social and political influences, and differing attitudes to ageing on health and social care for older populations across different societies and cultures.
Demonstrate understanding of the biology and psychology of ageing, with particular reference to metabolic, cardiovascular, brain and mobility impairments.
Critically examine factors affecting successful ageing.
Apply knowledge and understanding of factors influencing positive ageing to specific age related case studies spanning the health and social care discipline.
Evaluate the extent to which physical, structural and social environments support healthy ageing and develop appropriate solutions for improvement.

Content:

The module will examine physiological changes that arise as people age, concentrating on cardiovascular changes, mobility and metabolic changes, and brain disorders including dementias. These will be considered in the social context of societal attitudes and responses to ageing. Policy/legislation and practical responses from across the world to ageing populations and to age related health issues will be analysed. Healthy ageing will be explored, particularly focusing on social and psychological issues. Case studies will include exploration of issues such as end of life care, social isolation and loneliness, stereotyping and discrimination, poverty and inequality, advanced learning, and the challenges and opportunities of longer lifestyles for individuals, partners and families, within theoretical frameworks.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will include formal lectures, student-led and tutor-led seminars, individual and group case study analyses, and independent guided and non-guided research. Practical sessions will include experiencing sensory impairment and subsequent reflective learning, as well as virtual and practical assessment of physical, environmental and social enablers of healthy ageing.

Lectures
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Workshops/seminars
Hours: 30
Intended Group Size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio will comprise a number of separate tasks based around a case study. Students will identify a particular client/client group and will present a summary of the key health and care issues for their group/individual, drawing on their knowledge of biological, social and psychological factors. The format for the presentation of the different tasks within the case study will be negotiated with students.

The presentation will present the result of a critical evaluation of one key social, environmental or physical factor that influences successful ageing in relation to its potential for enhancing or reducing positive ageing. Appropriate and justified solutions to improve the potential for that factor will be presented.

Assessment:

001 Presentation, 10 minutes; end of semester 1 30%
002 Portfolio; 3,000 words; end of semester 1 70%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Abigail Lancaster
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S1

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