Menu
Hume Institute for Postgraduate Studies, Lausanne
and the School of Medicine, University of Bolton,
are delighted to invite you to a webinar entitled:
“Ageing with Dignity”
The world population is ageing because of a falling birth rate and an improved life
expectancy: knowing this has not helped governments develop sustainable health and care
policies. The underlying causes and impacts of population ageing remain poorly understood.
Planning, using population age structure alone, does not account for uneven geographical
distribution of older people, their health characteristics, functional needs or lived experiences.
Despite society becoming more successful at protecting characteristics, such as gender,
race, ability, relationships, religion and beliefs, we continue to struggle with ageing; the most
fundamental characteristic of being human. This has the potential to impact adversely, not
just on personal health and wellbeing, but more widely on the social, political and economic
success of society.
Our experiences and choices earlier in life can significantly affect how we experience later
life. Changing policies to optimise life-opportunities require us to reshape deficit-focused
ageing narratives, towards those focused on valuing dignity as we age. Social exclusion,
poor mental health and reduced prospects of employment are all outcomes we can influence
for the better. Extended quality contact between generations has been shown to positively
influence the attitudes of younger people towards older citizens. The extent to which we value
and respect each other is a fundamental indicator of a successful society.
Shifting the narrative
To date, we have failed, collectively, to realise the value of ageing, much less incorporating
this value into governmental policies to benefit the wider population. Government and its
agencies use policy levers to influence individuals and groups to behave differently. By
careful positioning of key tipping points, people and behaviours can be shifted with relative
ease. The trick is positioning the right lever for greatest benefit, without expending too much
effort or causing harm.
The health and social care infrastructure is currently poorly configured and inadequately
resourced to meet the demands of whole population ageing, let alone realise the value
society should place on maintaining dignity as we age. It is now essential to explore the
development of new policy levers, focused on realising the value of maintained respect and
dignity for all citizens as they age, as a means of promoting a thriving society
About the Speakers:
Professor Paul Kingston is Professor of Ageing and Mental Health & Co-Director:
Westminster Centre for Research on Ageing, Mental Health and Veterans, University
of Chester. Former Chair of NHS England’s National Safeguarding Adult Network and
its Steering Group. He is Independent Chair for Adult Safeguarding in Wigan and
Independent Safeguarding Chair for Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership.
Professor Martin Vernon qualified as a doctor in 1988 in Manchester. He trained as a
Geriatrician and General Internal Physician in the North West of England and London before
becoming an NHS Consultant in Manchester in 1999 where he practices medicine. He has a
MA in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London, teaches these subjects at Salford
University and was appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Chester in 2016.
Paul McGarry is Head of the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub and is an Honorary Research
Fellow at the University of Manchester. Paul has led multi-agency urban ageing partnerships
since 2003 and has published and lectured on ageing internationally. He has an MA in social
gerontology and has been a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of
Ageing Friendly Cities Advisory Group, and the Scientific Steering Board for the joint
Age-friendly Environments in Europe project.
About the Moderator:
Professor John Lumley is the Founding Dean for the School of Medicine, University of Bolton.
He was previously surgeon at Barts, National Hospital Queens Square and Great Ormond
Street Hospital, London; Council Member Royal College of Surgeons; World President of the
International College of Surgeons; Author/Editor of over 70 textbooks, including Ageing, don’t
panic.
About School of Medicine, University of Bolton
The School of Medicine at Bolton is a new innovation in a young vibrant University. It has
commenced with a postgraduate component prior to establishing an undergraduate school.
The programme includes an MBA in Global Health, and training in the shortage specialties of
radiology, mental health and emergency medicine, preparing students for Royal College
examinations and an MD qualification.
About Hume Institute for Postgraduate Studies Lausanne:
Hume Institute for Postgraduate Studies is a Higher Education Institution based in Lausanne,
Switzerland. Hume was founded to foster a commitment to world-class learning and
research. Hume is committed to providing contemporary teaching at a postgraduate level
with the added value of global learning through the Swiss experience. Hume recognises that
there is one characteristic shared by all prominent educational institutions and that is a
commitment to excellence. Hume hosts the University of Bolton Swiss Academic Centre