Study of Ageing and Later Life at LiU

The study of ageing and later life is in scientific terms called gerontology and is about the social, psychological and biological aspects of ageing. This means that it is an interdisciplinary subject, and that scientists may be in such diverse areas
as sociology, social work, political science, economics, psychology, psychiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing science, biology and medicine. A related area is geriatrics which deals with diseases caused by old age.



With something as central to people as thoughts about ageing and old age, it is hardly surprising that the roots of the research on ageing and later life can be traced all the way back through ancient history. But it was only about 100 years ago that the first steps were taken towards an accumulated knowledge. The topic emerged as a scientific discipline after World War II. The International Association of Gerontology was founded in 1950 and its first World Congress took place that year in Liège. Sweden is represented in this organization by the Swedish Gerontological Society.

A major area of research in gerontology is social gerontology where we study how social and socio-cultural conditions affect the ageing process and the situation of older people. Key issues include: How do the pension system and welfare conditions affect people's everyday lives? Are older people vulnerable to ageism? How do social relationships change and how are they experienced during the ageing process and in old age? Are there opportunities to increase quality of life in old age? Is the health status of the elderly population changing?

At Linköping University, research in this area is conducted primarily at NISAL, National Institute for the Study of Aging and Later Life. Here the interplay between ageing's cultural, social, political, health and technical implications in a changing society is studied. The research is conducted in the form of larger and smaller projects within three broad areas:

• Socio-cultural, political and historical contexts
• Life course, ageing, welfare and care
• Ageing in time and space: home, housing and technological landscapes

Research

N I S A L - National Institute for the Study of Ageing and Later Life