University bosses have won a share of an £8 million windfall to help improve the lives of elderly people.
Dundee University, along with Newcastle University, aims to change the design of care homes to enhance the lives of older people. The project will be awarded £1.3 million in the round of funding.
Through research and analysis, the project will look at how living environments affect old people’s quality of life, mobility, physical activity, social connections and general wellbeing.
Professor Vicki Hanson, of Dundee University, said: “Changes in population demographics are resulting in a growing number of care homes.
“Therefore, economic, health and ethical considerations demand attention be directed to effective means of creating a built environment to provide older adults with healthy and socially fulfilling lives.
“Our research will address measures to mitigate problems and enhance the experience of older people in the built environment.
“Through analysis of the failings and successes of older people’s care environments, the research will identify how better-informed building design can help older people.”
Seven projects won a share of the £8 million to focus on care and wellbeing for the elderly, including the challenges to helping older people enjoy an independent, active and mobile lifestyle.
It is expected more than 5,000 people will contribute their views, experiences and even their brain wave patterns across the seven projects.
Announcing the funding to the seven projects, Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said: “We need to do everything we can to meet the needs of our ageing population.
“These research projects will involve thousands of volunteers and draw on the expertise of Britain’s leading universities to help older people live more healthily, happily and independently.”
The funding for the projects has been provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.