To fill this gap, - written by Lecturer in Architectural Studies Camilla Lewis, Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Chris Phillipson, Research Fellow Sophie Yarker and Research Associate Luciana Lang - provides new insights into the challenges facing older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The authors drew upon the experiences of a diverse group of 102 people aged 50+ from Greater Swag直播, as well as 21 community organisations collected over a 12 month period during the pandemic.

They found that older people were disproportionately affected by the emergence and spread of COVID-19, whether in hospital, the community or in care homes. More than 80% of deaths related to the virus between 2020 and 2021 occurred among people aged 60 years or older. 

COVID-19 created new pressures for people of all ages throughout the world, but it raised particular concerns for older age groups. The book highlights the challenges older people faced when forced to 鈥榮tay apart鈥� from family and friends and identifies changes affecting people over the course of three successive lockdowns.

For older people themselves, there were a variety of reactions to the pandemic. Few were left untouched by its profound effects on the routines and relationships which make-up daily life. The book conveys the challenges and responses across the different organisations and groups of older people interviewed, examining  issues such as the impact of social distancing, the effects of shielding, and the experience of social isolation.

COVID-19 amplified existing insecurities, as people struggled to cope with long-term illnesses in the context of pressures from reduced health and social care support. Reflecting this, the research suggests the pandemic has introduced new vulnerabilities, exacerbating further the precarious lives of  different groups of older people.

The authors raise concerns about the negative attitudes towards older people which arose during the pandemic, and which have continued to influence debates around a range of social and financial issues.

They recommend developing a 鈥榗ommunity-centred approach鈥� in responding to future  pandemics, with a focus on the importance of enhanced funding for community organisations, supporting leaders within neigbourhoods, and providing advocates for those who have difficulty securing the services they need.

鈥淭his book provides a detailed account of how the daily lives of older people were affected by COVID-19. It highlights the variety of responses from groups and neighbourhoods across Greater Swag直播 and documents the important work of voluntary and community organisations and the crucial role which they played in providing support to vulnerable groups. The book makes a case for working directly with communities, both in preventing another pandemic and addressing the injustices exposed by COVID-19,鈥� said Camilla Lewis.

COVID-19, Inequality and Older People was published by Policy Press, and is available through Open Access at .

The report, Women鈥檚 priorities for women鈥檚 health, is based on discussions with over 70 women aged 18 to 76. The study was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care as part of their call in early 2021 for public evidence to inform the Women's Health Strategy for England.

Researchers at the universities of York, Newcastle and Swag直播, with the King鈥檚 Fund, conducted a series of focus groups to reveal the experiences of a diverse group of women, and discuss what they would like to see in the Strategy. 

Dr Holly Essex, lead author, from the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, said: 鈥淥ur report allows women鈥檚 voices to be heard in a way that enables the government to embed their priorities in a health service that is more responsive to their needs鈥�.

鈥淭he focus group conversations reveal feelings of being  鈥榖rushed off鈥�; of not being listened to; of being 鈥榠nvisible鈥�; of symptoms not always being treated seriously; of a lack of information for women鈥檚 health issues; and of being 鈥榠n the dark鈥� about the state of their health.鈥�

One 45 year-old woman told the researchers that: 鈥淕oing to the doctors isn鈥檛 an enjoyable experience because they don鈥檛 listen. That鈥檚 the problem for me. I just don鈥檛 go now.鈥�

A 23 year-old woman commented that 鈥渃ontraception and periods, it gets brushed off like it's not a big thing because everyone has to do it 鈥� it's as if you're being dramatic if there is a problem"

Alongside issues relating to women鈥檚 physiology, women consistently raised the problem of mental health and the difficulty of finding information and support.  Women reported a perception of inadequate services, therapies, follow-up and support for women who experienced mental health problems.

One 36 year-old participant said: 鈥淚 think mental health鈥� just being a woman in general and having kids and working. There's a lot, just basic stuff that we could be going through that we end up suffering in silence."

The report noted that this feeling of suffering in silence was relevant across the age ranges, but particularly for older women who often had caring responsibilities.

Dr Gemma Spiers, a co-author based at Newcastle University, who led the focus groups for women aged 65 and over, said:

"Women live longer and experience more disability than men in later life, yet older women told us that they feel 'written off' and struggle to access the support they need."

Co-author Professor Karen Bloor, from the University of York, added: 鈥渙ur study revealed women鈥檚 uncertainties about and struggles with many aspects of their health and access to health services. We hope that the government鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Health Strategy will hear these women鈥檚 voices and act upon them.鈥�

The 98-page document reports discussions with women around four key themes and questions:

• What are women鈥檚 priorities for women鈥檚 health?
• What barriers did women identify as restricting access to health and care services?
• How do we change the culture and behaviours of the health service professions so women are heard and listened to?
• And what can we do to improve access to information about women鈥檚 health for women?

To access the report visit or

A  summary of the report is available here

The Government鈥檚 Vision for Women鈥檚 Health Strategy for England can be accessed

Image: word cloud used in the report of he words women use to describe their health

A free app has been developed at Swag直播 to help reduce the high risk of falls and physical decline in older people self-isolating during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

When used, the evidence based app - called Keep-On-Keep-Up- will help reduce the thousands of injuries – which are often serious and sometimes fatal - in the over 65’s caused by falls.

Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in older people; costs to NHS exceed £2.3 billion and in US $50 billion per year according to NICE.

Around a third of people aged over 65 and half of people aged over 80 fall at least once a year.

Studies have shown that strength and balance based exercises reduce falls by up to 42%, yet levels of exercise are generally low without therapist input.

Current provision for digital strength and balance exercise resources generally have poor engagement with no means of tracking usage or progress.

The app provides personalised strength and balance exercises with an animated in-app trainer called, ‘Wilf’. It also uses health literacy games to increase awareness of home safety, importance of hydration, and ways to improve bone health and nutrition.

Principal Investigator Dr Emma Stanmore from The Healthy Ageing Research Group at Swag直播 said: “COVID-19 has confined many of the 12 million older adults aged 65 and above in the UK to their homes for a long period of time

“Because many are already housebound and frail, they may have already been at risk of decline

“This increased sedentary behaviour can lead to impaired mobility, muscle deconditioning and poor balance which can increase falls and have a on physical and mental health.”

The app, developed by working with older people, will utilise the increasing numbers of them who have become more tech savvy during the pandemic.

Internet use and video calling has surged in the older 65s as they have found ways to stay connected with loved ones during the pandemic.

Dr Stanmore said: “KOKU is an evidence-based, gamified app designed to help improve strength, balance and optimise healthy ageing, of particular use during the COVID-19 pandemic in a fun and interactive way.

“It is designed to be used independently by older adults and based on best evidence for maintaining function and reducing falls.

“But it also includes health literacy games to increase awareness of home safety, importance of hydration, and ways to improve bone health and nutrition.”

She added: “It’s particularly relevant for older adults concerned about their risk of physical decline and wanting to remain independent at home

“But it’s also helpful for care home staff looking for interactive ways to engage older residents with simple, or people concerned about ageing relatives or friends who may be at risk of falls or frailty.”

The work was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Greater Swag直播 Academic Health Science Network, Health Innovation Swag直播, Danish Innovation Fund and Innovate UK

The project is also supported by the Masood Enterprise Centre, Swag直播: Improving Medicine with Technology and Innovation (MIMIT) and the software developed by Reason Digital Ltd.

KOKU is available on iOS iPad, can be downloaded for free from Apple App Store on an iPad and will also be available for Android use by early 2021.

Visit:  and 

A guide to help older people in Greater Swag直播 stay healthy at home during the COVID-19 lockdown has been published by academics at Swag直播.

Called ‘Keeping Well At Home’, the team have been working with the Ageing Hub at Greater Swag直播 Combined Authority (GMCA) so the resource can reach homes across the region.

The printed booklet is specifically aimed at older people, many of whom have no access to the internet, and draws on evidence based research from the University’s Healthy Ageing Research Group.

Members of the Greater Swag直播 Older People’s Network gave their views to ensure the design and content were accessible and appropriate for the target audience.

More than 50,000 copies of the guide have been printed and are being distributed through the ten Greater Swag直播 local authorities. This will be done in a number of ways, including via post, through community hubs and housing associations.

An estimated 200,000 Greater Swag直播 residents have not used the internet within the past three months. 96% of these people are over the age of 45 and 57% are over the age of 75.

“Staying at home for a long time is not easy, and for some older people it is particularly hard so it is important that we look after ourselves and each other during the lockdown,” said Jane McDermott, from the University’s Healthy Ageing Research Group.

“Finding ways of being active every day will help us feel better, it will also help our bodies be better protected for fighting infection and illness.”

Mayor of Greater Swag直播 Andy Burnham said: “In Greater Swag直播 we want to make sure everyone, no matter what their situation, can access the information and advice they need to keep safe and well during the outbreak.

“Not everyone in the city-region can access the internet and this booklet will go a long way to ensuring that our older residents can find out what they need to do to look after themselves and their family.”

The booklet is packed full of health and dietary advice, including a programme of standing and sitting strength and balance exercises.

It gives useful tips on keeping minds active, eating and drinking at home and safety.

And it also provides a list of useful contact numbers in Greater Swag直播.

Lead for Age-Friendly Greater Swag直播, Cllr Brenda Warrington said: “Older residents are more affected by this present crisis than most, that’s why it’s vital that practical information is available in the right format to reach people.

“I’m delighted that Greater Swag直播 is once again leading the way through our collaborative approach, bringing together the views of older people as well as international experts on healthy ageing.”

Jane added: “Keeping our bodies and minds active has all sorts of benefits to our health, including keeping our spirits up, improving our sleep, ensuring we have a good appetite, and helping maintain our independence”.

“Doing strength and balance exercises reduces our risk of falls and fractures, whilst activities which are more aerobic can help reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and some cancers”.

To access the Greater Swag直播 version of the booklet visit  the GMCA  Physical copies are also available. An identical version with national helpline contacts is  also  available  here .If local authorities would like a localized version with local contacts and information, email j.mcdermott@manchester.ac.uk