Our Impact

Ageing Well National Science Challenge aims to be a voice for ageing issues in New Zealand. Ageing Well responds to opportunities to share information with decision makers and co-funders through strategic meetings, publications, conference presentations, media presence and increasingly through various multi-media platforms (such as videos and our interactive Well-Balanced Exhibit). We work towards constantly improving our science communication and dissemination to ensure our work and its resulting impact is easily accessible to our various audiences. 

  • Publications

    2020

    Çhallenge

    Parr-Brownlie, L., Waters, D., Neville, S., Neha, T., & Muramatsu, N. (2020). Aging in New Zealand: Ka haere ki te ao pakeketanga. The Gerontologist.

    2019

    Çhallenge

    Doolan‐Noble, F., Mehta, P., Waters, D., & Baxter, G. D. (2019). Supporting ageing well research: Findings from a research priority setting exercise. Australasian Journal on Ageing.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Bates, L., Coleman, T., Wiles, J., & Kearns, R. (2019). Older residents’ experiences of islandness, identity and precarity: Ageing on Waiheke Island. Island Studies, 14(2), 171-192.
    Neurodegeneration and Individual Interventions

    Boyd, M., Frey, R., Balmer, D., Robinson, J., McLeod, H., Foster, S., Slark, J., & Gott, M. (2019). End of life care for long-term care residents with dementia, chronic illness and cancer: prospective staff survey. BMC Geriatrics, 19(1), 137.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Oetzel, J. G., Hokowhitu, B., Simpson, M., Reddy, R., Nock, S., Greensill, H., Cameron, M.P., Meha, P., Johnston, K., Harding, T., Shelford, P., & Smith, L. T. (2019). Kaumātua Mana Motuhake: A study protocol for a peer education intervention to help Māori elders work through later-stage life transitions. BMC Geriatrics, 19(1), 36.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Pledger, M., McDonald, J., Dunn, P., Cumming, J., & Saville-Smith, K. (2019). The health of older New Zealanders in relation to housing tenure: analysis of pooled data from three consecutive, annual New Zealand Health Surveys. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(2), 182-189.

    2018

    Drug Burden Index

    Jamieson, H. A., Nishtala, P. S., Scrase, R., Deely, J. M., Abey-Nesbit, R., Connolly, M. J., et al. (2018). Drug burden and its association with falls among older adults in New Zealand: a national population cross-sectional study. Drugs & Aging, 35(1), 73-81.
    Stroke and CVD Prevention

    Mahon, S., Krishnamurthi, R., Vandal, A., Witt, E., Barker-Collo, S., Parmar, P., … Feigin, V. (2018) Primary prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease in the community (PREVENTS): Methodology of a health wellness coaching intervention to reduce stroke and cardiovascular disease risk, a randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Stroke, 13(2), 223-232.
    Neurodegeneration and Individual Interventions

    Frey, R., Balmer, D., Robinson, J., Slark, J., McLeod, H., Gott, M., … Boyd, M. (2018) “To a better place”: The role of religious belief for staff in residential aged care in coping with resident deaths. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 19, 89-99.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B. N. & Saville-Smith, K. (2018) Designing housing decision-support tools for resilient older people, Architectural Science Review.

    2017

    Pacific Islands Families

    Tautolo, E., Wrapson, W., Paterson, J., Wright-St Clair, V., Dewes, S. N. O., and Iusitini, L. (2017). Healthy Pacific grandparents: a participatory action research project exploring ageing well among Pacific people in New Zealand. Self & Society, 45(2), 134-148.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Hokowhitu, B. (2017). Weaving past, present, and future. Journal of Indigenous wellbeing, Te Mauri- Pimatisiwin, 2(1), 2-3.
    Stroke and CVD Prevention

    Feigin, V.L., Norrving, B., and Mensah, G.A. (2017). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease through population-wide motivational strategies: insights from using smartphones in stroke prevention. BMJ Global Health, 2(2), e000306.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Hokowhitu, B., Oetzel, J., Reddy, R., Smith, L., Simpson, M., Nock, S., et al. (2017). Kaumatua mana motuhake: Kaumatua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer education. In The New Zealand Medical Journal: Proceedings of the Waikato Clinical Campus Biannual Research Seminar,130, 108.
    Risk Factors in Reduced Social Engagement

    Jamieson, H. A., Gibson, H. M., Abey-Nesbit, R., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A. , Keeling, S., and Schluter, P. J. (2017). Profile of ethnicity, living arrangements and loneliness amongst older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand: A national cross-sectional study. Australasian Journal of Ageing, 37(1), 68-73.

    2016

    Risk Factors in Reduced Social Engagement

    Schluter, P. J., Ahuriri‐Driscoll, A., Anderson, T. J., Beere, P., Brown, J., Dalrymple‐Alford, J., … Keeling, S., Jamieson, H. A. (2016). Comprehensive clinical assessment of home‐based older persons within New Zealand: an epidemiological profile of a national cross‐section. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 40(4), 349-355.

  • Proceedings

    2018

    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (28 February, 2018). Sustainability and Environment in an Ageing New Zealand Keeping Pace with Two National Science Challenges. Presentation for Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand.

    2017

    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B., Saville-Smith, K. (13 December, 2017). Older Tenants, Advocacy and Research-based Tools. Presentation to Council of Christian Social Services and the Tenants Advocacy Network, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B. (4 December, 2017). Marlborough Housing Needs. Marlborough Housing Group, New Zealand.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Hokowhitu, B., Reddy, R., Simpson, M. (21-22 November, 2017). Kaumātua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer-education: From intervention to impact and implications. Research impact: Realising the potential, Dunedin, New Zealand.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Simpson, M. (17 November, 2017). Kaumātua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer- support: An example of integrating student doctoral research with externally funded research. HOPE-Selwyn Knowledge Exchange for Research on Ageing, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    McDonald, J., Pledger, M., Cumming, J., Dunn, P., Fraser, R., & Saville-Smith, K. (1-3 November, 2017). Ageing well in New Zealand – is the health of older people related to their housing tenure? 10th Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Surfers Paradise, Australia.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (18 October, 2017). Unsustainable, Dysfunctional, and Costly Cities for an Ageing New Zealand. New Zealand Sustainable Cities Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand.
    Neurodegeneration and Individual Interventions

    Boyd, M. (14 October, 2017). Comparison of the end of life experience for those with cancer, dementia and chronic Illness in residential aged care in New Zealand: A retrospective, cross-sectional study. Nursing Home International Research Group Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
    Kaumatua mana motuhake

    Reddy, R., Nock, S., Simpson, M. (13 October 2017). Kaumātua mana motuhake: Kaumātua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer-education outcomes of a pilot. AgeWise “In IT together”, Hamilton, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B., Saville-Smith, K. (18 September, 2017) Housing in an Ageing Society . Presentation to Housing Stakeholders, Nelson, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B., Saville-Smith, K. (18 September, 2017) Secure Housing as We Age. Presentation to Housing Meeting Tasman District, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Cram, F. (30 May, 2017). He Whare Rīhi – Older Māori and Life When Renting. Presentation to the Mid-term Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Ho, E. (30 May, 2017). New Settlers Case Study: The housing experience of Indian elders. Presentation to the Mid-term Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Jackson, N. (30 May, 2017). NZ’s Tenure Revolution and its Ageing Society -New Zealand’s Renting Revolution-, Address to ‘Life when renting’ Mid term Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    James, B. (30 May, 2017). Older Renters in the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga. Presentation to the Mid-term Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Kearns, R., Coleman, T., Bates, L. (30 May, 2017). Older Renters’ Wellbeing: Waiheke Island case study. Regional Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (30 May, 2017). Landlords and the New World of Older Tenants. Regional Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (30 May, 2017). NZ’s Tenure Revolution and its Ageing Society. Regional Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (30 May, 2017). Dealing with ageing and our housing system. Regional Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (30 May, 2017). Enriching Relations between Landlords and Older Tenants. Regional Summit, Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (18 April, 2017). Auckland’s Future: Dealing with ageing and our housing system. RIMU Insights, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K., James, B. (15-17 February, 2017). Affordability, Health and Renting for Older New Zealanders. Australasian Housing Researchers Conference, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia.

    2016

    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Saville-Smith, K. (29 September, 2016) Older People of Tomorrow Realising the Longevity Dividend. HCHA Conference, Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand.
    Independence and Housing Tenure

    Ho, E. (6-7 September, 2016) Migration, housing and wellbeing of older Asian people. International Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Wellbeing Conference 2016. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

  • Background & History

    The Well Balanced exhibit was developed in collaboration with Professor Nancy Longnecker and students of the Centre for Science Communication at the University of Otago, and the Otago Museum.

    The exhibit engages the public to learn how strength and balance changes throughout the life course by encouraging participants to test a range of physical functions such as balance, grip and muscle strength.

    The exhibit also provided participants with information on their strength and balance compared to others of a similar age, and what they can do to improve those abilities.

    It is estimated that over 7000 people went through the Otago Museum exhibit in 2017 and observations by Science Communication students and Museum Staff confirmed that it was a popular exhibit for all ages.

    Tours

    The exhibition has moved  all over New Zealand. It has appeared at the following venues and events:

    • ACC Live Stronger for Longer Launch, 2017/18
    • University of Otago, Wellington, 2018
    • Age Concern Everyone Conference, 2018
    • Te Matatini, 2019

    Utilising the Exhibit

    If you are interested in using the Well Balanced exhibit, please feel free to contact us by email – ageingwell@otago.ac.nz   

    Our goal is for as many groups as possible to use the exhibit and get the great benefits of this entertaining and educational resource.

    The exhibit is now fully transportable, either in part or in full.

  • Elder Birdsong Short Animation Film: Professor Merryn Gott’s Social Isolation Project

     

    I’ll Care For You – Music Video and Music Video Commentary: Dr Ofa Dewes Tapinga ‘a Maama’ project