13th December 2011

The Netwell Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has been selected to join a worldwide group of centres of excellence into ageing research.

The Centre is one of only three Irish locations to be selected to join the Global Ageing Research Network, along with Aois agus Eolas (Tallaght Hospital and Trinity College Dublin) and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (NUIG)

“This is fantastic news for Ireland and in particular for the Netwell Centre, and all who are involved in our wider living Lab,” said Centre Director Rodd Bond.
“As an Institute of Technology we are very proud to achieve this global recognition and it is a further endorsement of DkIT’s progressive approach. Participation within this global network will strengthen our impact regionally, nationally and internationally.”

The Global Ageing Research Network is supported by the World Health Organisation and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and has picked 500 worldwide locations from an initial application of 1200.

An international panel of experts selected the locations, and membership of this network means that the Netwell Centre will be cemented at the cutting edge of research into ageing well internationally.

The Netwell Centre and CASALA, its sister technology and ageing centre are committed to enhancing longer living in smarter places.

This is done through more integrated community-oriented services, more sustainable home and neighbourhood design, and more age-friendly technologies.

Their knowledge, insight and experience have enabled them to be highly influential in the development of collaborative stakeholder engagements including the Great Northern Haven smart apartment complex and the foundation of Ireland’s Age Friendly County Initiative.

The Louth Age Friendly programme was recently highlighted by the World Health Organisation’s head of ageing John Beard as a leading example for the world to follow.

Part-funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, Netwell’s research and development activities involve an array of disciplines including the social and behavioural sciences, health and medical sciences, computer science, architecture, engineering, design, marketing and business administration.

23 November 2011

Great Northern Haven featured on RTE's About the House last night (November 22nd). The piece showcased some of the technology research being carried out at CASALA and the Netwell Centre, including health and behaviour monitoring through various sensor and interactive technologies. Rodd Bond, director of the Netwell Centre was interviewed about ongoing research at Great Northern Haven, whilst two of the residents, Sean Farrell and Sean McGuinness also appeared in the episode, demonstrating and discussing the various technologies in their homes.

You can find the episode on RTE's iPlayer, beginning at 12 minutes and 43 seconds into the episode.

15th November 2011

A NEW initiative designed to make residential care facilities for the elderly more homely has been launched.

Places to Flourish aims to support staff and create a new culture where older people can continue to live their lives according to their own routines in residential settings like private nursing homes and/or public voluntary care units.

Launching the initiative, Kathleen Lynch, TD said the scheme will aid the long-term care of the elderly.  “One of the key objectives of Government policy is to place the dignity, autonomy and well-being of older people at the centre of residential care,” she said.  “Today’s initiative is another important step on the road to ensuring that each nursing home resident is truly living in ‘a home from home’.  “I would like to congratulate all involved in the project for their positive contribution to the development of long-term care services for older people.”

Dr Lucia Carragher of the Netwell Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology, at the launch of the initiative at All Hallows College, Dublin, said: “This programme respects older people’s right to a home and a meaningful life connected to their families and friends.  “In practice, this could mean introducing pets, which have an overwhelmingly positive effect on any home, or having bath, meal and bedtimes that suit the person’s own lifestyle.”

“The HSE-led economically sustainable programme was developed in partnership with the the Netwell centre and the School of Nursing at the University of Ulster.

It is a primarily online resource programme which draws on local case studies, scenarios, developmental tools and facilitation techniques.

Published:  Tuesday, November 15 2011.

Source:  Independent.ie

27th - September:

The renowned gerontologist Dr. Gloria Gutman from Simon Fraser University, Canada shall give a lunchtime lecture here in DkIT on Tuesday 27th September in N128 at 1pm. This coincides with the 1st Age Friendly Cities Conference taking place in Dublin next week: http://afc-internationalconference.ie/

Dr. Gutman developed and directed both the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Gerontology Research Centre and the Gerontology Department (formerly called the Gerontology Program) from 1982 - 2005. In 2010, she was elected the 3rd President of the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). As well, Dr. Gutman is Professor Emerita in the SFU Gerontology Department and a Research Associate in the Gerontology Research Centre.

Her seminar is entitled: 'An International Perspective on Some Contemporary Issues in Social and Environmental Gerontology:  climate change and elder abuse'

More details on Dr. Gutman from: http://www.sfu.ca/gerontology/faculty_staff/biographies/gutman/

All DkIT staff and students welcome.