Biography
I am a ‘Keelite’ through and through first arriving here as an undergraduate student and graduating in 1976 with a Combined Honours degree in English Literature and Geography (with Psychology and Geology subsidiary subjects). After a year away, I returned to undertake my PhD (in Social/Human Geography) and have lived and worked in the Potteries ever since.
I ended up in ‘ageing’ completely by accident having been appointed to a temporary nine-month contract to manage a small research team at the Beth Johnson Foundation (a voluntary organisation known for its innovative work with older people). I stayed for six years as the Foundation’s Research Officer where I undertook a variety of projects before returning to Keele in 1988 to help set up the first programmes in Gerontology (Certificate, Diploma and Masters) outside London. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in October 1995, Reader in September 1997 and, in May 1999, was awarded a personal Chair. In addition to research and teaching, I have variously been Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies, Head of the School of Social Relations and Founder Director of the Research Institute for Life Course Studies. I was President-Elect, President and Past-President of the British Society of Gerontology from 2008-2014.
I am now ‘flexibly retired’ and focus my time on my Leverhulme funded ‘Ageing of British Gerontology’ project; seeing through my two remaining PhD students; and writing. In my spare time, I co-direct the now annual Live Age Festival and support the Ages and Stages Theatre Company (both of which originate in our interdisciplinary RCUK funded ‘Ages and Stages’ research projects).
Research and scholarship
Building on a background of innovative participatory action-research with older people in the voluntary sector, my research career has been distinguished by a commitment to inter and multi-disciplinary perspectives and much of my written work combines social scientific research with insights drawn from literature and the arts. I have long-standing research interests in women’s lives as they age, in intergenerational relationships and in environmental gerontology. My 30 years’ experience of applied policy and practice-relevant research has included studies of the family life of older people conducted under the ESRC’s ‘Population and Household Change’ programme; of informal care for older adults under the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s ‘Work and Family Life’ programme (for which we won the 2002 Work-Life Balance Trust Award for non-fiction); and a decade of research on the development of new retirement villages (one of Keele’s REF 2014 Impact Case Studies).
Since 2009, I have had the privilege of leading the interdisciplinary ‘Ages and Stages’ projects (an ongoing collaboration with the New Vic Theatre), funded initially under the national cross-council ‘New Dynamics of Ageing’ Programme and, subsequently, with AHRC follow-on funding; and two AHRC ‘Cultural Value Project’ awards (see: www.keele.ac.uk/agesandstages/). These projects have led to the establishment of the Ages and Stages Theatre Company and the now annual Live Age Festival which began in 2014 (see: www.liveagefestival.co.uk/). I currently lead a two-year (2015-17) project entitled ‘The Ageing of British Gerontology: learning from the past to inform the future’, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This is a fascinating socio-cultural exploration of the evolution of gerontology as seen through the eyes of those who have been active in building its knowledge base, and through an examination of the archives of the British Society of Gerontology (see: www.keele.ac.uk/abg/).
I also enjoy supervising higher degree by research students. I currently supervise two PhD students and, since 1995, have seen 20 others through to successful completion (17 PhDs; 2 MPhils and 1 MA by research). I am the author/editor of 19 books and monographs, over 80 book chapters and journal articles, and many research reports. I currently serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships: programs, policy and research.
Teaching
I am now flexibly retired and, in addition to PhD supervision, do occasional guest lectures and presentations at Keele and elsewhere.
Selected Publications
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The Evolution of British Gerontology: Personal Perspectives and Historical Developments. Policy Press. full text>2020.
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Being a gerontologist: intersections between the professional and the personal in the Ageing of British Gerontology project. AGEING & SOCIETY, 1051-1071, vol. 41(5). link> doi> full text>2021.
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Interpreting intracorporeal landscapes: how patients visualize pathophysiology and utilize medical images in their understanding of chronic musculoskeletal illness. Disabil Rehabil, 1647-1654, vol. 41(14). link> doi> full text>2019.
- 1999.
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Ages and Stages: the place of theatre in representations of ageing. In The New Dynamics of Ageing - Volume 2. Walker A (Ed.). (vol. 2). Bristol: Policy Press. doi> link> full text>2017.
Full Publications Listshow
Books
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The Evolution of British Gerontology: Personal Perspectives and Historical Developments. Policy Press. full text>2020.
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Rowles G and Bernard M (Eds.). 2013. Environmental Gerontology: Making Meaningful Places in Old Age. (12 vols.). New York: Springer.
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Critical Issues in Social Work with Older people. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.2008.
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Bernard M and Scharf T (Eds.). 2007. Critical perspectives on ageing societies. (10 vols.). Bristol: Policy Press.
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Necessities of Life: older people’s experiences of poverty. London: Help the Aged.2006.
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New Lifestyles in Old Age: Health, Identity and Well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village. Policy Press, Bristol University.2004.
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Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). 2003. Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths (Korean translation). (10 vols.). Kyungmoonsa Publishers, Korea.
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Juggling Work and Care: The Experiences of Working Carers of Older Adults. Bristol: The Policy Press and JRF.2002.
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The Family and Community Life of Older People: Social Networks and Social Support in Three Urban Areas. Routledge, London.2001.
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Promoting health in old age: critical issues in self health care. Open Univ Pr.2000.
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Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). 2000. Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. (10 vols.). London: Psychology Press.
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Bernard M and Phillips J (Eds.). 1998. The social policy of old age: moving into the 21st century. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing.
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Bernard M and Glendenning F (Eds.). 1990. Advocacy, Consumerism and the Older Person Papers from a Seminar Organised by the Centre for Social Gerontology, University of Keele and the Beth Johnson Foundation 26-28 March 1990. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Bernard M and Glendenning F (Eds.). 1989. Community Care with Older People: Strategies for the 1990s. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Bernard M and Flynn T (Eds.). 1989. Housing Initiatives for Older People. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Bernard M (Ed.). 1988. Positive approaches to ageing: leisure and life-style in later life. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Bernard M (Ed.). 1987. Developing Services for Elderly Mentally Infirm People: responses to the 'Rising Tide' initiative. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Phillipson C, Bernard M, Strang P (Eds.). 1986. Dependency and Interdependency in Old Age: Theoretical Perspectives and Policy Alternatives. Croom Helm.
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Bernard M (Ed.). 1984. Leisure in Later Life: examples of community based initiatives. Beth Johnson Foundation.
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Beyond our Present Imagination: Leisure and Lifestyle in Later Life,. Centre for Policy on Ageing.
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Bernard M and Meade K (Eds.). Women Come of Age:Perspectives on the Lives of Older Women. (9 vols.). London: Edward Arnold.
Journal Articles
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Being a gerontologist: intersections between the professional and the personal in the Ageing of British Gerontology project. AGEING & SOCIETY, 1051-1071, vol. 41(5). link> doi> full text>2021.
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Interpreting intracorporeal landscapes: how patients visualize pathophysiology and utilize medical images in their understanding of chronic musculoskeletal illness. Disabil Rehabil, 1647-1654, vol. 41(14). link> doi> full text>2019.
- 1999.
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The Ageing of British Gerontology: learning from the past to inform the future. Generations Review, 30-37, vol. 27(1). full text>2017.
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The Cultural Value of Older People's Experiences of Theater-making: A Review. Gerontologist, e1-e26, vol. 57(2). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Ageing, Drama, and Creativity: Translating Research Into Practice. Gerontol Geriatr Educ, 307-328, vol. 37(3). link> doi> full text>2016.
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Ages and Stages: the place of theatre in the lives of older people. AGEING & SOCIETY, 1119-1145, vol. 35(6). link> doi> full text>2015.
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The ageing of British gerontology. The Leverhulme Trust Newsletter, vol. May.2015.
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”Arts for Ageing Society”: Japan Study Tour, April 11-18th 2015. Generations Review, 15-20, vol. 25(3).2015.
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Living well with chronic pain in later life: the role and meaning of activity and involvement. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 200-213, vol. 39. doi>2015.
- 2014.
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Exploring the age-friendliness of purpose-built retirement communities: evidence from England. Ageing and Society, 1610-1629, vol. 34(9). doi>2014.
- 2014.
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Distinctiveness of long-term pain that does not interfere with life: an observational cohort study. European Journal of Pain, 1185-1194, vol. 16(8). doi> link> full text>2012.
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Home from home? A mixed-methods study of relocation within a purpose-built retirement community. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 372-394, vol. 26(4). doi>2012.
- 2011.
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Then and now: evolving community in the context of a retirement village. Ageing and Society. doi> full text>2011.
- 2011.
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Intergenerational Shared Sites: Policy and Practice Developments in the UK. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 237-249, vol. 9(3). doi>2011.
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Being old is different: person-centred care for old people. BRIT J GUID COUNS, 218-220, vol. 37(2).2009.
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Sustainable Futures and the Development of New Retirement Villages. Generations Review, vol. 19(1).2009.
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Critical Reflections and Personal Experiences: Key Components of Intergenerational Research, Policy, and Practice. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 389-393, vol. 6(4). doi>2008.
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Making Observations: The Potential of Observation Methods for Gerontology. AGEING SOC, 744-748, vol. 28. doi>2008.
- 2008.
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Housing and Care for Older People:life in an English purpose-built retirement village. Ageing and Society, 555-579, vol. 27(4). doi>2007.
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Working Carers of Older Adults: what helps and what hinders in juggling work and care?'. Community, Work and Family, 139-160, vol. 10(2). doi>2007.
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Research, Policy, Practice and Theory: Interrelated Dimensions of a Developing Field. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships , 5-21, vol. 4(1). doi>2006.
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Developing a New Lifestyle in Old Age: Health, Identity and Well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village. Community Care.2004.
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Developing a New Lifestyle in Old Age: Health, Identity and Well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village. Community Care.2004.
- 1998.
- 2001.
- 2001.
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Lifestyles of belief: Narrative and culture in a retirement community. Ageing and Society, 649-672, vol. 20(4). doi>2001.
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Women Ageing: Old Lives, New Challenges. Education and Ageing, 335-352, vol. 16(3).2001.
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Assessing the health impact of age-specific housing. Health and Social Care in the Community, 228-235, vol. 9(4).2001.
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Continuity and change in the family and community life of older people. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 259-279, vol. 20(3). doi>2001.
- 2000.
- 2000.
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Inter- and intra-generational ties in the lives of older people. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GERONTOLOGIE UND GERIATRIE, 99, vol. 32(2). link>1999.
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Retiring into a new community. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GERONTOLOGIE UND GERIATRIE, 88, vol. 32(2). link>1999.
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Social Gerontology Education: is there a future?. Generations Review, 4-8, vol. 9(3).1999.
- 1998.
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The Beth Johnson Foundation: a quarter of a century of research with, for and about older people. Education and Ageing, 143-162, vol. 13(2).1998.
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Family Life in Old Age. Generations Review, vol. 6(2).1996.
- 1995.
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'Teaching Gerontology: reflections from a British University'. Education and Ageing, 90-102, vol. 10(2).1995.
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Looking at Later Life: the study of old age in Britain and America. Reviewing Sociology, 1-7, vol. 9(2).1995.
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Monitoring and Evaluation: A Key Issue for Voluntary Groups. Social Services Research, 47-59, vol. 4(Nov/Dec).1994.
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Recreation in Old Age: An Opportunity. Journal of the Royal Society of Health.1994.
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'How Good A Job Are You Doing? Evaluation is a way to find out: the evaluation needs of voluntary groups. CVS News, 1-9.1991.
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Vision for the Future. Nursing the elderly : in hospital, homes and the community, 10-12.1991.
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Growing Old in the 20th Century - M. Jefferys. Sociological Review, 594-597, vol. 38(3). link>1990.
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Changing the Image of Retirement. Nursing the elderly : in hospital, homes and the community, 10-12.1990.
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Leisure and Lifestyle in Later Life. Nursing the elderly : in hospital, homes and the community, 10-12.1990.
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Research in action: self health care and older people. Hygie, 11-16, vol. 8(2). link>1989.
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Working in an Ageing Society. Community Care, 15-17.1989.
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Responding to the 'Rising Tide': Developments in Mid Essex. Research, Policy and Planning, vol. 5(2).1988.
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Responding to the 'Rising Tide': Developments in Shropshire. Research, Policy and Planning, vol. 5(2).1988.
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Self health care for older people: an issue for local government. Local Government Policy Making, 39-45, vol. 15(3).1988.
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Taking Charge: strategies for self empowered health behaviour amongst older people. Health Education Journal, 87-90, vol. 47(2-3). doi>1988.
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Leisure Rich and Leisure Poor: Leisure Lifestyles among Young Adults. Leisure Sciences, 131-149, vol. 10(2). doi>1985.
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The Young and the Old: the placement of YOP trainees in three different care settings. Social Services Research, 7-26, vol. 5.1985.
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Leisure rich and leisure poor: the leisure patterns of young adults. Leisure Studies, 343-361, vol. 3(3). doi>1984.
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Voluntary Care for the Elderly Mentally Infirm and their Relatives: A British Example. Gerontologist, The, 116-119, vol. 24(2). doi>1984.
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Easing the Burden. Community Care.1983.
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Leisure Defined: A Review of the Literature. Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Abstracts, 1-9, vol. 8(1).1983.
Chapters
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Ages and Stages: the place of theatre in representations of ageing. In The New Dynamics of Ageing - Volume 2. Walker A (Ed.). (vol. 2). Bristol: Policy Press. doi> link> full text>2017.
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Ages and Stages: Bringing the Generations Together. In Forschungsfeld Kulturgeragogik – Research in Cultural Geragogy. Fricke A and Hartogh T (Eds.). (23 vols.). Munich: kopaed. full text>2016.
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Theatre and Ageing. In Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology. Twigg J and Martin W (Eds.). London: Routledge.2015.
- 2014.
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Creating home-like places in a purpose-built retirement village in the United Kingdom. In Environmental Gerontology: Making Meaningful Places in Old Age. Rowles GD and Bernard M (Eds.). New York: Springer. link>2013.
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Past, present and future in designing private and public environments for creating and sustaining place. In Environmental Gerontology: Making Meaningful Places in Old Age. Rowles G and Bernard M (Eds.). New York: Springer.2013.
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The meaning and significance of place in old age. In Environmental Gerontology: Making Meaningful Places in Old Age. Rowles G and Bernard M (Eds.). New York: Springer.2013.
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‘‘”Lest we forget”: what it means to be old and a woman’. In Has the Sisterhood forgotten Older Women?. Bamford S-M and Watson J (Eds.). London: International Longevity Centre..2013.
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Capturing Locality Change: the family and community life of older people. In Researching family, community and generational change. Edwards R (Ed.). London: Routledge.2008.
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Work and Care: blurring the boundaries of space, place, time and distance. In Aging and Caring at the Intersection of Work and Home Life: Blurring the Boundaries. Martin-Matthews A and Phillips J (Eds.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.2008.
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Critical perspectives on ageing societies. In Critical Perspectives on Ageing Societies. Bernard M and Scharf T (Eds.). Policy Press. doi>2007.
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The Family and Community Life of Older People, England. In Measuring Family Support in Europe. Bonvalet C and Ogg J (Eds.). London/Paris: Institute National d’Études Démographiques/ Southern University Press.2007.
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¿Cómo sabes que la práctica intergeneracional funciona? Guía para iniciarse en la evaluación de la práctica intergeneracional (How Do You Know That Intergenerational Practice Works?. In La Evaluación de los Programas Intergeneracionales. Sánchez Martínez M (Ed.). Madrid: Imerso.2007.
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The Social Aspects of Longevity. In Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. Ritzer G (Ed.). Blackwell.2006.
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The family life of older people in England: methodological issues in a survey of older people. In Enquêtes sur l’entraide familiale en Europe. Bonvalet C and Ogg J (Eds.). Paris: INEDA in association with the Young Foundation.2006.
- 2004.
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Retirement and leisure. In Handbook of Communication and Aging Research (2nd edn). Nussbaum JF and Coupland J (Eds.). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.2004.
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From family groups to personal communities: Social capital and social change in the family life of older adults. In Global Aging and Challenges to Families. Bengston V and Lowenstein A (Eds.). New York: Aldine de Gruyter.2003.
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Social change, networks and family life. In Understanding Care, Welfare and Community. Bytheway W and William R (Eds.). Routledge, London.2002.
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Retirement communities in Britain: A "third way" for the third age?. In Inclusive Housing in An Ageing Society. Peace SE and Holland C (Eds.). The Policy Press, Bristol.2001.
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The local networks of the elderly. In The Contemporary British Society Reader. Abercrombie N and Warde A (Eds.). Blackwell, Oxford.2001.
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Our Ageing Selves: Reflections on Growing Older. In Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). London: Routledge.2000.
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Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. In Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). London: Routledge.2000.
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Women Ageing: Changing Policies, Challenging Practices. In Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). London: Routledge.2000.
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”Women’s Work” and the Transition to Retirement. In Women Ageing: Changing Identities, Challenging Myths. Bernard M, Phillips J, Machin L, Harding Davies V (Eds.). London: Routledge.2000.
Other
- 2014.
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Ages and Stages: the cultural value of older people’s experiences of theatre making. link> full text>2014.
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Assessing the Age-Friendliness of Purpose-Built Retirement Communities. IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE (p. S211, vol. 182). link>2013.
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AGEING UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: IDENTITY AND LATER LIFE WITHIN THE THEATRE. GERONTOLOGIST (p. 360, vol. 51). link>2011.
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EVERYDAY LIFE IN A UK PURPOSE-BUILT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. GERONTOLOGIST (p. 3, vol. 51). link>2011.
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REDUCING INTERFERENCE FROM PAIN IN LATER LIFE: THE ROLE OF LIFESTYLE FACTORS. GERONTOLOGIST (pp. 2-3, vol. 51). link>2011.
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Pourquoi les aȋnés emménagent-ils dans une communauté de retraite?. Les Cahiers de l'Année Gérontologique (pp. 293-294, vol. 2). Springer.2010.
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Relocation within an English retirement community: remaking place during a time of change. Gerontologist (p. 230, vol. 50).2010.
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Sustainable Futures and the Development of New Retirement Villages.2009.
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Experiences of children and young people caring for a parent with a mental health problem. link>2008.
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Identification of deafblind dual sensory impairment in older people. link>2007.
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"How Do You Know That Intergenerational Practice Works?" - A guide to getting started on evaluating intergenerational practice.2004.
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New Lifestyles in Old Age: Health, identity and well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village - Final report.2003.
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New Lifestyles in Old Age: Health, identity and well-being in Berryhill Retirement Village - Technical Report.2003.
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Active ageing: Myth or reality. Age Identity and Age Disparity within a Retirement Community: A New Measure.2002.
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The experiences of working carers of older adults.2002.
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Changing patterns of Support for Older People in Urban Communities.2001.
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Continuity or Change? Older People in Three Urban Areas.2001.
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Evaluating the effectiveness of workplace based support for carers.2001.
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Retirement communities: A third way for the third age?. Quality in Later Life: Rights, Rhetoric and Reality.2001.
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Living in a 'new 'community. link>1999.
- 1994.
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