PLACED-lives study

What is PLACED-lives?

The PLACED-lives is a study being conducted by a group of researchers from the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), at the National University of Ireland Galway.The aim of PLACED-Lives is to examine the influence that life events such as bereavement, migration and dementia have on the relationships that older adults have with the communities and the areas in which they live. We also want to look at if this relationship with place and community either contributes to or protects against social exclusion.

Why this project is important?

This research will gather important insights from the first-hand experiences of older people who have experienced bereavement. This will provide us with a better understanding of the different ways that major life events and changes can affect older people in the community. We hope that this research can be used to help identify when and how best to support older adults in these situations through community-based services. We also hope that this research will help ensure the views of older people in these circumstances are used to provide better ways of strengthening people’s links to their communities.

Who can participate?

We invite participants who are aged over 50 years and have experienced at least one of the following events since the age of 50:
• Bereavement
• The onset of dementia
• Leaving their home country (due to forced migration)

What is involved in participation?

This project will involve face- to face interviews, which takes approximately 1 hour. The discussion will involve talking about topics such as:
1. Your daily experience of living in your place/community;
2. Your experience of bereavement/ living with dementia/forced migration and the sort of ways it has changed your life;
3. Being included and excluded because of these changes;
4. Your knowledge and experience of services and supports available to you;
5. Strategies for coping with bereavement/ living with dementia/ forced migration.

When the interview will take place?
Ideally, we would like the interviews to take place in spring 2019. The interviews can take place either in someone’s home or in a community facility (e.g. room in a community hall, or local hotel). The location of the interview is the decision of the person being interviewed.
How to get involved?

Please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below:

Anna Urbaniak
Irish Centre for Social Gerontology
Institute for Lifecourse and Society
NUI Galway
Tel: 091-492934
Email: [email protected]

Kieran Walsh
Irish Centre for Social Gerontology
Institute for Lifecourse and Society
NUI Galway
Tel: 091-495460
Email: [email protected]
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If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact someone independent and in confidence, you may contact the Chairperson of the NUI Galway Research Ethics Committee, c/o Office of the Vice President for Research, NUI Galway (e-mail: [email protected]; 091-495312).