Chief Investigator: Dr Holly Standing
Co Investigators: Professor John Vines, Professor Patrick Olivier, Dr Kellie Morrissey, Dr Kyle Montague, Dr Jennifer Liddle, Dr Austin Toombs, Professor Tom Scharff, Dr Nicole Valtorta and Professor Barbara Hanratty

Entering a care home may herald a significant change to an individual's social circumstances.  It often involves a move away from established social networks, and many people leave a home where they have lived for many years. We are about to embed an ethnographer in a care home in Gateshead, to explore the social lives of those living in residential care facilities. In particular, the study aims to give a holistic approach to exploring residents’ social lives. We will give focus to the role of technologies in mediating, improving and facilitating social interaction within the care home and with outside actors. In addition, we will consider the role of the physical layout of the care home and how this promotes or detracts from living rewarding social lives. This study will also explore how the care home, and its residents, are situated in the wider community. The study will be used as a basis for developing a technological intervention aimed at achieving sustainable improvements in the social lives of care home residents. 

In addition, we will be working with the Vanguard team and care homes across Gateshead and Newcastle, to identify areas for digital technology and health research and development.  This research council funding supports a partnership between the University, CCG and local authorities, along with industry partners.

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