Image: Mostphotos: Gun Persson Ljusne
Image: Mostphotos: Gun Persson Ljusne
Research group UME-ACT focuses on developing knowledge about occupations (meaningful activities) and its impact on health and well-being among seniors. Among other things, we study involvement in various occupations, whether engagement in occupations can be facilitated or influenced with interventions as well as the relationship between occupational engagement, health and well-being.
The research group is based at the Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University and work in close collaboration with several faculties at Umeå University and with other universities in Sweden and abroad.
It is known that occupations (meaningful activities) we engage has an impact on our well-being. Occupations are central and important for health and well-being regardless of age. In UME-ACT, we want to increase knowledge of how different types of occupations can be measured, changed and supported during different phases and situations of aging. Examples of occupations the research group is particularly focusing on are leisure activities, social activities and digital activities.
As everyone knows, the proportion of older people in Sweden is growing. For some, senior life can be experienced as a time of freedom, filled with opportunities to engage in occupations and social contexts, which in turn contributes to active aging. For others, changes may occur that make it difficult to live an active life. We know, for example, that many older people suffer losses in their social contexts and therefore live their lives alone.
More than one in four people around the age of 80 have complex health problems, and that number also seems to be increasing. The vast majority of older adults live in their regular, ordinary homes, and when support is needed, competent staff from home care and home health care are needed. Life as a senior can thus look very different, and community service, care and nursing must be organized and have knowledge to meet these varied needs. The UME-ACT research group wants to shed light on and develop knowledge about the importance of occupations among seniors in different situations and parts of aging.
@geing online digital services for meaningful social activities among older adults in the Bothnia region
Within the 3-year project @geing Online, a specially adapted digital solution, an application intended for computers or tablet, is designed, developed and evaluated with a focus on promoting meaningful social activities among older adults in the Bothnia region.
Please do not hesitate to contact ingeborg.nilsson@umu.se for more information.
In the project we work together with older adults to explore the concept of occupation. Older adults discuss, reflect on and debate the concept themselves. In the project, we will explore what older adults themselves mean by the concept of occupation and what different ways of understanding the concept exist.
Please do not hesitate to contact ingeborg.nilsson@umu.se for more information.
To support social participation and reduce loneliness among seniors who have support from home care
The purpose of the project is to develop knowledge about how support from home care can be developed to prevent and reduce loneliness. In addition, the purpose is to see if and if so with what results such support can be implemented in home care services.
Please do not hesitate to contact ingeborg.nilsson@umu.se for more information.
Loneliness among older adults is described as a public health problem as it is considered to be associated with both increased morbidity and mortality. Being able to be socially active and involved has in previous studies proved to be important in reducing loneliness and increasing well-being.
The purpose of the project is to develop, implement and evaluate a Swedish model for social prescribing (SPiS). The overall goal is to reduce loneliness and improve health and well-being among older adults.
Please do not hesitate to contact ingeborg.nilsson@umu.se for more information.
The social participation online project highlights the challenges that arise when older people use digital technology in connection with activities. The project develops knowledge about the effects of using digital technology for social participation as well as how environmental factors can be tailored to adapt to the different needs of older adults.
Please do not hesitate to contact ingeborg.nilsson@umu.se for more information.
