Based on the positive co-operation between Iwarsson and Ståhl, the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments, CASE (five research teams at the Faculties of Medicine, Engineering, and Social Sciences, LU) was established in 2007. CASE is one out of two national centres of excellence for research on ageing with 10-year funding from FAS, with additional 3-year funding for a graduate school within the center. CASE represents a quite unique approach to ageing research and will position itself as a strong actor complementing existing research contexts, locally as well as nationally and internationally. There is strong emphasis on translating research results to practical solutions to the benefit of societal planning; in housing, public indoor and outdoor environments including traffic and public transportation, as well as in health promotion, prevention, rehabilitation, and social services. CASE research activities will benefit current and future cohorts of old/very old people, society at large and the international science community. Contacts are well established with universities and authorities in all Nordic and many European countries, as well as in the U.S. and Canada.
The Research Consortium
The scientists involved (N=38) are acknowledged for their excellent contributions to the national and international scientific community, and the research context produces new scientists at stable pace. Based on the positive experiences of subsequently deepening collaboration between constellations of researchers during the last ten years, Lund University is now prepared to establish a research Centre for Aging and Supportive Environments (CASE), engaging scientists at three of its faculties. There will be a strong emphasis on translating research results to practical solutions to the benefit of societal planning; in ordinary and sheltered housing, outdoor environments including traffic, and in public transportation.
The Goal
The forming of the CASE is timely insofar as the proportion and number of old/very old persons is growing, emphasising the need for introduction of evidence-based solutions in societal planning at large. It is timely also from a socio-political perspective; while most current ageing research in Sweden focuses on needs of health care and social support, also older people’s general living conditions should be a prioritized area. Furthermore, current Swedish legislation strongly prescribes accessibility and usability for all citizens, e.g. in built environments and public transportation, while evidence-based measures and strategies for implementation are lacking. The research activities within the CASE will benefit current and future cohorts of old/very old people living in the community, the Swedish society at large and the international science community.
Formalizing the already strong collaborative work underlying this proposal, the establishment of the CASE at Lunds University is complementary to other strong ageing research contexts in Sweden. Ongoing and planned activities have been granted substantial external funding from major national and international sources, in total SEK 150 Million since 2001. For example, during 2000-2005, Iwarsson was the PI of one of FAS’ programs supporting ageing research (grant no. 2002-0931). Contacts are well established with universities and authorities, and collaboration is ongoing with academics, officials and stakeholders in all Nordic countries, many European countries, and in the U.S. and Canada.
Geriatrics, gerontology, occupational therapy, rehabilitation medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, social work, traffic and road engineering.
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Last modified: 2011-05-16
