Healthy Ageing

Supporting people to age well requires professionals to look beyond illness and decline, recognising the strengths, resilience and opportunities that can shape later life. This course equips participants with the knowledge to promote healthy ageing through evidence-informed, person-centred approaches that enhance wellbeing, independence and quality of life.

Drawing on contemporary research across psychology, health sciences and social policy, the course explores positive ageing, age-related physical and cognitive change, emotional resilience, and approaches to managing conditions such as frailty and dementia without defining the ageing experience. Participants will develop the confidence to apply strengths-based thinking to professional practice and contribute to policies and services that support healthy ageing across diverse populations.

To view the module descriptor (NURS11180), please visit Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors 

 

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for professionals who support older adults and want to promote healthy ageing through evidence-informed, strengths-based practice.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Health and social care professionals working with older adults in community, primary, acute or residential settings
• Housing professionals supporting people to live well and independently in later life
• Practitioners involved in promoting wellbeing, prevention and healthy ageing initiatives
• Managers, team leaders and service developers responsible for improving services for older people
• Professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of positive ageing and apply person-centred approaches within their own area of practice

 

Why take this course?

As populations age, there is increasing emphasis on helping people live healthier, more independent and fulfilling lives for longer. Professionals across health, social care and housing need the knowledge to move beyond deficit-based views of ageing and adopt approaches that recognise the strengths, resilience and potential of older adults while responding effectively to age-related change.

This course helps you develop that capability by exploring positive ageing through contemporary research, policy and interdisciplinary practice. You will examine psychological, physical and social aspects of ageing, alongside evidence-informed approaches to supporting autonomy, managing age-associated conditions such as frailty and dementia, and promoting inclusion, wellbeing and quality of life. The knowledge and skills you gain will support more person-centred practice and contribute to the development of services that enable people to age well.

 

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Evaluate contemporary theories and evidence relating to positive ageing and understand how psychological, social and cultural factors influence wellbeing in later life
• Apply knowledge of age-related physical and cognitive changes to support autonomy, resilience and quality of life for older adults
• Assess evidence-informed approaches to managing age-associated conditions, including frailty and dementia, using strengths-based, person-centred principles
• Use research evidence and policy to develop practical approaches that promote healthy ageing across diverse populations
• Apply a compassionate, evidence-informed perspective to professional practice that supports inclusion, independence and wellbeing in later life

 

How you will learn

This course is delivered online, providing the flexibility to study alongside your professional and personal commitments. Learning takes place through the University's virtual learning environment and combines scheduled online tutorials, guided learning materials, asynchronous learning activities and independent study.

The course comprises approximately 200 hours of learning, including 36 hours of tutor-led synchronous support, 64 hours of asynchronous online learning activities, 10 hours of personal development planning, and around 90 hours of independent study. Throughout the course, you will engage with current research, reflect on professional practice and apply your learning to contemporary issues in healthy ageing.

This flexible learning approach enables you to build advanced professional knowledge while balancing postgraduate study with the demands of your workplace.

 

Course content

• Understanding positive ageing

Explore contemporary models of healthy ageing that recognise the strengths, opportunities and resilience associated with later life, while challenging deficit-based perspectives.

• Supporting health and wellbeing in later life

Examine the psychological, physical and cognitive changes associated with ageing and consider evidence-informed approaches that promote independence, autonomy and quality of life.

• Managing age-associated conditions

Develop a strengths-based understanding of conditions such as frailty and dementia, focusing on supporting people to live well rather than defining ageing through illness.

• Promoting inclusion and resilience

Explore how social inclusion, emotional resilience and person-centred approaches contribute to healthier ageing experiences across diverse populations.

• Evidence, policy and professional practice

Examine current research and policy frameworks that shape healthy ageing, using evidence to inform professional decision-making and service development.

• Applying strengths-based approaches

Reflect on how positive ageing principles can be embedded within your own practice to improve outcomes for older adults, their families and communities.

 

Assessment

Assessment is designed to help you apply evidence-informed approaches to healthy ageing within realistic professional contexts.

You will complete an individual 20-minute recorded presentation, drawing on current research, policy and professional practice to critically evaluate an aspect of healthy ageing. The assessment encourages you to apply strengths-based principles, consider the psychological, social and physical dimensions of ageing, and demonstrate how evidence can inform person-centred approaches that promote wellbeing, autonomy and quality of life.

Through this assessment, you will strengthen your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, synthesise evidence from multiple sources and develop practical recommendations that support healthy ageing in professional practice and service development.

 

Applying your learning

Throughout the course, you will:

• Apply strengths-based approaches to healthy ageing within your own professional practice
• Reflect on how psychological, physical, social and policy factors influence the experiences of older adults
• Use current research and evidence to inform professional decision-making and person-centred care
• Consider practical ways to promote autonomy, resilience, social inclusion and quality of life for older people across a range of settings

You will leave with:

• Greater confidence in promoting healthy ageing through evidence-informed, person-centred practice
• Enhanced capability to support older adults in maintaining independence, wellbeing and resilience
• Practical skills to apply strengths-based approaches when developing services, interventions and care
• A stronger ability to influence practice and policy that supports healthier ageing across diverse communities

 

Entry requirements

This course is designed for professionals who support older adults and want to strengthen their knowledge of healthy ageing through evidence-informed, strengths-based practice.

As this is an SCQF Level 11 course, participants should be prepared to study at postgraduate level. While there are no formal prerequisite modules, experience of academic study at SCQF Level 9 or above is recommended. Experience of working with older adults will also be beneficial but is not essential.

 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be awarded 20 credits at SCQF Level 11.

These credits may contribute towards further postgraduate study at UWS, where appropriate and in accordance with University regulations. This module is part of our MSc Ageing and Frailty (With Dementia).

 

Meet the course presenters

Dr Bryan Mitchell is a Lecturer at UWS, specialising in ageing, frailty, and dementia care. He holds a PhD in dementia research and has extensive experience in complementary approaches to supporting people in later stages of dementia. Bryan leads the MSc Ageing and Frailty (with Dementia) programme and is committed to advancing evidence-based, person-centred care. His work focuses on enhancing compassionate practice and improving the quality of life for older adults through education, research, and innovation. 

Vinodhini Murugavel (Vino) is a Lecturer in mental health with extensive clinical, academic, and community experience across India and Scotland. Her work reflects a strong commitment to culturally responsive practice, informed by lived insights into migration and dementia care. She has held roles including Community Psychiatric Nurse and Addiction Nurse Practitioner. Vino is on the Alzheimer Scotland Carers Academy partnership and contributes to teaching, mentorship, curriculum development, and student engagement across nursing education at UWS.

 

Sector and workforce relevance

Supporting healthy ageing is a growing priority across health, social care, housing and community services as populations live longer and expectations for maintaining independence and wellbeing continue to increase. Professionals need the skills to promote positive ageing through evidence-informed, person-centred approaches that recognise the strengths, resilience and diverse experiences of older adults.

This course reflects contemporary professional practice by integrating current research, interdisciplinary perspectives and policy relating to healthy ageing. Participants will strengthen their ability to apply strengths-based approaches, influence service development and contribute to policies and practices that support autonomy, inclusion and quality of life in later life.

 

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further enrolment information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.