Study title: Disability and Ageing Research

Lead Researcher(s)

Kate Mattick, Mandikudza Tembo, Gail Davey, Hazel Horobin,Celia Gregson

Funder(s)

Wellcome Trust

Partner(s)

Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Ministry of Health & Child Care, University of

Bristol

Background

Ageing is seen as the leading cause of disability worldwide. In Zimbabwe, many older adults first experience functional difficulty in their older years, living with multiple health conditions and impairments, yet have limited access to resources or information on how to support themselves. Community peer support groups and assistive technology (AT) are two potential interventions to support older adults.

Community Healthy Ageing Peer-to-Peer Support Groups (CHAPS) groups could be a potentially sustainable way to improve the overall wellbeing and empowerment of older adults in Zimbabwe through access to health information and physical activity. AT, an umbrella term for any device, and its supporting service, can enable older people and people with disabilities to do the things of importance to them. AT is inclusive of glasses, hearing aids, walking frames and many more. AT could be a

cornerstone to participation and inclusion across many domains of life. In this PhD research project, we will aim to co-create community peer support groups for older adults. And also assess the current access to AT using a WHO developed tool called the “rapid Assistive Technology Assessment”.

Study design

This is a mixed-methods study.

Participatory co-development workshops will inform the iterative design of the CHAPS groups, with photovoice informing the evaluation (alongside other process evaluation methods from the wider KOSHESAI Programme). An adapted rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) from the WHO will be used to quantify the current unmet need of AT and explore barriers to access.

Study dates

January 2024 – December 2026