Online study tracking well-being as pandemic evolves
How are you coping? That is the one of the key questions being asked by the research team at the Global Centre for Modern Ageing as they embark on the second stage of a six-month study to gauge how people are adapting to and navigating changes during this unique period – including what is working for them, what they are finding the most challenging and what solutions they may require.
The Global Centre for Modern Ageing is reaching out to Australians in online research to understand their evolving experience during the coronavirus pandemic. Researchers at the nonprofit Global Centre for Modern Ageing are conducting the online survey as part of a bigger study, which began in April.
The Centre has already released stage one of its research findings (available at gcma.net.au) and is now seeking further survey participants to shed light on the key issues facing them during the pandemic.
“We received a strong response to our first stage of the study with more than 1,300 people taking part,” said the chief executive of the Global Centre for Modern Ageing, Julianne Parkinson. “Interestingly, we discovered many people were seeing a silver lining during this time. We would like to know if that is still the case and understand what has changed for them and areas where people need more assistance.”
The Centre’s research findings inform businesses, industries and governments of products and services that have the potential to improve people’s quality of life now and into the future.
The COVID-19 survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and can be found at www.gcma.net.au/covid19/research. Australians aged over 18 are invited to participate to enable the GCMA to understand the unique experiences of younger and older adults. The survey is open until this Sunday May 31.
The Global Centre for Modern Ageing is committed to improving the lives of older people and Ms. Parkinson said it is “vital for companies, organisations and governments to understand the needs and wants of older people”.
“Older people have coped exceptionally well during this time, taking up new technologies and seeing, despite the restrictions, the positives where they can. However, there are also challenges and this is where business and government can work to find solutions,” she said.
The GCMA is encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the research.
“This is a very unique time – even as restrictions start to lift,” Ms. Parkinson said. “It is vital we capture people’s experiences – the learnings from the study will help to inform long term changes that will have a material impact on people’s lives.”
About the Global Centre for Modern Ageing
Through advocacy, market development, partnerships, research and learning, the Global Centre for Modern Ageing is committed to improving the lives of older people. The GCMA works closely with organisations and individuals to devise, build and commercialise products and services that allow older people to live and age well.
Located at South Australia’s Tonsley Innovation District, the Global Centre for Modern Ageing operates LifeLab – a leading, real-time test facility that allows businesses and research partners to invent and trial products and services for older people in a simulated ‘real-life’ environment.