The Wellbeing in Later Life study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Wellbeing in Later Life in Bradford (Wellbeing-Bradford) Study
IRAS ID
350720
Contact name
Andrew Clegg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 8 months, 2 days
Research summary
Wellbeing is a positive and lasting state that allows people to thrive.The Wellbeing-Bradford study will gather detailed information on the health and wellbeing of older adults. This data will help us understand care transitions, needs, and support networks, as well as the impact of factors including gender, ethnicity, living circumstances and socio-economic background. Our goal is to explore how wellbeing changes in later life and how finances, living conditions, and support systems influence it. The study will highlight what helps or hinders wellbeing and identify unfair differences in opportunities to improve it.
Wellbeing-Bradford is a long-term study involving older adults with moderate to severe frailty, including those nearing the end of life and care home residents. This ensures that individuals who are often overlooked in national studies are included.
We aim to recruit 400 ethnically diverse people aged 65 and over in Bradford. Participants will be assessed every six months for two years via face-to-face visits, telephone interviews or postal questionnaires. We will collect detailed health and care information and link it with other records (GP, hospital, and local authority data). To better understand shared experiences and challenges, we plan to invite other household members aged 65 or over who live with the participant.
Data from WeLL-Bradford will help identify individuals at greater risk of major life events, including needing home care, falls, moving into a care home, or reaching the end of life.
Inequalities in frailty-related health and wellbeing are unfair. Despite having greater needs, some older adults face extra barriers, including discrimination, language difficulties, and a lack of culturally inclusive services. Understanding these challenges is necessary to improve wellbeing. Study findings will guide policymakers and service providers on how best to support those most at risk.
Wellbeing-Bradford will run from October 2024 to July 2028.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0111
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion