Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "Theater with the elderly: never too old to create a scene. Research into possible play and theater methods to play and create theater with the elderly in a residential care or day center." "Peter Kolpa" "Uitvoeringspraktijk in Perspectief, AP Hogeschool Antwerpen" "Researching theatre and acting methods to create and perform theatre with elderly people in care homes and investigating its impact on their wellbeing. When asked what elderly in care homes miss the most, they point to their autonomy. By (re)discovering their imagination, obtaining a playful state of mind, and feeling connected to their fellow actors in creating scenes, is it possible to find a new autonomy? “Anyone can do theatre, even actors. And, theatre can be done everywhere, even in a theatre.” – Augusto Boal This start project researches which existing drama and acting methods and exercises would be suitable for elderly people in care homes. The project also monitors how playing and acting impacts the wellbeing of the residents, as well as how feelings of connection towards the caretakers deepen when acting and creating together. Based on Belgian and foreign publications, case studies, conversations with artists who have experience working with seniors, and literature studies, an inventory of possible theatre exercises will be put together. These exercises will be tested on different groups of residents in care homes in Antwerp to develop a ready-to-use manual with inspirational theatre methods. This manual can then be used, not just by artists who want to work with elderly people, but also by caretakers in nursery homes. The aim is to bring a wider spectrum of activities and more art-based experiences into the care homes, and to lead the way for artists and other creative people to regard an elderly home as a creative space." "Strengthening co-responsible elderly care in current Cuban context through gender equity mainstreaming and elder´s wellbeing." "Piet Bracke" "Department of Sociology, University of Havana" "geen abstract" "Evaluation of the way in which local authorities realize a locally inclusive policy for the elderly, in which the participation of (vulnerable) elderly people in society is guaranteed" "Tine Van Regenmortel" "Research Group Social and Economic Policy and Social Inclusion" "Article 10 of the Decree on the promotion of an inclusive Flemish policy on the elderly and the policy participation of the elderly of 7 December 2012 explicitly asks to make an evaluation by the end of the third year after the entry into force of the Decree on the way in which the local achieve an inclusive local policy on the elderly and guarantee the participation of the elderly in this. To date, this evaluation has not yet been carried out, and with this research we want to contribute to this. More specifically, the research results will provide insight into:1. The extent to which, and the way in which, Flemish local authorities pursue an inclusive local policy for the elderly.2. The extent to which, and the way in which, older people participate in local policy. In addition, we want to formulate a number of policy recommendations based on the research results for local authorities to further work on an inclusive and accessible environment in their municipality, where active aging is promoted. In all of this, of course, we also pay attention to the specific situation of vulnerable elderly people (health situation, socio-economic position, etc.)." "Quality care within assisted living and residential elderly care facilities" "Nico De Witte" "360° Zorg en Welzijn" "Aging, the increasing proportion of older people relative to younger people in society, is caused by factors such as rising life expectancy and declining birth rates. Although some see it as a positive development, aging brings complex challenges to society. The elderly and elder care are often viewed in a negative light, despite the contribution that the elderly make to society. An aging population forces reflection on how to address changing demographics and their consequences. Elder care faces several problems, including the outflow of caring baby boomers, a limited influx into the sector, and challenges such as absenteeism and workload. To respond, governments have introduced the policies of ""socialization of care,"" ""deinstitutionalization,"" and ""ageing in place."" However, these policies face challenges such as one-sided expectation management about informal care networks. International attention is being paid to ""Healthy Ageing,"" with emphasis on life environment, combating age discrimination and integrated care. Technological tools, though numerous, have often not been co-creatively developed with the elderly. Service flats have been adapted into assisted living, but vacancy rates are a notable problem. The research center 360° Care and Wellness strives to find answers to these challenges, with experience in various research areas related to the elderly and elder care. It concludes that aging and elder care pose serious challenges that require attention and solutions. Within this project, the focus is on improving the image of elder care and research on quality living and living in assisted living facilities. The research includes the following questions: 1. Image of elder care: - Factors determining image. - Impact of image on workforce shortage. - Opportunities to improve image, including the use of technology. 2. Quality of life in assisted living facilities: - Quality of life of residents. - Experiences of moving to assisted living homes. - Satisfaction with assisted living homes. 3. Impact of technology on daily life of the elderly: - Effects of technology on bio-psychosocial health. - Role of technology in promoting independent living. - Impact of technology on social contacts. - Contribution of technology to involvement of the elderly in society." "OPTImisation of cancer treatment in AGEd persons : integration of geriatric assessment and aging biomarker analysis in elderly clinical cancer trials" "Hans Wildiers" "Laboratory of Experimental Oncology" "Treating older patients with (breast) cancer is a major challenge. On the one hand, older persons are more vulnerable to side effects of therapy, which may severely impact on quality of life. Thus, overtreatment should be avoided, but on the other hand, undertreatment (which is common in elderly) can lead to worse survival. There is a delicate balance between benefits of therapy and risk of (sometimes life threatening) toxicity. There is an urgent need for robust markers that reflect the body’s biological age and reserves, and that may aid in outlining optimal individual treatment regimens. This project is aimed at the identification of such biomarkers. In the framework of several institutional and international studies and biobanking projects in older cancer patients, we will evaluate the predictive value of a broad panel of candidate blood aging biomarkers for survival and treatment tolerance. Potential biomarkers that will be investigated cover diverse molecular aspects of the aging process, such as telomere biology, oxidative stress, age-related increase in chronic inflammation status, age-related gene expression, DNA methylation and microRNAs. In particular, we will also focus on the impact of age on the immune system, which plays a crucial role in tumor development. This project will improve our understanding of the complex interplay between cancer and aging, and will eventually contribute to better tailored elderly cancer care." "Evaluation of the way in which local government implements a participatory governance for elderly people." "Bram Verschuere" "Department of Public Governance and Management" "This research wants to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate the way in which, and the extent to which (1) local governments conduct a participatory policy for the elderly, and (b) elderlt people participate with local government." "Research in Balance and Locomotion regarding Assessment and Neurorehabilitation from Children to Elderly (BALANCE)." "Ann Hallemans" "Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)" "During the next five years I will be focussing on the following research goals: • To study human walking, considering this mode of locomotion as an outcome measurement of the underlying motor control processes governed by the principles of neuromechanics. • To study the effects of development (in children) and ageing (in elderly) on postural balance control and gait stability to better understand the changes occurring during the lifespan • To study the effects of peripheral sensory loss (e.g. proprioception, vestibular function) on postural balance control to better understand the mechanisms of sensorimotor control and identify potential central compensation mechanisms" "Quality of life of elderly people with intellectual disability. A life worth living." "Bea Maes" "Parenting and Special Education" "Quality of life of elderly people with an intellectual disabilityElderly people with intellectual disability (ID) are a fast growing group of people in care systems. Their ageing parallels the ageing of the general population. Bigby (2004) states that the current cohort of elderly with lifelong disabilities is the first to grow into old age. This group has its own characteristics, specific needs and problems, that differ from those ageing without lifelong disabilities, and from their younger counterparts with ID. Their physical needs increase, their financial situation is different from those without lifelong disabilities, and their network fall apart easily (Fesko et al., 2012; World Health, 2001). They thus need different support strategies.However, in Dutch speaking countries research on Quality of Life (QoL) of elderly persons with ID and on factors that influence their QoL is rather scarce. The existing research has a strong focus on physical wellbeing or on Alzheimer's disease in down syndrome. Care providers at home, in elderly care and in ID care ask for broader insights in the QoL, and want to acquire competences and learn methods to better support this group of elderly persons.This study has three aims:1. We first want to learn which are generic and specific indicators of good QoL of elderly with ID, and find a way to measure their QoL validly.Based on Research Part 1 (Systematic Literature Review) and focus group interviews in Research Part 2 (Development of a questionnaire), we compose an extensive overview of elements indicating QoL of elderly with ID. We will investigate QoL outcomes of elderly with ID in Belgium in Research Part 3 (Survey), using questionnaires which we developed or adapted and checked against this overview.We use an operational model of QoL, well known in ID care, described by Schalock, Verdugo, Buntinx and Claes (Buntinx & Schalock, 2010; Schalock, 2004a; Schalock & Verdugo, 2002; Schalock et al., 2015; Claes, in Warnez et al., 2012). This model has been thoroughly researched, it mirrors the recent paradigm shift from a medical view on ID to a ‘citizens view’, and insights gained with the model are easily translated into daily practice.QoL is a universal concept, but needs specification in indicators that might differ between groups. Many indicators of QoL of elderly with ID are similar to those of ageing persons without lifelong ID: all like to be connected with family, all like to engage in meaningful activities, and  no one likes to suffer pain. Nevertheless, strong clues indicate differences in the way elderly with ID experience QoL (Bigby, 2004; Janicki & Ansello, 2000). They specifically enjoy or suffer more from peers in collective residences, they look back on lives marked by disability, and suffer greatly from the loss of parents, who took care of these elderly until very high ages.We want to find a way to measure QoL of elderly persons with ID in a valid and functional way. Assisted by a master's student, we examine relevant questionnaires for persons with ID and for elderly, and  we decide which items are relevant for these elderly people. Other master's student study, in the context of their thesis, related topics, such as dementia, social relationships or loneliness, ... in elderly people with ID - data which enrich our item pool. Based on the systematic review, the results of focus group interviews and the master theses, we develop a questionnaire, that we will use in Research Parts 3 and 4. We assume that in this way we will develop the best method to measure QoL of elderly with ID.2. A second aim is to research which variables influence QoL of elderly with ID (Research Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4). QoL is influenced by individual and environmental determinants (Maes & Petry, 2000). We make use of a Program Logic Model that describes client and environment characteristics (Input factors), actions, methods, strategies, programs, … undertaken by caregivers (Throughput factors) and QoL Outcomes factors influenced by these input and throughput variables (Schalock & Bonham, 2003; Wasserman, 2010).By caregivers or care providers we mean family and other non-paid, informal carers and / or paid services, such as home help, ID care, elderly care and health care. Organizations provide support on a meso level, governments support on a macro level.Our systematic review (Schepens et al., 2017a) and focusgroups reveal that the factors determining QoL of elderly persons with ID are partly similar and partly different from elderly persons without ID or from younger counterparts with ID. Level of ID and abilities, a life history coloured by ID, more severe and earlier health problems and many disruptions in their life course are specific characteristics of elderly with ID. Their networks are smaller and easily evaporate, professional supporters change regularly. Elderly care and hospitals not always have the expertise to support these persons. Transport is expensive, these elderly can seldom drive a car, an lack of transportation hinders their inclusion in community networks and preferred activities. In case of dementia or palliative situations, services have difficulties re-organizing staff to meet the present needs. ‘Ageing in place’, as ‘being able to stay in a preferred place as long as one wants’, may be the ideal, but seems difficult to realize in daily practice.We make a selection of the most relevant determinants in our questionnaire. We plan a large-scale survey using the developed questionnaires on QoL and QoL-determining input and throughput variables. Thus we want not only to examine how good of bad the QoL of elderly with ID is in Belgium, but also which actions, methods, strategies and programs, undertaken by supporters, have a significant influence on their QoL (Research Part 3, Survey). As such, we will specifically investigate the influence of physical, psychological and social frailty on QoL, and research whether these influences are moderated or mediated by the quality of physical, psychological and social frailty support.In this way we hope to offer supporters clear, valid and reliable support strategies, that positively influence the QoL of elderly with ID.We build our project on research done by Vandevyvere et al. (2010) and involve different care partners in ID and elderly care, home help, foster care and informal care, for they all support elderly with ID. Furthermore, these care settings have good reasons to cooperate, as minister Vandeurzen promotes in Perspectief 2020 (Flemish ID-policy act) (www.vaph.be).3. Finally, we remarked that some QoL indicators appear in age-specific models (Dezutter, 2014; Marcoen et al., 2006), but not in the ID-specific model we use (Schalock, 2004b; Schalock et al., 2015).Elderly persons with mild or moderate ID, no different from ageing persons without ID, think over themes as ‘what was the meaning and sense of my life?’, ‘How did I matter to other people?, ‘What is to be expected after death, am I going to heaven?, or ‘Do I believe in God?’.  These questions match the questions all elderly need to answer, as Marcoen et al. (2006) describe in their gerontological understanding of the life task ‘Giving meaning to the naked existence’. It is less clear if elderly with severe or profound ID are affected by such themes.Two other questions, which we will not further examine, relate to this existential theme: supporters ask themselves if their own lives were meaningful through caring for these vulnerable persons with ID; and supporters are confronted with (non-age specific) questions on the right of existence of persons with severe disabilities. We will not expand on these questions, for they are fundamentally different questions than those on existential well-being of elderly with ID.These indicators closely relate to the domain of Emotional Wellbeing, Interpersonal Relations, Personal Development and Physical Wellbeing, as these are described in the model of Schalock. At the same time they are not to be reduced to these domains. This is confirmed by Dezutter (2014), who states that searching for and experiencing happiness does not necessarily coincide with seeking or experiencing meaning in life. She suggests to expand the bio-psycho-social model, on which the QoL model of Schalock is based, to a bio-psycho-social-existential model (Dezutter, 2017).We want to explore if this 'Existential Wellbeing' or 'Experiencing/giving of meaning' is a separate QoL domain, rather than a sub-part of an already described domain in the model of Schalock. We will explore which indicators are specifically useful for elderly with ID, and if possible give clues as how to deal with such questions (Research Part 4). ReferencesBigby, C. (2004). Ageing with a lifelong disability : a guide to practice, program and policy issues for human services professionals. London: London : Jessica Kingsley. Buntinx, W. H. E., & Schalock, R. L. (2010). Models of Disability, Quality of Life, and Individualized Supports: Implications for Professional Practice in Intellectual Disability. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(4), 283-294. Claes, Claudia. (2012). Ouder worden en kwaliteit van bestaan: paradox of synergie? In J. Warnez, N. Schepens, & C. Seynaeve (Eds.), Oud, niet out! : over ouderen met beperkingen en inclusie (pp. 19–34). Antwerpen, België ; Apeldoorn, Nederland: Garant. Dezutter, J. (2014). Nastreven van geluk en zoeken naar zin. In Bormans, L. e. a. (Ed.), Veel geluk. Het grote geluksonderzoek. Tielt: Lannoo. Dezutter, J. (2017). Het biopsychosociaal zorgmodel: een integraal model!? VIEWZ. Visie en Expertise in Welzijn en Zorg. Fesko, S. L., Hall, A. C., Quinlan, J., & Jockell, C. (2012). Active Aging for Individuals with Intellectual Disability: Meaningful Community Participation Through Employment, Retirement, Service, and Volunteerism. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 117(6), 497-508. Janicki, M. P., & Ansello, E. F. (2000). Community supports for aging adults with lifelong disabilities. Baltimore: Baltimore : Brookes. Maes, B., & Petry, K. (2000). Naar een groeiende consensus over de betekenis van het concept ""kwaliteit van leven""? In Ghesquière, P. J., J. M. A. M. (Ed.), Van zorg naar ondersteuning: ontwikkelingen in de begeleiding van personen met een verstandelijke handicap (Vol. Tijdschrift voor orthopedagogiek). Houten Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum. Marcoen, A., Grommen, R., & Van Ranst, N. (2006). Als de schaduwen langer worden: psychologische perspectieven op ouder worden en oud zijn. Leuven: Leuven : LannooCampus. Schalock, R. L. (2004a). The concept of quality of life: what we know and do not know. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 48(Pt 3), 203-216. Schalock, R. L. (2004b). The Concept of Quality of Life: What We Know and Do Not Know. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 48(3), 203-216. Schalock, R. L., & Bonham, G. S. (2003). Measuring outcomes and managing for results. Evaluation and Program Planning, 26(3), 229-235. Schalock, R. L., & Verdugo, A. M. A. (2002). Handbook on quality of life for human service practitioners. Washington (D.C.): Washington (D.C.) : AAMR. Schalock, R. L., Verdugo, M. A., Gomez, L. E., & Reinders, H. S. (2015). Moving Us Toward a Theory of Individual Quality of Life. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 121(1), 1-12. Schepens, Van Puyenbroeck & Maes (2017a). Effects of Support Strategies on Quality of Life Indicators of Elderly Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: a systematic literature review. In preparation. Vandevyvere, I., Van Puyenbroeck, J., & Smits, D. (2010). Zorgen voor de levenskwaliteit van ouder wordende personen met een handicap: eindrapport december 2008 - juli 2010. Onderzoek in opdracht van het Vlaams Ministerie van Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Gezin. Brussel: Brussel : Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel. Warnez, J., Schepens, N., & Seynaeve, C. (2012). Oud, niet out!: Over ouderen met een beperking en inclusie. Antwerpen: Antwerpen : Garant. Wasserman, D. L. (2010). Using a systems orientation and foundational theory to enhance theory-driven human service program evaluations. Evaluation and Program Planning, 33(2), 67-80. World Health, O. (2001). Healthy ageing - Adults with intellectual disabilities: Summative report. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(3), 256-275.  www.vaph.be " "Towards Optimized Virtual Reality Interventions for Improving Balance and Muscle Strength in Healthy Elderly" "Sabine Verschueren" "Research Group for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group" "SummaryIndependence at older age is compromised on a large scale by fall-related injuries. About 40% of those aged 65 and older, fall at least once per year. The high incidence of falls is attributable to risk factors such as age-related decreases in postural control and muscle strength. However, balance training programs can improve postural control and muscle strength and thereby reduce the risk of falls. Challenging weight shifts and muscle activation have shown to be important components of training programs that aim to reduce fall risk. Virtual Reality (VR) balance training may have advantages over regular exercise training in older adults. However, results so far are conflicting, potentially due to the lack of challenge imposed by weight shifts and muscular engagement in those VR training applications. The main aim of this research project was to design and test new VR training games for balance and muscle training in the elderly that optimally exploit age- specific movement requirements to challenge balance and muscle activation, as well as user requirements to increase intrinsic motivation.In chapter one we conducted a systematic review to study the effectiveness of different VR-training interventions in improving balance in healthy elderly, and to investigate whether the balance challenge of VR-training has been assessed. A computer aided search of the databases PubMed, Web of Science and Cinahl was performed until August 2015, to identify RCTs that studied the effectiveness of VR-balance-training in healthy elderly. The systematic search resulted in 41 articles, of which 26 were RCTs. Most common outcome measures were the timed up and go,Berg balance scale and a battery of force plate measures. The results and effect sizes of different studies showed large variability but mean change scores rarely exceeded minimal detectable change. Studies analyzing the balance challenge imposed by the training were missing. An improved understanding of the balance challenge in different types of games is needed to adequately select and prescribe them in the context of balance training programs and fall prevention tools.To investigate the challenge imposed on balance in VR balance games, the study in chapter two assessed to which extent two similar skiing games induce challenging weight shifts, as reflected in center of mass (COM) movements relative to participants’ functional limits of stability. The functional limits of stability (FLOS) represent the limits to which individuals can move their COM without the need to take a step. Thirty young and thirty elderly participants performed two skiing games, one on the Wii Balance board (Wiiski), which uses a force plate, and one with the Kinect sensor (Kinski), which performs motion tracking. The effect of the games, age groups and the progression over trials on COM displacement were tested with Generalized Estimated Equations. The results show that in all directions with anterior and medio-lateral, but not with a posterior component, subjects showed significantly larger maximal COM displacements during the Kinski game than during the Wiiski game. Furthermore, it was shown that during the skiing games young subjects quickly learned that they did not have to move their COM much in order to be successful in the game, whereas elderly did not show such a quick decrease in COM displacements. Moreover, elderly moved more in posterior directions whereas young subjects moved more anteriorly. These findings might be related to the game incentives, since posterior displacements slowed the game down, and anterior displacements speeded the game up. For the older participants, the game speed was more likely to be experienced as too fast than too slow. As a result, elderly moved their COM posteriorly to slow down the game. By appropriately adapting the settings of the games to the skills of the participants, such a quick decline in COM displacements might be prevented. These results emphasize the importance of assessing the movement challenge in games used for balance training. Similar games impose different challenges due to the controllers and their gain settings. In conjunction with game mechanics, controllers and their gain settings determine the movements that are elicited by the games.Muscle weakness is another important risk factor for falls in elderly. In chapter three, the intensity and duration of muscle activity in Virtual Reality balance games was assessed. To this end, thirty young and thirty healthy elderly subjects played seven different VR balance games. Muscle activity of the m.Vastus Lateralis, m.Vastus Medialis, m.Soleus and m.Gluteus Medius was obtained using surface EMG. The processed EMG signals were divided in 200ms blocks, after which each block was categorized by its average normalized EMG activity i.e. >80%, 60-80%, 40-60% or 40% MVC, to identify prolonged muscle activity. We found that muscle activity during these VR training games was mostly below 40% MVC and prolonged activation was lacking. Although the activation levels during these VR games were low in general, faster movements could potentially provide a strength-training stimulus when longer activity bouts with more repetitions are included.To be able to adjust VR training as to optimally benefit from improved motivation in VR training, we need to evaluate which games and underlying game mechanics are considered motivating by older adults. In chapter four, we studied 30 elderly who played eight different VR-training games, and afterwards filled out the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Differences in intrinsic motivation between games were analyzed using Friedman’s ranked ANOVAs. In addition, depth interviews were conducted according to the laddering technique, to unveil the underlying game mechanics that players preferred. Overall, IMI scores were relatively high for all games, indicating that these VR games might be effective for increasing intrinsic motivation. Wii yoga and Kinect Adventures were the best scoring games on all IMI subscales. Both games provided regular positive feedback. An important game mechanic was Variation, which showed a strong link to important values such as: Stay Focused, Improve Fitness and Health and Independency. Furthermore, the game mechanics Visual Feedback and Positive Feedback, which lead to an increased Drive to Perform, were perceived valuable. Seemingly contradicting, but both important attributes such as Speed versus Slow Movements, emphasize the importance of designing VR training that adapts to the skill level of the player. We have shown that games with different game mechanics can induce high intrinsic motivation. When designing or selecting VR balance training games for elderly, these game mechanics should be incorporated to optimize a positive user experience and increase intrinsic motivation.Finally, novel VR balance games that are controlled with off-the-shelf hardware were developed based on the findings in previous chapters and recommendations for conventional training to prevent falls in healthy elderly. In chapter five the challenge in our novel VR balance games was evaluated. More specifically, we studied to which extent these games elicited challenging weight shifts and muscle activity, by evaluating muscle activity blocks and COM displacements relative to the participants’ functional limits of stability. Furthermore, the potential motivational pull of the VR training was evaluated by administering the intrinsic motivation inventory. Sixteen healthy elderly were recruited to play the novel games and two reference games that were found to be the most challenging ones for inducing muscle activity, or weight shifts in previous studies. The results show that we succeeded in creating motivating balance games that successfully challenged participants to elicit challenging weight shifts, by setting the game parameters to the functional limits of stability of each player. Our novel VR balance games induced COM displacements that resulted in medians of around 80% of FLOS or higher for all directions. Furthermore, the COM displacements in our novel games were larger for each direction compared to the reference game, although for Slingshot the left direction only reached significance at the third trial. Additionally, we improved the elicitation of consecutive muscle activity, by introducing long bouts of exercises, but it seems hard to elicit high intensity muscle activity through unloaded VR training.We conclude that affordable hardware can be effectively used to create challenging and enjoyable VR training programs. VR training programs that are optimized to elicit challenging weight shifts and muscle activity should be further studied in longitudinal interventions. These longitudinal interventions should uncover the effects of optimized VR training on balance, muscle performance and eventually the reduction of fall risk in healthy elderly.However, further research is needed to study the effect of optimized VR balance games that are developed and thoroughly tested to meet the requirements for effective training, of muscle strength, balance performance and finally a reduction of fall risk.Overall, this thesis contributes to a better understanding of how different VR training concepts can be used to optimally exploit age-specific movement requirements to challenge balance and muscle activation, as well as user requirements to increase intrinsic motivation." "Connected Care: Reconfiguration of care for the elderly in Indian transnational families" "Jeannette Pols, Koen Peeters" "Socio-ecological Health Research" "In India, family structures are changing dramatically due to the recent phenomenon of female labor migration. The social and economic realities of ageing and elder care are no longer national issues, as families, governments, and a number of public and private institutions organize care in transnational spaces. The study focuses on the care for Indian elderly whose daughters’ migrated to Oman as trained nurses. The research will explore how care is re-organized in transnational social space as children who are no longer providing care for their elderly parents “on site” are increasingly doing so from a distance by making use of new information and communication technologies (ICT). Moreover, it will examine physical, mental and social risks for the elderly in these families, particularly addressing the syndemics between depression, suicide, eating disorders and chronic illness among the elderly in relation to their social abandonment in the Indian culture where kin relations and co-habitation are crucial to individual’s health and wellbeing. The study will be relevant to current governmental, national and international bodies’ interests to understand the emerging practices of care for the elderly in the context of global migration. It will also offer a significant insight that will be useful in design and development of support interventions, including the use of ICT, for de facto childless elderly in local communities and the transnational social space."