Professor Catherine Hennessy

Professor of Ageing

Faculty of Social Sciences Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Catherine Hennessy

Share a link

About me

Catherine Hennessy is a social gerontologist and Professor of Ageing at the University of Stirling where she is engaged in promoting interdisciplinary research on ageing and older people. She holds degrees in anthropology (BA, MA) and public health (MPH, DrPH) and received her doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. She has researched older people’s health, well-being and care provision for over 30 years, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. From 1991-2001 she carried out research in public health gerontology at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Relocating to the United Kingdom in 2001, from 2001-2004 she was Deputy Director of two UK Research Council-funded initiatives, the Growing Older Programme and the UK National Collaboration on Ageing Research. From 2005-2015 she was Professor of Public Health and Ageing at Plymouth University.  At the University of Stirling she directs the MSc Gerontology and Global Ageing programme.

Research (1)

My research interests focus on healthy ageing, care delivery to older adults, rural ageing, family caregiving, civic engagement and community participation in later life, dementia, and interdisciplinary science.

Projects

GOALD: Connectivity and Digital Design for Health and Well-being Across Generations, Places and Spaces
PI: Professor Catherine Hennessy
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council

Outputs (41)

Outputs

Article

Tomaz SA, Taylor L, Ryde GC, Bradwell HL, Cooper L, Coffee P, Mannion G, Hennessy C, Haynes R, Whittaker AC & GOALD Project (2024) Generations Active Together: An Example of Using Physical Activity Promotion and Digital Technology to Bring Together Adolescents and Older People in Stirling, Scotland. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2024.2322442


Article

Bradwell pL, Cooper L, Edwards KJ, Baxter R, Tomaz SA, Ritchie J, Gaudl S, Veliz-Reyes A, Ryde GC, Križaj T, Warren A, Chatterjee A, Haynes R, Hennessy CH & Whittaker AC (2023) Staff perceptions towards virtual reality-motivated treadmill exercise for care home residents: a qualitative feedback study with key stakeholders and follow-up interview with technology developer. BMJ Open, 13 (11), Art. No.: e073307. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073307


Article

Godino L, Turchetti D, Jackson L, Hennessy C & Skirton H (2021) Genetic counselling as a route to enhanced autonomy: using a sequential mixed methods research approach to develop a theory regarding presymptomatic genetic testing for young adults at risk of inherited cancer syndromes. Journal of Community Genetics, 12 (4), pp. 685-691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-021-00548-x


Book Chapter

Hennessy C & Means R (2018) Connectivity of older people in rural areas. In: Walker A (ed.) The New Dynamics of Ageing Vol. 1. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 147 - 166.


Book Chapter

Vera-Sanso P, Barrientos A, Damodaran L, Gilhooly K, Goulding A, Hennessy C, Means R, Murray M, Newman A, Olphert W, Sandhu J, Tew P, Thompson JL, Victor CR & Walford N (2014) Participation and social connectivity. In: Walker A (ed.) New Science of Ageing. Bristol: Policy Press, University of Bristol, pp. 181-208. https://policypress.co.uk/the-new-science-of-ageing


Book Chapter

Curry N, Burholt V & Hennessy C (2014) Conceptualising rural connectivities in later life. In: Hennessy C, Means R & Burholt V (eds.) Countryside Connections: Older People, Community and Place in Rural Britain. Bristol: Policy Press, University of Bristol, pp. 31-62. https://policypress.co.uk/countryside-connections; https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447310303.003.0002


Book Chapter

Hennessy C, Means R & Burholt V (2014) Countryside connections in later life: setting the scene. In: Hennessy C, Means R & Burholt V (eds.) Countryside Connections: Older People, Community and Place in Rural Britain. Bristol: Policy Press, University of Bristol, pp. 1-30. https://policypress.co.uk/countryside-connections; https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447310303.001.0001


Book Chapter

Means R, Burholt V & Hennessy C (2014) Towards connectivity in a Grey and Pleasant land?. In: Hennessy C, Means R & Burholt V (eds.) Countryside Connections: Older People, Community and Place in Rural Britain. Bristol: Policy Press, University of Bristol, pp. 245-276. https://policypress.co.uk/countryside-connections; https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447310303.001.0001


Book Chapter

Hennessy C, Staelens Y, Lankshear G, Phippen A, Silk A & Zahra D (2014) Rural connectivity and older people’s leisure participation. In: Hennessy C, Means R & Burholt V (eds.) Countryside Connections: Older People, Community and Place in Rural Britain. Bristol: Policy Press, University of Bristol, pp. 63-94. https://policypress.co.uk/countryside-connections; https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447310303.001.0001


Article

Blakely G, Hennessy C, Chung MC & Skirton H (2012) A systematic review of the impact of foreign postings on accompanying spouses of military personnel. Nursing and Health Sciences, 14 (1), pp. 121-132. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84857195752&doi=10.1111%2fj.1442-2018.2011.00659.x&partnerID=40&md5=88853e6038ac4ef80a9379b3afa834c5; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2011.00659.x


Article

Davies M, Harries P, Cairns D, Stanley D, Gilhooly M, Gilhooly K, Notley E, Gilbert A, Penhale B & Hennessy C (2011) Factors used in the detection of elder financial abuse: A judgement and decision-making study of social workers and their managers. International Social Work, 54 (3), pp. 404-420. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872810396256


Article

Hennessy C, Buchner DM, Jordan JM, Leveille SG, Shefer AM & Stevens JA (2001) The public health perspective in health promotion and disability prevention for older adults: The role of the centers for disease control and prevention. Journal of Rural Health, 17 (4), pp. 364-369. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2001.tb00290.x


Article

Hennessy C, Zack MM, Moriarty D, Scherr PA & Brackbill R (1994) Measuring health-related quality of life for public health surveillance. Public Health Reports, 109 (5), pp. 665-672. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0028153004&partnerID=40&md5=86018c20afab630c93b58f6058bdb26f


Article

Hennessy C, Archea C, McNeely E, Martino-Saltzman D, Whittington F & Myers D (1993) Restraints in long term care. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 11 (2), pp. 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/J148v11n02_02


Research programmes

Research centres/groups