Home > Research > Researchers > Katherine Froggatt

Current Postgraduate Research Students

Katherine Froggatt supervises 1 postgraduate research students. If these students have produced research profiles, these are listed below:

Professor Katherine Froggatt

Formerly at Lancaster University

Research overview

My research expertise is in the area of palliative care for older people.  For the last 15 years I have undertaken research on palliative care provision in care homes, including for people with dementia. I research resident, family and staff experiences in this setting alongside organisational processes of change. I am also interested in public education and awareness approaches around ageing and end of life issues, particularly for older people.  Using collaborative methods I work with older members of the public and third sector organisations to consider how communities can address public awareness of ageing and end of life issues.

 

PhD supervision

Palliative and End of Life Care

Ageing and dying

Care homes and long term care settings for older people

Public involvement in research

Current Research

What are the impacts of user involvement in health and social care research and how can they be measured?  Popay J, Britten N, Froggatt K, Gibson A, Jacoby A,  Lobbon F, Mayes D, Purtell R, Rawcliffe D, Williamson P, Wyatt K. Medical Research Council.  (2010 -2013)

 

Both sides of the fence: using action research to improve end of life care for prisoners.

Turner, M, Payne S, Fletcher A, Froggatt K, Scott G, Gibson R.  Marie Curie Cancer Care. (2013-2015)

 

Comparing the effectiveness of palliative care for elderly people in long term care facilities in Europe (PACE). Van Den Block L, Deliens L and 11 collaborating organisations from six countries. (2014-2019). EUFP7.

 

Research Interests

My research is concerned with how we can make communities places where older people are supported to live and die well.  Experiences of ageing and dying make the finiteness of our lives more real.  As we age things change for us physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually. This raises challenges for us as individuals as we adapt to these changes, as we look to the future and think about what might lie ahead.  Society is also getting older.  How do organisations, and groups seeking to support older people, continue to do this in the changing context.

 I research these two aspects of individual and organisational experiences in two ways:

  1. Help people begin to make personal preparations for their future ageing that addresses physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. The ageing equivalent of a birth plan.
  2. Support care homes to be places where people can, and want to, live and die well.

Looking at these two areas is part of making a difference for older people in an important aspect of their lives.

Current Teaching

I am currently Health and Wellbeing Pathway lead for the Lancaster site of the ESRC NW Doctoral training Centre. I contribute to the MRes in Health and Wellbeing.

Additional Information

My background is in healthcare. I have practical experience as a nurse, working with older people and have worked for the last 20 years in universities and hospitals undertaking research to support better care provision, particularly focused on ageing and palliative care provision in care homes and for people with dementia, and public education about ageing and end of lfie issues.

 

As a researcher I generate new knowledge about experiences of ageing and dying and approaches to care. This occurs through funded projects based at the university. These studies are often in collaboration with organisations tha t deliver care and also other universities. For example, I have worked with colleagues from the Universities of Hertfordshire, Brunel, Surrey and UCL to look at how care homes work with GPs , District Nurses and other community staff to support older people to remain healthy in care homes.

I work in a participatory way with people and organisations so that together we develop new ideas and try them out to see how useful and relevant they are.  This involves engaging with older people about the focus of these projects and the ways in which they are designed and carried out. For example, I have worked with older adults in the Lancaster area, in a peer education project, to develop resources to help older people make their own plans for the future.

For a short introduction to my work please see the video link: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/shm/research/ioelc/people/kf_video.htm

 

View all (159) »