2025-26 HOPE summer students

Posted by on 14 November 2025

Tags: summer scholarship, students, geriatrics, evidence-based care, admission to long term care, acute hospitalisation, outdoor gyms, ageing well

These scholarships are awarded to support high achieving University students to do an ageing focused research project over the 10-week summer break. The aim is not only to achieve high quality worthwhile research, but also to enable these students to gain valuable skills, by working with experienced researchers, who supervise these projects. This year we have awarded two Summer Scholarships.

Alexandria Sharp - University of Auckland

Supervisor: Professor Janine Wiles and Dr Carl Webber

Outdoor fitness equipment in parks and ageing well

Outdoor Fitness Equipment provides a range of opportunities for individuals and communities in the form of physical activity. The benefits of this physical activity are often the primary focus when considering the public health implications of its development. However, this research looks to focus on outdoor fitness equipment as a social space for the older community. The project aims to better understand the use of outdoor fitness equipment in public parks by older adults and/or ways they could be enhanced to encourage further sustained use by diverse older adults. The intention of this research is not only to look at whether outdoor fitness equipment is used, but also how it is used as a community of place. 

Zachary Sit - University of Auckland

Supervisor: Dr Katherine Bloomfield

Unplanned admissions to long-term care following acute hospitalisations in older adults: demographics and prior healthcare utilisation

For many older people living with significant frailty, living at home becomes increasingly challenging and the transition to long-term care is needed. Ideally, this transition is a planned one that occurs from within the community. However, for many older people this is not possible and occurs during an acute hospitalisation, for a variety of possible reasons.

Significant pressures currently exist within health and social care. Delays in discharge from hospital to long term care can prolong length-of-stay for older people, which can cause individual harm, and which can impact the overall hospital flow and capacity.

This study performs a retrospective analysis of the general and health demographics and prior healthcare utilisation of older people previously residing at home, but who transition to long term care during an acute hospitalisation. This may potentially inform future studies aimed at earlier interventions to reduce pressures on acute hospital services.