As with Volume 1 this Conclusion is devoted mainly to a summary of the key findings from the New Dynamics of Ageing (NDA) projects represented by the chapters herein. It also provides an opportunity to review the contribution made by the NDA programme to ageing research, which follows the key findings. The first book in this NDA series, The new science of ageing, contained thematic syntheses of all of the research conducted by the programme, written by multidisciplinary teams of NDA researchers. Thus the three volumes together provide a comprehensive picture of the NDA programme: the first one synthesising the programme into its main themes and the other two providing detailed insights into each project, together with summaries of their main findings. Readers wanting even more details are requested to follow up the references cited in all three volumes and to visit the NDA website at www.newdynamics.group.shef.ac.uk

Key findings

As in Volume 1, this section summarises the key findings from each of the projects reported on in the earlier chapters. Again, fuller details can be found on the NDA website (see above).

Chapter Two: Sleep and autonomy in later life: the SomnIA project

• • Good sleep is a pre-requisite for older people's wellbeing and ability to engage fully in daytime activities, whether living in their own homes or in a care home.

• • Older men and women would rather not go to their doctor for help with poor sleep because they expect to sleep less well as they age, and believe they may be prescribed sleeping medication.

• • Care home routines, staffing levels and care practices influence both the sleep and night-time experience of care home residents.

• • Residential care homes have low levels of artificial lighting. Artificial light supplementation in communal areas can increase the time that care home residents spend under brighter light conditions without producing adverse effects.

• • Sensitively designed new technology has much potential to support sleep in older people. Four prototypes developed were musical pillows, automatic bedroom lighting, an illuminated tray for easy access to items at night, and a portable hearing aid.

Chapter Three: Negotiating unfamiliar environments

• • The meaning of space is important: cognitive maps are constructed through more than just physical and built environments. Emotional spaces are pertinent for older people.