麻豆传媒

As Professor of Social Gerontology in the Population Health Sciences Institute, I co-lead 麻豆传媒's Centre for Ageing and Inequalities. I joined 麻豆传媒 in 2016, having previously been Director of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, University of Galway, Ireland (2010-15). I completed my undergraduate studies in Combined Honours (German and Politics) at 麻豆传媒 in 1985 before moving on to Aston University where I was awarded a PhD in Political Science in 1990. I have since held teaching and research posts at Bangor University, Keele University and the University of Applied Sciences in Worms, Germany.

From 2019 to 2022, I was President of the  I have held visiting professorships at NUI Galway, the University of Manchester, Keele University and the University of Vienna. 

Areas of expertise

• Unequal Ageing
• Social Inclusion and Exclusion in Later Life
• Ageing and Social Policy
• Environments of Ageing

Video and audio recordings

• In 2023, I delivered the Annual David Hobman Lecture at the Institute of Gerontology, King's College London. Watch my lecture on the topic 'From exclusion to inclusion in later life: a way forward'
• Watch my lecture on 'Ageism and age stereotyping during COVID-19', delivered as part of 麻豆传媒's INSIGHTS public lecture series,
• Listen to me talk about a range of topics relating to ageing and inequalities on a 'From 麻豆传媒' podcast 
• Watch my presentation on 'Media representations of older people during COVID-19', part of a Fuse COVID-19 seminar, 
• Listen to my interview on 'Old Age and COVID-19' with The Lancet
• Listen to me in conversation with Mervyn Eastman about key issues in ageing on Age Speaks
• I am a regular contributor to the Later Life Audio and Radio Network. Access these recordings

Google scholar:

ORCID: .

SCOPUS:

My research addresses issues relating to social inclusion and exclusion in later life, often with a focus on the spaces and places in which inclusion and exclusion arise and on the policy responses to forms of exclusion. My work has been supported by major grants from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and The Atlantic Philanthropies. Research findings have been published in such journals as Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, The Gerontologist, European Journal of Ageing, Ageing and Society, and Journal of Rural Studies. My most recent book, Social Exclusion in Ageing Societies: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives (co-edited with Kieran Walsh, Sofie Van Regenmortel and Anna Wanka, Springer, 2021), is available to download for free . With Chris Phillipson and Toni Calasanti, I co-edit the  book series for The Policy Press.

In 2017, working in collaboration with colleagues at , I led a team commissioned by to produce a scoping review on inequalities in later life. This  highlights the persistent and deep-seated nature of inequalities affecting people aged 50 and over in England.

I am currently involved in two multi-centre projects. In the  Multimorbidity Research Collaborative on Multiple Long-Term Conditions in Hospital, I am part of a team exploring inequalities in people's experiences of hospitalisation. In the , I am collaborating on work that challenges age-based biases in digital technologies.

Postgraduate Supervision

I am no longer accepting new doctoral candidates.

Past PhD students

Rahmah Mohd Amin ‘The health of older Malays in Britain: a qualitative exploration’ (PhD awarded 2005)

Allison E. Smith ‘The geographical experience of older people living in deprived urban neighbourhoods of England and Canada’ (PhD awarded 2006)

Charles Simpson ‘Older people’s engagement with neighbourhood renewal’ (PhD awarded 2010)

Jackie Reynolds ‘Social inclusion in later life: the role of arts and culture’ (PhD awarded 2011)

Christine FitzGerald ‘Exploring behavioural change in community meals provision for older people’ (PhD awarded 2015)

Marie Hanmore Cawley ‘Intergenerational learning: collaborations to activate young children’s civic engagement in Irish primary school’ (PhD awarded 2015)

Caroline Finn ‘The inter-relationship between poverty and gender across the life course’ (PhD awarded 2016)

Alison Herbert ‘What are the perspectives on ageing of mid-life women in rural Ireland?’ (PhD awarded 2017)

Mary Greene ‘Energy biographies: careers of domestic practice over the life course’ (PhD awarded 2017)

Bernard McDonald ‘Developing an age-friendly county programme in Fingal: Older people's lived experiences and the WHO age-friendly conceptual framework' (PhD awarded 2019)

Emily Loughlin ‘Exploring community living from a life-course perspective – towards life-course policy options’ (PhD awarded 2019)

Arlind Reuter ‘Digital citizenship in later life: insights from participatory action research with older content creators’ (PhD awarded 2021)

Libby Morrison ‘Co-ordinating for age: an assessment of intergenerational justice and rural disadvantage in Northumberland’ (PhD awarded 2023)

Laura Prato 'Wellbeing of adults with cognitive impairment and their carers during hospital discharge' (PhD awarded 2024)

Current PhD students

Ruth McDonald 'Market shaping and the supply of home care for older people in English and Welsh rural communities: a comparative study'

Sena Odabas 'Older women who live alone: between social exclusion and precarity'

Freya Thompson 'Inequalities in hospital care for people with multiple long-term conditions'

• Articles

  • Bellass S, Scharf T, Errington L, Bowden Davies K, Robinson S, Runacres A, Ventre J, Witham MD, Sayer AA, Cooper R. . BMC Medicine 2024, 11(2), 923-936.
  • Emmer De Albuquerque Green C, Scharf T, Kessler EM. . European Journal of Ageing 2022, 19, 1229–1241.
  • Serrat R, Scharf T, Villar F. . Voluntas 2022, 33, 615-626.
  • Wildman JM, Goulding A, Moffatt S, Scharf T, Stenning A. . Ageing and Society 2022, 42(10), 2284-2303.
  • Holton E, Fitzpatrick R, Maguire R, Commins S, Scharf T, Lawlor B, Johnson N, Hannigan C, McHugh Power J. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2788.
  • Reuter A, Scharf T, Smeddinck J. . Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 2021, CSCW 3, 257.
  • Cush P, Walsh K, Carroll B, O'Donovan D, Keogh S, Scharf T, MacFarlane A, O'Shea E. . Health & Social Care in the Community 2020, 28(6), 1961-1978.
  • Reuter A, Liddle J, Scharf T. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17(21), 8281.
  • Liddle J, Pitcher N, Montague K, Hanratty B, Standing H, Scharf T. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5544.
  • Walsh K, O'Shea E, Scharf T. . Ageing and Society 2019, 40(11), 2311-2337.
  • Nyqvist F, Nygård M, Scharf T. . European Journal of Ageing 2019, 16(2), 133-143.
  • Serrat R, Scharf T, Villar F, Gómez Ulloa C. . The Gerontologist 2020, 60(1), e38-e51.
  • Hanmore-Cawley M, Scharf T. . Journal of Intergenerational Relationships 2018, 16(1), 104-122.
  • Harte R, Hall T, Glynn L, Rodríguez-Molinero A, Scharf T, Quinlan LR, ÓLaighin G. . JMIR Human Factors 2018, 5(2), e18.
  • Walsh K, Scharf T, Keating N. . European Journal of Ageing 2017, 14(1), 81-98.
  • Warburton J, Scharf T, Walsh K. . Sociologia Ruralis 2017, 57(4), 459-480.
  • Harte R, Glynn L, Rodríguez-Molinero A, Baker PMA, Scharf T, Quinlan LR, Ó'Laighin G. . JMIR Human Factors 2017, 4(1), 1-21.
  • Conlon C, Carney G, Timonen V, Scharf T. . Qualitative Research 2015, 15(1), 39-56.
  • Harte R, Quinlan LR, Glynn L, Rodriguez-Molinero A, Scharf T, Carenas C, Reixach E, Garcia J, Carrabina J, O'Laighin G. . Journal of Personalized Medicine 2015, 5(4), 487-508.
  • Conlon C, Timonen V, Carney G, Scharf T. . Gender & Society 2014, 28(5), 729-751.
  • Burholt V, Scharf T. . The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences 2014, 69B(2), 311-324.
  • Walsh K, O'Shea E, Scharf T, Shucksmith M. . Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology 2014, 24(1), 37-49.
  • Liddle J, Scharf T, Bartlam B, Bernard M, Sim J. . Ageing and Society 2014, 34(9), 1601-1629.
  • Conlon C, Timonen V, Scharf T, Carney G. . Families, Relationships and Societies 2014, 3(1), 139-142.
  • Carney G, Scharf T, Timonen V, Conlon C. . Critical Social Policy 2014, 34(3), 312-332.
  • Burholt V, Scharf T, Walsh K. Imagery and imaginary of islander identity: older people and migration in Irish small-island communities. Journal of Rural Studies 2013, 31, 1-12.
  • Timonen V, Conlon C, Scharf T, Carney G. Family, state, class and solidarity: re-conceptualising intergenerational solidarity through the grounded theory approach. European Journal of Ageing 2013, 10(3), 171-179.
  • Buffel T, Phillipson C, Scharf T. Experiences of neighbourhood exclusion and inclusion among older people living in deprived inner-city areas in Belgium and England. Ageing and Society 2013, 33(1), 89-109.
  • Scharf T, Buffel T, Phillipson C. Erfahrungen mit der sozialräumlichen Exklusion und Inklusion älterer Menschen in sozialbenachteiligten innerstädtischen Nachbarschaften von Belgien und England. Jahrbuch für Kritische Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften 2013, 48, 47-70.
  • Bernard M, Liddle J, Bartlam B, Scharf T, Sim J. . Ageing & Society 2012, 32(1), 103-129.
  • Timonen V, Scharf T, Conlon C, Carney G. Intergenerational solidarity and justice in Ireland: towards a new national dialogue. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships 2012, 10(3), 317-321.
  • Sim J, Liddle J, Bernard M, Scharf T, Bartlam B. Home from home? A mixed-methods study of relocation within a purpose-built retirement community. Journal of Housing for the Elderly 2012, 26(4), 372-394.
  • O'Shea E, Walsh K, Scharf T. Exploring community perceptions of the relationship between age and social exclusion in rural areas. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults 2012, 13(1), 16-26.
  • Buffel T, Phillipson C, Scharf T. Ageing in urban environments: developing ‘age-friendly’ cities. Critical Social Policy 2012, 32(4), 597-617.
  • Walsh K, O'Shea E, Scharf T. Ageing in changing community contexts: cross-border perspectives from rural Ireland and Northern Ireland. Journal of Rural Studies 2012, 28(4), 347-357.
  • Middling S, Bailey J, Maslin-Prothero S, Scharf T. Gardening and the social engagement of older people. Working with Older People 2011, 15(3), 112-122.
  • Scharf T, De Jong Gierveld J. Loneliness in urban neighbourhoods: an Anglo-Dutch comparison. European Journal of Ageing 2008, 5(2), 103-115.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Social exclusion of older people in deprived urban communities of England. European Journal of Ageing 2005, 2(2), 76-87.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Social exclusion and quality of life of excluded older people. Working with Older People 2005, 9(3), 32-35.
  • Phillipson C, Scharf T. Rural and urban perspectives on growing old: developing a new research agenda. European Journal of Ageing 2005, 2(2), 67-75.
  • Smith AE, Sim J, Scharf T, Phillipson C. Determinants of quality of life amongst older people in deprived neighbourhoods. Ageing and Society 2004, 24(5), 793-814.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Older people’s perceptions of the neighbourhood: evidence from socially deprived urban areas. Sociological Research Online 2003, 8(4).
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE, Kingston P. Older people in deprived areas: perceptions of the neighbourhood. Quality in Ageing 2002, 3(2), 11-21.
  • Walker A, Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith A, Kingston P, Tester S, Hubbard G, Downs M, Victor C, Scambler S, Bond J, Bowling A, Gabriel Z, Banister D, Sutton D. . Gerontologist 2002, 42(special issue 1), 36-37.
  • Scharf T, Wenger GC, Thissen F, Burholt V. Soziale Integration und Partizipation älterer Menschen in ländlichen Räumen Europas [Social integration and participation of older people in Europe’s rural areas]. Sozialer Fortschritt 2001, 50(9-10), 208-213.
  • Scharf T. Social gerontology in Germany: historical trends and recent developments. Ageing and Society 2001, 21(4), 489-505.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Kingston P, Smith AE. Social exclusion and ageing. Education and Ageing 2001, 16(3), 303-320.
  • Scharf T. Ageing and intergenerational relationships in rural Germany. Ageing and Society 2001, 21(5), 547-566. In Preparation.
  • Scharf T, Wenger GC. Cross-national empirical research in gerontology: the OPERA experience. Education and Ageing 2000, 15(3), 379-397.
  • Scharf T. Informal support for older people in post-unification East Germany: stability and change. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 1997, 12(1), 61-72.
  • Scharf T. Waving not drowning: the consolidation of the German Greens. German Politics 1995, 4(2), 172-181.

• Authored Books

  • Scharf T. Ageing and ageing policy in Germany. Oxford/Providence: Berg, 1998.
  • Scharf T. The German Greens: challenging the consensus. Oxford/Providence: Berg, 1994.

• Book Chapters

  • McDonald B, Walsh K, Scharf T. . In: Buffel, T; Handler, S; Phillipson, C, ed. Age-friendly cities and communities: A global perspective. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2018, pp.143-166.
  • Walsh K, O'Shea E, Scharf T. . In: Skinner, M; Hanlon, N, ed. Ageing Resource Communities: New frontiers of rural population change, community development and voluntarism. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 2016, pp.59-73.
  • Shortall S. . In: The Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies. London and New York: Routledge/Falmer, 2016, pp.349-356.
  • Scharf T, Walsh K, O'Shea E. . In: Shucksmith, M; Brown, DL, ed. Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies. London: Routledge, 2016, pp.50-61.
  • Edmondson R, Scharf T. . In: Twigg, J; Martin, W, ed. Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology. London: Routledge, 2015, pp.412-419.
  • Scharf T, Keating N. . In: Viriot Durandal, J-P; Raymond,É; Moulaert, T; Charpentier, M, ed. Droits de vieillir et citoyenneté des aînés: pour une perspective internationale. Québec, Canada: Presses de l’Université du Québec, 2015, pp.283-296.
  • Scharf T. . In: Walsh, K; Carney, G; Ní Léime, Á, ed. Ageing through Austerity: Critical Perspectives from Ireland. Bristol, UK: The Policy Press, 2015, pp.115-131.
  • Bartlam B, Bernard M, Liddle J, Scharf T, Sim J. Creating home-like places in a purpose-built retirement village in the UK. In: Rowles, GD; Bernard, M, ed. Environmental gerontology: making meaningful places in old age. New York: Springer, 2013, pp.253-280.
  • Ziegler F, Scharf T. Community-based participatory action research: opportunities and challenges for critical gerontology. In: Baars, J; Dohmen, J; Grenier, A; Phillipson, C, ed. Ageing, meaning and social structure: connecting critical and humanistic gerontology. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2013, pp.159-181.
  • Scharf T, Keating N. Social exclusion in later life: a global challenge. In: Scharf, T; Keating, N, ed. From exclusion to inclusion in old age: a global challenge. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2012, pp.1-16.
  • Keating N, Scharf T. Revisiting social exclusion of older adults. In: Scharf, T; Keating, N, ed. From exclusion to inclusion in old age: a global challenge. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2012, pp.163-171.
  • Scharf T. Loneliness: an urban perspective. In: Age Concern Oxfordshire, ed. Safeguarding the convoy: a call to action from the Campaign to End Loneliness. Oxford: Age Concern Oxfordshire, 2011, pp.31-34.
  • Scharf T. Social policies for ageing societies: perspectives from Europe. In: Phillipson, C; Dannefer, D, ed. The SAGE handbook of social gerontology. New York/London: Sage, 2010, pp.497-512.
  • Shepherd G, Parsonage M, Scharf T. Social inclusion: research and evidence-based practice. In: Boardman, J; Currie, A; Killaspy, H; Mezey, G, ed. Social inclusion and mental health. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010, pp.279-294.
  • Scharf T. Too tight to mention: unequal income in older age. In: Cann, P; Dean, M, ed. Unequal ageing: the untold story of exclusion in old age. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2009, pp.25-52.
  • Scharf T, Bartlam B. Ageing and social exclusion in rural communities. In: Keating, N, ed. Rural ageing: a good place to grow old?. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2008, pp.97-108.
  • Bernard M, Scharf T. Critical perspectives on ageing societies. In: Bernard, M; Scharf, T, ed. Critical perspectives on ageing societies. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2007, pp.3-12.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Aging in a difficult place: assessing the impact of urban deprivation on older people. In: Wahl, H-W; Tesch-Römer, C; Hoff, A, ed. New dynamics in old age: individual, environmental and societal perspectives. Amityville, NY: Baywood, 2007, pp.153-173.
  • Victor CR, Scharf T. Social isolation and loneliness. In: Walker, A, ed. Understanding quality of life in old age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2005, pp.100-116.
  • Scharf T. Recruiting older research participants: lessons from deprived neighbourhoods. In: Holland, C, ed. Recruitment and sampling: qualitative research with older people. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing, 2005, pp.29-43.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Poverty and social exclusion: experiences of older people from black and ethnic minority groups in deprived areas. In: Walker, A; Northmore, S, ed. Growing older in a black and minority ethnic group. London: Age Concern England, 2005, pp.33-44.
  • Scharf T, Wenger GC, Thissen F, Burholt V. Older people in rural Europe: a comparative analysis. In: Schmied, D, ed. Winning and losing: the changing geography of Europe’s rural areas. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005, pp.187-202.
  • Holland C, Kellaher L, Peace S, Scharf T, Breeze E, Gow J, Gilhooly M. Getting out and about. In: Walker, A, ed. Understanding quality of life in old age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2005, pp.49-63.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. Poverty and social exclusion – growing older in deprived urban neighbourhoods. In: Walker, A; Hagan Hennessy, C, ed. Growing older – quality of life in old age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2004, pp.81-106.
  • Scharf T, Smith AE. Older people in urban neighbourhoods: addressing the risk of social exclusion in later life. In: Phillipson, C; Allan, G; Morgan, D, ed. Social networks and social exclusion. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2004, pp.162-179.
  • Scharf T. Sozialpolitik in Großbritannien: vom Armengesetz zum “Dritten Weg”. In: Kraus, K; Geisen, T, ed. Sozialstaat in Europa. Geschichte, Entwicklung, Perspektiven. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 2001, pp.43-62.
  • Scharf T. Family support of older people in post-communist Germany. In: Kolinsky, E, ed. Social transformation and the family in post-communist Germany. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998, pp.184-206.
  • Scharf T. The social integration of older people in rural Europe. In: Scharf, T; Wenger, GC, ed. International perspectives on community care for older people. Aldershot: Avebury, 1995, pp.95-121.
  • Scharf T. The German Greens: a political profile. In: Blühdorn, I;Krause, F; Scharf, T, ed. The green agenda: environmental policy and politics in Germany. Keele: Keele University Press, 1995, pp.131-142.
  • Scharf T. Older people: coping with the challenges of everyday life. In: Kolinsky, E, ed. Between hope and fear: everyday life in East Germany. Keele: Keele University Press, 1995, pp.201-225.
  • Blühdorn I, Krause F, Scharf T. Introduction: getting ready for the third phase. In: Blühdorn, I; Krause, F; Scharf, T, ed. The green agenda: environmental policy and politics in Germany. Keele: Keele University Press, 1995, pp.11-22.
  • Thissen F, Wenger GC, Scharf T. Community structure and support network variations in rural areas: a United Kingdom-Netherlands comparison. In: Scharf, T; Wenger, GC, ed. International perspectives on community care for older people. Aldershot: Avebury, 1995, pp.59-93.
  • Scharf T. Red-Green coalitions at local level in Hesse. In: Kolinsky, E, ed. The Greens in West Germany: organisation and policy making. Oxford/New York: Berg, 1989, pp.159-188.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Reuter A, Bartindale T, Morrissey K, Scharf T, Liddle J. . In: 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2019, Glasgow: ACM.

• Edited Books

  • Walsh K, Scharf T, van Regenmortel S, Wanka A, ed. . Cham: Springer, 2021.
  • Scharf T, Keating N, ed. From exclusion to inclusion in old age: a global challenge. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2012.
  • Bernard M, Scharf T, ed. Critical perspectives on ageing societies. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2007.
  • Blühdorn I, Krause F, Scharf T, ed. The green agenda: environmental policy and politics in Germany. Keele: Keele University Press, 1995.
  • Scharf T, Wenger GC, ed. International perspectives on community care for older people. Aldershot: Avebury, 1995.

• Reports

  • Scharf T, Beach B, Hochlaf D, Shaw C, Bamford S-M. . London, UK: Centre for Ageing Better, 2017.
  • Scharf T, McDonald B, Atkins AM. . Galway: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, 2016.
  • Ward P, Walsh K, Scharf T. . Galway: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, 2014.
  • Scharf T, Timonen V, Carney G, Conlon C. . Galway & Dublin: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway; Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, TCD, 2013.
  • Walsh K, O'Shea E, Scharf T. Social exclusion and ageing in diverse rural communities in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Galway: Healthy Ageing in Rural Communities (HARC) Research Network, 2012.
  • Finn C, Scharf T. . Galway: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, 2012.
  • Walsh K, Scharf T, Cullinan J, Finn C. Deprivation and its measurement in later life: findings from a mixed-methods study in Ireland. Galway: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, 2012.
  • Walsh K, Connolly S, Gavin M, Maguire C, McDonagh J, Murray M, O'Shea E, Scharf T. Older people in rural communities: exploring attachment, contribution and diversity in rural Ireland and Northern Ireland. Galway: Healthy Ageing in Rural Communities (HARC) Research Network, 2010. In Preparation.
  • Scharf T, Bartlam B. . London: Commission for Rural Communities, 2006.
  • Scharf T, Bartlam B, Hislop J, Bernard M, Dunning A, Sim J. . London: Help the Aged, 2006.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE. . London: Social Exclusion Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2005.
  • Phillipson C, Scharf T. . London: Social Exclusion Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2004.
  • Scharf T, Phillipson C, Smith AE, Kingston P. . London: Help the Aged, 2002.