We investigate the challenges of health and social care, as well as the social, economic and policy consequences of ageing populations in both developed and developing worlds.
Founded in 1986, our Institute leads excellent research and teaching in critical areas for ageing societies and older people, including healthy ageing, long-term care, employment, social participation, age-friendly cities, grandparents, housing and social policy.
Find out more about studying gerontology on our postgraduate courses page.
Annual David Hobman Lecture
The Annual David Hobman Lecture brings audiences the opportunity to explore concepts of ageing, including the social, economic and policy consequences of ageing populations in both developed and developing worlds.
The Annual Lecture was set up in memory of David Hobman CBE, who was the first director of Age Concern England and Chairman of the Age Concern Institute of Gerontology at King's College London, set up in 1986.
The 2025 annual lecture, 'New Ways to Support Older People: The Role of Technology in Social Care', presented by Michelle Dyson CB, considered the implications and key questions about the role of technology in social care, its impact on the care workforce, and how formal care services should integrate with the NHS, local communities, and families to provide more effective support.
Spotlight publication
'Later retirement, job strain and health: evidence from the new State Pension Age in the UK' outlines the health effects on women from recent reforms to the UK State Pension Age.
The study, the first to evaluate the health effects of the reforms, has found that rises in the State Pension Age have led to a 30% increase in the probability of depressive symptoms amongst women working in physically and psychosocially demanding jobs. These are jobs characterised by low-control combined with high job demands.
About a third of women in the UK work in these jobs, including those in housekeeping and restaurant services, personal care, sales, cleaning, and machine operation.