The Positive Ageing approach has been developed by Guy Robertson.            

Guy has worked in numerous roles within the field of ageing for over a quarter of a century and is a passionate proponent of the need to develop more positive approaches to ageing.  He was Head of Strategic Planning for Older and Disabled adults in a large urban Social Services Department, headed up a £60m Government prevention programme designed to improve the lives of older people, was Editor of the academic journal ‘Working with Older People’, and produced a major scoping study of Transitions in Later Life for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.  

A major feature of his later work has been to examine the psychological and emotional aspects of ageing and to press for these dimensions of older people’s lives to be given more prominence in both policy and practice.  He has made numerous presentations on the philosophy and practice of positive ageing and has developed and delivered a range of personal development workshops to enable people to incorporate these principles into their lives.

He is on the Management Group of the Campaign to End Loneliness and is also a bereavement counsellor and life coach. He is married, has two grown up children and divides his time between Bristol and Cornwall.

Articles and Publications by Guy Robertson

Special Advisor to – The Psychology of Loneliness: Why it matters and what we can do, (July 2020), Campaign to End Loneliness.

ROBERTSON, G. 2019. Understanding the psychological drivers of loneliness: the first step towards developing more effective psychosocial interventions. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 20, 143-154.

Special Advisor to –

ROBERTSON, G. 2016. Attitudes towards ageing and their impact on health and wellbeing in later life: an agenda for further analysis. Working With Older People, 20, 214-218.

ROBERTSON, G. 2016. Transitions in later life: Scoping research. Gulbenkian Foundation.

ROBERTSON, G. 2015b. Spirituality and ageing – the role of mindfulness in supporting people with dementia to live well. Working With Older People, 19, 123-133.

ROBERTSON, G. 2015a. Ageing: the silver lining – the opportunities and challenges of an ageing society for local government. London: Local Government Association.

ROBERTSON, G. & LITHERLAND, R. 2014. Mindfulness meditation: can it make a difference? The Journal of Dementia Care, 22, 31-33.

ROBERTSON, G. 2014a. How to age positively: a handbook for personal development in later life. Bristol: Positive Ageing Associates.

ROBERTSON, G. 2014b. Making a strategic shift towards early action: Lessons and recommendations. London: The Early Action Funder’s Alliance.

ROBERTSON, G. 2014d. Transitions in later life: a review of the challenges and opportunities for policy development. Working With Older People, 18, 186-196.

ROBERTSON, G. 2013. The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe. Working With Older People, 17, 7-18.

LITHERLAND, R., LEADER, G., MASON, T., PILCHICK, T., SANSON, S. & ROBERTSON, G. 2013. Mindfulness and Dementia: Report of a pilot study. Innovations in Dementia and Positive Ageing Associates.

ROBERTSON, G. 2012c. Positive ageing – from the policital to the personal. Working With Older People, 16, 149-153.

ROBERTSON, G. 2012b. Ageing Well Framework. Ageing Well in Wales Workshop, 2012, Cardiff.

ROBERTSON, G. 2012a. Active ageing and solidarity between generations: the contribution of volunteering and civic engagement in Europe. London: Volonteurope & CSV.

ROBERTSON, G. 2010. Improving care and saving money: Learning the lessons on prevention and early intervention for older people. London: Department of Health.

ROBERTSON, G. 2008a. Making a strategic shift to prevention and early intervention: A guide. London: Department of Health.

ROBERTSON, G. 2008b. Making a strategic shift to prevention and early intervention: Key messages for decision makers. London: Department of Health.