2025 UKARFF Early-career Researchers talks: Dr Manik Gopinath and Dr Mahera Ruby – Housing, Health, and Inequality: Emerging Insights from the Amar Bari Amar Jibon (ABAJ) Project
07/02/2025
Dr. Manik Gopinath and Dr. Mahera Ruby, funded by the Vivensa Foundation, are leading innovative research focused on the design of appropriate living environments for older adults, with a particular emphasis on addressing the unique needs of older minority ethnic groups. Their work explores how the built environment can better support the wellbeing of these communities. Currently, they are collaborating on this important project with the Bangla Housing Association and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, aiming to create more inclusive, responsive housing solutions that enhance the quality of life for older adults from diverse backgrounds.
Dr Manik Gopinath and Dr Mahera Ruby, The Open University, funded by Vivensa Foundation
The Amar Bari, Amar Jibon project — Bengali for My Home, My Life — aims to better understand the housing and health-related needs of older Bengali adults living in East London Boroughs. This population of older people is under researched in the UK despite experiencing chronic older health at a younger age.
After carrying out 76 interviews, Dr Manik Gopinath and Dr Mahera Ruby shared preliminary findings. They found older Bengali adults tend to experience co-morbidity and caring responsibilities alongside poor housing conditions, and are over-represented in the social housing sector. The interviews also asked people how they wanted to live. Researchers heard that housing often fell short of the needs of intergenerational living. For example, older adults sleeping in living spaces to give others use of bedrooms, and shared bathrooms putting pressure on the family because of the need to wash before and after prayers. More in-depth analysis is underway before the final results will be published.
Watch the recording
If you cannot see the embedded video below, then you can watch the recording on YouTube at this link.
Meet the speakers
Dr Manik Gopinath and Dr Mahera Ruby
Manik is a Senior Lecturer specializing in Ageing, with a particular focus on the complex intersections of ageing, place, and wellbeing. Her research is grounded in frameworks that are sensitive to diversity, values, processes, and contexts, allowing for a nuanced understanding of these issues. With a long-standing interest in designing environments that support the needs of older adults, Manik’s recent work has concentrated on the unique challenges faced by older minority ethnic groups. Mahera, an experienced educationalist, specialises in intergenerational learning.
Together, Manik and Mahera are currently collaborating on a project with the Bangla Housing Association and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network.