Working with complexity: challenges and opportunities in working with older people with multiple needs

Introduction

Complex needs in later life emerge from the interaction of multiple long-term conditions, functional impairments, cognitive and mental health challenges, and social vulnerabilities. These interrelated factors often exceed the capacity of standardised responses, calling for holistic, coordinated, and adaptive approaches to care.

In some cases, complexity arises from the nature of the condition itself, as in deaf blindness, where the functional impact of combined impairments is greater than the sum of its parts.

We invite contributions that examine how complex needs in older age are conceptualised, addressed, and experienced. We particularly welcome papers grounded in practical, real-life contexts that foreground the experiences of older people and their carers—professional or otherwise—and offer insights that may inform practice in comparable settings. Theoretical contributions are also encouraged, provided their practical relevance and implications are made explicit.

List of Topic Areas

• Care practices (for example, care in specialised settings such as 'dementia villages' versus 'mixed facilities')
• Ethical and relational dimensions
• Intersections of physical, mental and social needs
• Housing, the environment and ageing in place
• Communication and discourse
• Inequalities and social exclusion
• Technology - opportunities and challenges
• The experiences of older people and their carers and support systems

Submission Information

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Author guidelines

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Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key Dates

Closing date for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026