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Introduction: Older people represent a growing proportion of the population in most high‐income countries. The impact of oral diseases on health and well‐being is far‐reaching, and future graduates should be able to meet their needs in this phase of life. This research tested the feasibility of involving dental students in direct community engagement to explore older peoples' oral health concerns and information needs. Materials and Methods: Seventeen older people were recruited locally to attend workshops with eight dental students in a health and well‐being centre. First, older people selected oral health‐related topics important to them, raising relevant questions and concerns. Students provided evidence‐informed feedback on these selected topics at a subsequent workshop. Participants (students and older people) reflected on their involvement (via questionnaires, discussions and personal reflections). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The structure, process and outcome of the study were explored. Results: Structure: Both students and older people were willing to participate in workshops. Workshops in the community facilitated active engagement between both groups without the constraints of clinics. Process: Students considered pre‐workshop preparations adequate but raised issues about their ability to manage 'strong characters' within discussion groups. Outcome: Older people welcomed the initiative. Important topics raised by them were addressed by students giving them advice on maintaining their oral health. Students reported an improved understanding of how older people can be supported and expected a significant impact on future practice. Conclusion: Student involvement in direct community engagement was welcomed by all, demonstrating the feasibility and positive impact of the design whilst highlighting issues of importance for older people's oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of the psychosocial impact of deafblindness on older people is impoverished by a dearth of research in the field. Particularly limited are studies adopting a salutogenesis perspective, in which older deafblind people's coping capacities are explored. Much research focuses on vulnerability to unfavourable outcomes, which may perpetuate negative stereotypes of deafblind people as passive and dependent. Identifying deafblind people as a vulnerable group gives rise to misunderstanding of the impairment, perceptions of incapability and neglect of deafblind people's agency. This paper draws on data from the first United Kingdom-based study of vulnerability from the perspectives of older adults ageing with deafblindness. Findings presented here relate to participants' experiences of managing and coping with their felt vulnerability and ageing with deafblindness. The study adopted interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) as its qualitative approach. In-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken between October 2014 and July 2016 with eight participants, aged between 48 and 83 years. Data were analysed using an iterative six-step IPA process. Three superordinate themes were identified: taking action to protect self; psychological coping strategies; and accessing and using care and support. Participants' managing and coping strategies, and the care and support they value, respond to elements identified as generating felt vulnerability. Professionals should seek to bolster coping capacity and provide support in ways valued by those ageing with deafblindness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]