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These are this year's new SWEAH PhD students

Group photo new affiliated PhD students
New SWEAH PhD students met at Forum Medicum in Lund (five are missing). Photo: Lill Eriksson

On Tuesday, the PhD students who joined SWEAH 2026 met, at Forum Medicum in Lund. They introduced themselves and their research projects, received information about the graduate school, networked and met alumni and PhD students who have been involved with SWEAH for some time.

As usual at the graduate school's introductory meetings, a wide range of research projects were presented. This involves completely new research in everything from older adult abuse in dental care and how to communicate with older adults, to why so many who wish to die at home instead do so, against their will, in a care environment.

Other exciting research areas that the new PhD students are investigating are how older adults are affected by climate change heat waves, loneliness, what facilitates/difficulties the older adults' physical activity and a completely new mathematical instrument for evaluating the final stages of life in palliative care.

Woman in front a group of people
Camilla Allert, Linnaeus University, is a new SWEAH PhD student starting this year. Photo: Lill Eriksson

– I discovered SWEAH at the graduate school's gerontology course in Gothenburg a year ago. I am attracted by the international exchange and to be able to take part in other aspects and perspectives of aging. It does something to you when we meet for real. I myself work in healthcare science, but need to broaden my knowledge, for example in biology and sociology, says Camilla Allert, a new PhD student from the partner university Linnaeus University.

Woman in front of a glass wall
New SWEAH PhD student Annicka Appelberg, Kristianstad University, is looking forward to networking. Photo: Lill Eriksson

– I am mainly interested in networking and alumni activities, anything that opens up new contacts. I might continue at SAIN after my time at SWEAH. You need support and networking even after your doctoral studies, says Annicka Appelberg, a new PhD student from partner university Kristianstad University.

Every fall, doctoral students from SWEAH's partner universities can apply to the graduate school.
 

Here are all of this year's newly joined SWEAH PhD students and their research projects

Name Home universityDisciplinary orientationProject/ thesis title
TodorovJohannesJönköping UniversityHealth Sciences with a specialization in oral health, focusing on the intersection of gerontology, public health, and social vulnerability.Identifying Elder Abuse: The Role of Dental Care Professionals and Neglected Oral Health
AppelbergAnnickaKristianstad UniversityReg. Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapist, Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine/Health SciencesCare and Daily Life at Home with Parkinson’s Disease
Thermaenius Ingrid Linköping universitet, Institutionen för kultur och samhälle (IKOS) Avd. Socialt arbeteSocial workThe role of the social worker in collaboration with people with dementia
JohanssonJohannaSchool of Health and Welfare, Jönköping UniversityHealth and care sciencesTentiative title: The impact of heatwaves on the health and wellbeing of community dwelling older adults - experiences and adaptive strategies for outdoor activities in an urban environment
JacobsenJulietLund University, Medical OncologyPalliative CareTime and Timing in Serious Illness: An exploration to optimize the visualization and analysis of patients’ palliative care needs 
LindhagenSébastienDalarna UniversityCare SciencesUnderstanding and assesing loneliness in older adults
KimHyejiLund UniversitySocial WorkPerson-Centered Care as Perceived by Older Home Care Users in Sweden: A Mixed-Methods Study on the Impact of Intersectional Discrimination and Service Characteristics
AllertCamillaLinnaeus UniversityCaring scienceCo-creation as a way to enable participation and mutual learning to improve mealtime situations in nursing homes
AnderssonEmelieLund University, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Faculty of MedicineHealth EconomicsNavigating the Complexities of Elderly Care: Health Economic Evaluations of Integrated and Intensive Care Solutions
ErikssonSofiaUmeå UniversityPhysiotherapySupporting and evaluating implementation of physical exercise initiatives for older persons in a municipality in Sweden - a multiple case study
HellgrenSannaKristianstad UniversityCaring sciencePerson-centred communication with and for older adults    – Skills training in nursing education and later application in primary care in home settings
AbaciAlaraKarolinska InstitutetMedicine, Geriatrics, Health communication, Medical sciences, Medical communication, Risk factors for Dementia, Dementia prevention, Behavioural sciences, Psychology, Implementation science, Digital health, Shared decision-makingMedical communication about dementia risk and digital multidomain dementia prevention
SaellströmSuzanneUmeå UniversityOccupational therapyPromoting active ageing through proactive approaches to housing and relocation
Johansson AfreixoAriKarolinska InstitutetHealth ScienceJust an ordinary death? Co-researching the End-of-Life with support from homecare.
MaYimingKarolinska InstitutetNutritional and geriatric epidemiologyPersonalised Diet for Healthier Longevity: the Role of Dietary Changes, Sensitive Windows of Exposure, Psychosocial Background, and Morbidity