Dr. Michael Stones
Professor Emeritus
- B. Tech. (Brunel), Ph.D. (Sheffield)
Dr. Stones has a broad program of research that includes aging, quality of life, and assessment and intervention within health and social care. His current projects related to individual differences in aging, the modeling of psychological well-being, the abuse of older people, physical activity effects on cognition, and the design and evaluation of health assessment systems. Much of this work includes collaboration with community groups and agencies. He teaches Psychology 3151 (Aging and Cognition), Psychology 4131 (Psychology and Aging), Psychology 5211 (Psychogerontology).
Before arrival at Lakehead University in 1998, Michael Stones was Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and the University of Waterloo. He was also Co-Director of the MUN Gerontology Centre and Scientific Director of the University Institute of Social Gerontology of Quebec. At Lakehead University, he has also been Director of what is now termed the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH).
He is best known in academia for contributions to gerontology. He authored or edited nine books; wrote chapters for 37 books; published over 120 scientific articles; plus, wrote over 30 knowledge transmission articles for professional of general readerships. The topics of his research and writings encompass subjective well-being and quality of life in older people; age trends in sport and other physical performances; elder abuse; later life sexuality and intimacy; and the use of health informatics to promote a better quality of care in long-term care settings.
Stones always tried to find practical applications for his research. Examples include the development of Seniors Resource Centres in Newfoundland, with the primary centre in St. John’s thriving more than 40 years after its inception. At Waterloo, he assisted the development of a Resident Assessment Instrument for Mental Health, now used throughout Ontario. In Quebec, research by his team informed the Provincial Government about policy and practices. In Thunder Bay, he worked alongside community groups to introduce or evaluate projects on positive aging, seniors’ safety and elder abuse.
His current research mainly emphasises age trends in sport. His writing is also directed toward a general readership for knowledge transmission purposes.