Kathryn Almack

Professor Kathryn Almack is a sociologist and academic at the University of Hertfordshire, leading the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care within the School of Health and Social Work. She specializes in the sociology of family lives, social care, palliative/end-of-life care, and LGBTQ+ aging. Her work emphasizes intersectionality in older adults' experiences, particularly regarding sexual/gender identity. She leads major initiatives like the SCRiPT study (enhancing social care research capacity) and the National Priorities Programme for Adult Social Care, focusing on digital technologies for older adults' wellbeing. Almack also co-leads the INCLUDEAGE project exploring inclusion for marginalized older LGBTQ+ and IDD individuals.

Research Interests:

• Sociology of family relationships and care
• Palliative/end-of-life care for LGBTQ+ populations
• Intersectionality in aging
• Adult social care policy and practice
• LGBTQ+ health disparities
• Qualitative methodologies

Key Roles:

• NIHR EoE ARC Lead for Adult Social Care
• Theme Lead for Ageing and Multi-Morbidity
• Editorial boards for Sociology, Mortality, and Families, Relationships and Society

Her recent articles analyze pandemic impacts on hospice care, digital technologies for older adults, and LGBTQ+ end-of-life needs. She actively engages in policy advocacy through groups like the NIHR Bereavement Advisory Group and UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships.