Dr Mervyn Eastman | Social Care Reform & Gerontology Expert

Explore the work of Dr Mervyn Eastman, a leader in adult safeguarding and social care policy. Championing dignity in ageing through research, advocacy, and literary gerontology in the UK.

About Dr Mervyn Eastman

A Career Defined by Care, Advocacy, Social Justice and Reform

Dr Mervyn Eastman’s professional journey is rooted in a profound commitment to the rights and dignity of older people. His career spans the full spectrum of the social care sector, beginning with hands-on experience in frontline social care before ascending to influential senior policy roles.

A pioneering figure in the field of adult protection, Mervyn co-founded Change AGEnts and later left to co-found and become a Director of the Later Life Audio and Radio Co-operative, which seeks to democratise the voices of older people through audio and radio.

His leadership extended to the national stage as the Director of Better Government for Older People, where he worked to ensure that policy reform was directly informed by the lived experiences of older adults.

Throughout his tenure in the public and voluntary sectors, Dr Mervyn Eastman has remained a steadfast advocate for the prevention of elder abuse, and has been actively involved in shaping both contemporary practice and legislative discourse.

Research and Publications

Dr Mervyn Eastman has contributed extensively to the academic and professional understanding and engagement of gerontology, social care and adult safeguarding. His bibliography reflects a lifelong dedication to uncovering and addressing the complexities of elder abuse, including:

  • Old Age Abuse (1984)
  • Old Age Abuse: A New Perspective (1994)
  • Elder Abuse: Critical Issues in Policy and Practice (1999), co-edited with P. Slater
  • Dickens and His Older People (2026)

For a full list of scholarly articles and ongoing research contributions, please visit Dr Mervyn’s

ResearchGate profile.

Personal Philosophy

At the heart of Mervyn’s work is a set of core principles regarding how society views and treats its older members.

“
Mervyn has always been driven by social justice and human rights, which he attempted to apply throughout his social work and managerial career. Every life has value, and everyone has a right to be treated with humanity and dignity, whatever their circumstances.
”

Media and Professional Assets

For media enquiries, speaking engagements, or academic collaborations, please use the resources provided below. The downloadable press kit contains essential materials for professional use.

Download Press Kit

About Dr Mervyn Eastman

Dr Mervyn Eastman is a UK social care professional, author, and literary gerontology scholar. His work spans adult safeguarding, elder abuse awareness, ageing policy, public advocacy, and the representation of older people in literature.

Dr Mervyn Eastman

Latest Writing

DICKENS AND HIS OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional, Middle and Later Novels (1842–1870)
TITLE

DICKENS AND HIS OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional, Middle and Later Novels (1842–1870)

SUBTITLE

DAVID COPPERFIELD — PART ONE: Contextual Overview

DATE

30 April 2026

DICKENS AND HIS OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional, Middle and Later Novels (1842–1870)
TITLE

DICKENS AND HIS OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional, Middle and Later Novels (1842–1870)

SUBTITLE

DOMBEY AND SON — PART TWO: The Cast of Major and Supporting Older Adults

DATE

12 February 2026

DICKENS’ OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional and Middle Novels (1842–1861)
TITLE

DICKENS’ OLDER PEOPLE: Transitional and Middle Novels (1842–1861)

SUBTITLE

DOMBEY AND SON — PART ONE: Introduction and Context

DATE

10 July 2025

Writing Category

Explore the Book

Dickens and His Older People
Author Dr Mervyn Eastman

Dickens and His Older People examines how Charles Dickens portrayed older characters, ageing, dignity, dependency, and social value in his early fiction. Dr Eastman connects Victorian literature with social care, ageism, and the modern question of how society treats later life.

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