Celebrating and recollecting our impact: Announcing the 2022 <scp>IJOPN</scp> awards

Here at the International Journal of Older People Nursing (IJOPN), we always look forward to our awards season as an opportunity to celebrate the excellent work our authors, reviewers and editorial members do. Such work is vital to ensuring that IJOPN continues to be the forum for excellent research in older people nursing and a force for improvement in health and social care for older populations. We—this journal's community that includes editors, authors, reviewers and readers—have worked over many years to shape this journal as it is today. These awards recognize significant contributions to it. This year, we present three awards for excellent research published in IJOPN during 2022. Our panel selecting these awards included Associate Editor Prof Jennifer Baumbusch, as well as longstanding friends of IJOPN Dr Ruth Ludwick and Dr Hiromi Hirata. So, without further ado, may we present the award winners! Undertaking the research presented in the paper was a deeply inspiring journey for us. The motivation behind this study stemmed from a strong passion for improving the quality of life for older individuals, particularly those facing dementia in the context of developing countries like Nepal. Dementia […] is underrecognized topic in Nepalese context and witnessing the challenges and struggles faced by both the elderly residents and healthcare professionals motivated us to delve into this critical area of research. Supporting the spirituality of older people with dementia has been a phenomenon of my interest for a long time. The phenomenon is broad because the concept of spirituality is so individual and diverse. Spirituality is part of personality. With the progression of dementia, older people may need more external support in preserving their personality. Supporting spirituality in nursing care can help people with dementia to continue their individual lives, even when the dementia has advanced and weakened the ability to verbally communicate. Finally, we are pleased and quite moved to present an award to Maria Isabel Fonseca for her paper, ‘Sexual expression involving people with dementia living in long-term care facilities: Staff's reactions’ (Fonseca et al., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12474). Members of the panel commented on the importance of this research in addressing an exceptionally poorly researched area, with clear implications for the practice of older people nursing. Maria Isabel Fonseca was a convinced, enthusiastic, enterprising, and intelligent defender of the quality of life and dignity of people with dementia. Her enthusiasm for these causes and hard work always served as motivation and guide for the whole team that worked on this paper. The dissemination of this research was always understood as an obligation to contribute to respectful attitudes towards people with dementia. Unfortunately, the progression of the disease did not allow Maria Isabel Fonseca to complete the publication process… We greatly appreciate the additional recognition with the attribution of an award that assumes a unique meaning for the family and for those who had the privilege of knowing, relating to, researching, and believing in and defending the cause of dignity for people living with dementia that Maria Isabel Fonseca cared so much about. This paper was born from the desire of an absolutely admirable person, Maria Isabel Fonseca, to dignify and respect the rights of people with dementia. It has an extraordinary value as a legacy and memoir of her convictions and causes. IJOPN depends on excellent reviewers to be able to publish excellent research. This year, we recognise Emma Adams, Joanne Brooke, Samuel Lapkin and Vanessa Trinca for their notable contributions in providing consistently superlative peer reviews in service to IJOPN and our authors. We asked each of them to share something about what motivates them to undertake peer review. Emma Adams said, ‘I'm inspired to peer review because it provides opportunity to engage with emerging research, helps researchers to improve their work, and expands my own knowledge’. Joanne Brooke told us ‘I strongly believe any academic who publishes their work in journals should also contribute to the peer review process. I am genuinely interested in the work of others, especially in the fields of my expertise. The peer review process is also a productive way to ensure my knowledge remains contemporary. My aim is always to be supportive and constructive when reviewing a paper, to ensure I am enabling the authors to develop their work to a publishable standard’. Sam Lapkin noted that ‘Receiving the 2022 International Journal of Older People Nursing (IJOPN) Peer Review Award is a true honour, and I am deeply grateful for recognising my contributions to the journal's mission. The opportunity to engage in the peer review process seamlessly aligns with my fervour for advancing evidence-based practices and innovative approaches within gerontological nursing research, practice, and education. Moreover, serving as a Peer Reviewer for IJOPN allows me to contribute to the nursing community and the broader health research sphere. This recognition further underscores my commitment to upholding exceptional standards in peer review and fostering the exchange of ideas that drive the progression of gerontological nursing. I eagerly anticipate continuing this journey of discovery, learning, and collaboration with the journal's community and beyond’. Vanessa Trinca shared ‘I feel inspired as a Peer Reviewer because I am privileged to be one of the first individuals to learn more about some of the innovative research projects conducted by dedicated researchers, clinicians, and others to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults, and those who work with older adults. As a Peer Reviewer, I am one piece of the puzzle that helps contribute to the advancement of research and practice, but I am also granted the opportunity to continue to grow as a researcher, which I am grateful for’. Each of their statements underscores just why their reviews are so helpful to authors and editors alike. We hope their words inspire future peer reviewers! Please reach out via social media or email to learn more about joining our peer review panel. Finally, the Editorial Board is the heart of any journal, lending credibility, insight, and direction for its scope and place in the discipline. We are incredibly lucky here at IJOPN to have an editorial board filled with leading lights in research and practice. This year, we recognise Barbara Bowers, Christine Bradway, Louise Daly and Assumpta Ryan for their exceptional service to the journal. When asked to say something about the journal and what it means to them as Board Members, Barbara Bowers noted ‘What is special about IJOPN is the great variety, of topics, countries represented, and the quality of the work it publishes. It has always been open to issues and methodological approaches that represent the diversity that exists. Unlike many journals that seem to review manuscripts using a culturally restricted lens, making it difficult for ‘outsiders’ to publish, IJOPN embraces the great diversity of nursing issues and creative approaches to addressing them. Always a great read!’ Chris Bradway said ‘This journal, board, and editorial staff, and all our authors are a gift! I've learned so much from travel (both in-person and virtually!) and IJOPN gives me the opportunity to travel the world with awesome nurses, interprofessional colleagues, and older people!’ Louise Daly offered that ‘To be part of the editorial board of the International Journal of Older People Nursing is a privilege. I very much enjoy the role and its related activities and believe in the importance of the editorial board as a pivotal aspect of the journal's quality and what it aims to achieve now and into the future. Being an editorial board member and participating in peer review activities, enables me to work with colleagues who are equally passionate about care for older adults and the dissemination of commentary, empirical evidence, and innovation in the field. I look forward to continued participation and supporting the growth of the journal and all it stands for’. Assumpta Ryan told us ‘Being a member of the Editorial Board of IJOPN provides me with a much-valued opportunity to keep abreast of international developments in gerontological nursing. The diverse range of topics and the innovative research designs of contributors are both informative and inspiring. Having an opportunity to read about research within and outside my own particular interests is particularly rewarding’. We encourage you to find a few moments to learn more about these and all our Board Members contributions to gerontological nursing and care for older people. They are terrific leaders! We are truly fortunate indeed to edit a journal that is so well supported by its community of authors, reviewers and readers. Our gratitude this global community is boundless. We look forward to reading your excellent research in the coming year and to working with you to ensure that the highest standards of quality are maintained in gerontological nursing research globally. Until next year's awards, keep reading! And you can connect with IJOPN on social media via Twitter with the handle @IntJnlOPN and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IJOPN/. We look forward to hearing from you!

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