Research Involvement and Engagement (Sep 2023)

“Why involve older people in research?” Revisiting Alan Walker’s earlier editorial based on recent experiences from the UserAge research programme

  • Sara Hultqvist,
  • Elizabeth Hanson,
  • Håkan Jönson,
  • Björn Slaug,
  • Susanne Iwarsson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-023-00493-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Posed 16 years ago in a much-cited editorial by gerontologist, Alan Walker, “Why involve older people in research?” is a question that has since inspired researchers in many countries and from diverse disciplines. In Sweden, researchers and older people have been collaborating in the 6-year UserAge research programme, focusing on user involvement in research on ageing and health, UserAge aims at contributing to an in-depth understanding of the challenges and benefits of user involvement in different phases of the research process. Approaching programme completion, the authors take the opportunity to dwell upon current reasons for and modes of user involvement in ageing research in light of the argument originally put forward by Alan Walker back in 2007.