Abstract
Background: Co-research can be identified as a participatory approach to move towards person-centred integrated services that align with older adults’ values and lived experiences. However, older adults have rarely been involved as equal co-researchers in the field of integrated care. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of experiences and methodological reflections for co-research with older adults within integrated care, emphasizing construction of knowledge in a way that is inclusive, empowering and methodologically robust.
Approach: This research aims to gain meaningful insights into what matters to older adults within integrated care by involving four co-researchers with lived experience to work alongside a professional researcher. Co-research, defined as conducting research ‘with’ and ‘by’ older adults, calls for shift from traditional research that considers participants as passive objects to practices that sheds light on participants’ voice and lived experience, providing them greater control over research process.
In this research, co-researchers participated in all phases, from research design and data collection to analysis and reporting. The empirical material, consisting of video recordings from nine reflective workshops and research diary held throughout the process, offers a rich basis for examining both practical experiences and methodological reflections. Through these reflections, this research can provide valuable theoretical insights for advancing person-centred approaches in integrated care.
Results: Active involvement of co-researchers directed the study toward issues relevant to older adults living at home, aligning research outcomes with participants’ perspectives and priorities, which may differ from the interest of professional researchers. Experiences from the workshops indicated that co-researchers felt both empowered and valued, which not only enhanced the relevance of research outcomes, but also strengthened connection between older adults and professional researcher.
Further methodological reflections alongside with findings from other materials conducted during the research process, may reveal new and innovative ways to advance person-centredness in integrated care and demonstrate how active involvement of older adults as co-researchers can inform the holistic design of integrated services that better meets the unique needs of older adults living at home.
Implications: This study highlights how the active involvement of older adults can shape research outcomes that resonates with their perspectives and priorities, offering an inclusive approach in integrated care. By prioritizing the lived experiences and experiential knowledge, co-research can help bridge gaps between objectives of professional researcher and need of aging populations. Experiences and methodological reflections may inform and encourage future research practices within integrated care towards more person-centred models, supporting the delivery of integrated services that are responsive to the evolving needs of older adults.