Abstract
Background: The Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care (i.e. the Limburg Living Lab) is a collaborative interdisciplinary initiative based in Maastricht, Netherlands, where academia and long-term care (LTC) providers work together to improve the quality of life and care for older adults, as well as the working conditions for LTC staff. This unique partnership integrates the expertise of researchers, LTC professionals, residents, and their families to conduct research and implement findings into practice. Key components of the Living Lab model include "linking pins" (senior researchers assigned to partner organizations to foster research collaboration), practice-based linking pins, learning team communities (i.we. so called knowledge groups), and advisory boards consisting of older adults as well as professionals. This integrated approach is designed to bridge the gap between research and practice, creating a robust infrastructure for research application within LTC settings. This workshop will
Audience: This workshop is designed for researchers, LTC professionals, policymakers, and educators interested in a Living Lab approach to bridge the gap between research and practice. Participants will benefit from exploring practical strategies for creating sustainable, multidisciplinary and collaborative structures that drive innovation in LTC.
Approach: The workshop will follow a structured, interactive format to maximize engagement and knowledge exchange and consists of the following parts:
1. Introduction into the living lab (15 min): An overview of the Livng Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care, highlighting its unique collaborative model (incl. it’s key factors) and the impact it has created in the last 25 years.
2. Group activity (15 min): Participants will work in small groups to discuss how factors from the Living Lab model would look like in their own contexts. Which factors are important for them? Which factors would be transferable to their own (work)setting? How would these factors look and what is necessary to get them into place?
3. Presentation: The roles of "linking pins" and learning communities within the lab. (10 min)
4. Group activity (15 min): Participants will work in small groups to discuss how they could establish roles such as linking pins, as well as learning communities within their own setting. What do they need, what needs to change and what do they expect from such roles and groups?
5. Wrap-up and closing (5 min): summarizing take aways, and ask the question: What first step toward setting up a living lab are participants taking in the coming 3 days?
Outcomes: Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the Limburg Living Lab model, including key factors and actionable insights into establishing such a collaborative structure. Key take-home messages will include the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships, the role of practice-based learning, and how to leverage/implement scientific results in order to drive meaningful LTC improvements.