Ge alla en chans att vara med - Brukarinvolvering i forskning med och för sköra äldre personer

Abstract

Aims: The overall aim with this thesis was to explore how the voices of frail older people can be heard and acknowledged through user involvement in research on aging and health. Two studies are included with the specific aims; I) to explore frail older people’s experiences of involvement in research, and II) to explore nursing home staff experiences of co-designing health care services with frail older persons. Method: Study I was an individual interview study inspired by constructivist grounded theory, with a total of 17 persons above 75 years of age, screened as frail. Study II was a focus group study with 17 nursing home professionals. Findings: In study I the core category, “Challenging oneself on the threshold to the world of research”, symbolises a perceived distance between frail older people and the research world, but also challenges that frail older people could go through when choosing to be involved in research. In study II the results are summarised in the overarching theme “Moving from object towards person” which describes the co-design process as a real eye-opener for staff in terms of realising the capability of both the frail older persons and themselves. Conclusions: Frail older people should have the same rights as other groups to make their voices heard in research that concerns them. User involvement seems to be a possible way for more relevant research for frail older person. However, the opportunity to be involved in research should be based on their real capabilities, and not limited by stereotypic views of ageing and frailty.