Participatory action research on webs of caring in the digital age across four European countries

Participatory action research on webs of caring in the digital age across four European countries Miranda Leontowitsch, Aivita Putnina, Marcus Andersson, Charlotta Niemistö, Rafaela Werny, Hanna Sjögren, Ilze Mileiko, Kārlis Lakševics, Artūrs Pokšāns, Māra Neikena, Līna Orste, Camilla Malm, Frank Oswald, Jeff Hearn, Clary Krekula Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The digital age requires people of all ages to communicate and organise their lives through digital technologies. The project EQualCare investigates how the growing population of older people living alone is managing this transition, how it shapes their (non-)digital social networks and what changes on a local level need to be brought about. This paper aims to give insight into the process of participatory action research (PAR) with older people in the community across four countries and reflects on experiences made by academic and co-researchers.Following the emancipatory underpinnings of PAR, which aims to reduce inequalities through collaboration and co-design, EQualCare involved nine teams of co-researchers across Finland, Germany, Latvia and Sweden making older people the centre of policy development. Co-researchers were involved in formulating research aims, collecting data, reflecting on data, formulating and disseminating recommendations for local policy stakeholders.Co-researchers’ motivation to invest considerable time and effort was driven by a des...

Source: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults - October 23, 2023 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Miranda Leontowitsch Aivita Putnina Marcus Andersson Charlotta Niemist ö Rafaela Werny Hanna Sj ögren Ilze Mileiko K ārlis Lakševics Art ūrs Pokšāns M āra Neikena L īna Orste Camilla Malm Frank Oswald Jeff Hearn Clary Krekula Source Type: research