Involving older service consumers in health research: action research as a strategy for promoting involvement

This paper considers the extent of older service consumer involvement in health-related research and, through a critical consideration of the literature, explores the levels and ways in which older service consumers are involved. The experiences of research involvement from the perspectives of both older service consumers and professional researchers are explored, and the benefits of, and difficulties facing, such partnerships are considered. The importance of education and training for both older service consumers and professional researchers for such partnership working is highlighted, and strategies for enhancing effective involvement in planning, design and managing research are suggested. The benefits of utilising an action research approach to promote and support consumer involvement are considered and the process for developing this approach as a key strategy for promoting older service consumer involvement explored.