Psychological effects of the participation of people with dementia and their relatives and caregivers in research projects

Project description

The participation of people with dementia is a central requirement of the National Dementia Strategy. People with dementia should not only be involved in the development and implementation of measures, but also in the design, monitoring and implementation of research projects. According to international scientific evidence, the involvement of people with lived experience is associated with a higher probability of achieving positive research results. It is also more likely that the research results will find practical application and be implemented sustainably in healthcare measures. From a psychological perspective, however, participation is not only a means of enriching and improving research results through the personal experience of people with dementia and their relatives - it can also have a positive influence on the experience and behavior of the people affected. By having a beneficial effect on a person's mental processes and states, participation can thus be understood as a (psychological) intervention. In both advisory boards, people with dementia and relatives of people with dementia are involved as co-researchers in agenda setting, the development of questions and the assessment of current research. Furthermore, methods for a successful advisory board are tested and evaluated with the members.