ABSTRACT
Participatory research and development approaches are of particular importance in applied ageing sciences, i.e. in enabling the collaborative development and evaluation of application-oriented solutions based on concrete needs of older people. This chapter focuses on different participatory approaches implemented in interdisciplinary contexts as well as the potentials and challenges of applied participatory research that result from involving older adults as co-creators across the whole research and technical development process. Experiences and impacts derived from current research and scientifically supported practice projects are reflected and discussed. Ways in which the strengthening of active participation of older people in the context of quadruple helix cooperations can succeed are also considered. The added value of “doing it all together” – from conceptualization, implementation, evaluation up to validation – in collaboration with older people, user organizations, and citizens’ initiatives is analyzed. In summary, participatory approaches in applied research on ageing offer great opportunities in terms of individual empowerment, self-advocacy, political participation as well as community capacity building, and provide access to needs-oriented support solutions for independent living. Nevertheless, the reflections also show major challenges such as restrictions in reaching vulnerable older people associated with the risk of reproducing social inequalities through participatory projects.
