Developing partnerships with older people and their family carers: The ÄldreVäst Sjuhärad model

This article describes the aims and philosophy of a research centre focusing on the needs of older people and their family carers in West Sweden (ÄldreVäst Sjuhärad). The Centre aims to promote partnerships between older people, their carers and service agencies in order to improve the quality of life and quality of care. In achieving this aim it has adopted a model of working based on principles taken from a constructivist approach to research and evaluation. The quality or ‘authenticity’ criteria of this approach underpin the Centre's modus operandi and, it is suggested, could from the basis of a more user-friendly perspective on research.