Participatory Methods in Health Research with elderly People

The Institut für Gerontologische Forschung e.V. investigated the "Primary Prevention Effects of the M rkisches Viertel Network" in Berlin in a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The study integrates various participatory methods to investigate the health promotion effects of the volunteer M rkisches Viertel Network, an organisation that brings together different local actors working to assist and encourage older people to live independent lives. In this project participation was realised in two different levels: Firstly, in the cooperation between the team of investigators and the network, secondly, in the handling with the target group of (socially disadvantaged) elderly people. The experiences in both processes will be explained and critically discussed after a brief overview about the project.