WiseAge aims to be a movement that promotes the opportunities user participation in research and knowledge development creates in an ageing society.
Why user involvement
Active involvement and engagement of user representatives in research enhances the quality and relevance of the research itself, as well as ensuring practical implementation of research findings. This is facilitated by the unique insight and perspective the user representatives bring to each research project. User involvement is paramount in all health research and aligns with the mission of the Ministry of Health and Care Services to regional health authorities and has been the core value in all activities at SESAM since its establishment in 2010.
Consequently, SESAM established WiseAge in 2017 to serve as a platform for user involvement and societal engagement, thereby guaranteeing active user participation in research initiatives undertaken by SESAM. It is a meeting place for dialogue between users, social actors and businesses, healthcare personnel and researchers. WiseAge contributes to user participation in all phases of new and established research projects and also in the dissemination of research-based knowledge. By involving users, research reflects the users' perspective and needs to a greater extent. WiseAge has a separate experience panel for research which is currently led by senior adviser Anne Torsvik Henriksen.
Look to SESAM
Through WiseAge, we want to leverage the opportunities that user participation in research and knowledge development creates in an aging society. Older people's competence and experience are important to develop research that is based on experienced issues. The goal of WiseAge is to help develop robust and efficient models for healthcare services that are based on them and the technological, demographic and health changes that will happen in the future. With WiseAge, SESAM develops research projects in collaboration with national and international partners. WiseAge complies with SESAM and the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse vest RHF) governance models and organizational rules. The research at SESAM is the common thread in all the work of WiseAge.
All new research projects at SESAM are required to have designated user representatives who follow the entire research process from start to finish and have a close dialogue and collaboration with the researcher. To guide this process SESAM have developed a designated guide for professionals, researchers and user representatives. Prior to any major call for proposals, researchers who are planning an application are required to present their project for the WiseAge user panel, a group of 15 WiseAge members dedicated to the role of being user representatives. The user panel provides advice and input, and 1-2 user representatives are appointed to each new project. SESAM's guide for user involvement in research serves as a resource for both users and staff affiliated with SESAM. The guide was completed and printed in 2023 and is used actively by researchers and user representatives.
We also follow general guidelines for user involvement in health research, which emphasizes the importance of compensating user representatives in research projects and in larger studies with a high level of activities. Each major project usually has 1-2 user representatives employed in 20% positions. Regular meetings with the user representatives and researchers are necessary to ensure true user participation.
Target group and activities
WiseAge engages a diverse group of individuals aged 60 and above who are eager to participate in or contribute to the public debate, thereby ensuring a broad representation of the general public. To achieve this SESAM has created “Ask Society Knowledge (ASK)! Ask the one who it is about”. This initiative comprises a comprehensive database that captures the perspectives of users regarding research and societal matters, as well as their preferences for involvement within the WiseAge
The annual SESAM festival lasting a full week, involves dissemination of new knowledge throughout the Western region of Norway, as well as national and international collaborative partners. The “WiseAge day” in a dedicated public day to all WiseAge members, as well as new potential members.
Through the WiseAge platform, SESAM facilitates the use of older peoples’ expertise and experience in research and knowledge development. This initiative is especially pertinent in a societal context where the proportion of older individuals continues to expand.
The goal of WiseAge is to develop robust and effective models for health services to adapt to anticipated future changes in technology, demographics, and healthcare concerns.
Would you like to know more about WiseAge, please reach out via e-mail: wiseage@sus.no, or phone + 47 51 51 56 19. Follow us on Facebook: WiseAgebySESAM