Building Research Capacity With Older Adults: The Collective of Older Adult Researchers (COAR) Initiative

TL;DR

This paper introduces the COAR initiative, which trains older adults to become research partners through intergenerational collaboration and community-based workshops.

Contribution

The paper presents an innovative model for building research capacity among older adults through intergenerational collaboration and community-based workshops.

Findings

Four key themes were identified to improve the COAR model: community partner engagement, intergenerational collaboration, informal dialogue, and sustainable change pathways.

Workshops successfully equipped older adults with research knowledge and skills to become equitable research partners.

Further research is needed to enhance and scale this model through community-engaged collaborations.

Abstract

Developing the capacity of older adults to meaningfully engage in research is an increasingly recognized priority in the field of aging. However, practical frameworks for effectively fostering research capacity through collaborative partnerships with older adult community members remain limited. This paper introduces the Collective of Older Adult Researchers (COAR) project, an innovative intergenerational initiative between 411 Seniors Centre Society and Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada). Designed to advance the vision of community research hubs within third places that serve older adults, this initiative prioritizes key aging-related issues while increasing older adults’ direct involvement in research. Through a series of three interactive 2.5-hour workshops, participants engaged in a blend of research methodology presentations and hands-on activities conducted in community spaces. Older adults (n = 10) were paired with graduate students (n = 10) to co-develop and implement a practical research project. A reflexive analysis of the process, conducted in collaboration with older adult co-researchers, identified four key themes that offer insights for strengthening this model and informing broader implementation: (1) Engaging Community Partners in Workshop Design, (2) Fostering Intergenerational Collaboration, (3) Prioritizing Informal Collaborative Dialogue, and (4) Building Pathways for Sustainable Change. Findings highlight the potential of community-based research training to equip older adults with the knowledge and skills needed to become equitable research partners. However, further exploration is required to enhance, sustain, and scale these models, which will be investigated through forthcoming community-engaged research collaborations.