Researchers Seek Sage Advice of Seniors on Aging Issues

The Chicago-based Bureau of Sages is a group of seniors who advise researchers about what matters to older adults, how to engage in aging-related research, and how to communicate with seniors effectively while doing so, reports Kaiser Health News . "The recognition that this population has something meaningful to contribute — that's really unique," says LeadingAge's Robyn Stone. One Sage group is located at the Lieberman Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Skokie, Ill., where residents meet biweekly to discuss academic studies, issues they encounter in their daily lives, and potential research projects. Seven adults with dementia gather every few of months at Northwestern University's Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease to give scientists feedback. The Bureau of Sages has received $500,000 in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which sponsors innovative projects that include healthcare customers in setting research priorities, designing research studies, and assessing their impact. PCORI's Kristin Carman concludes that groups like the Sages can supply "valuable ongoing context about individuals' lives" that refines research.