Patient and public involvement in action: shaping an intergenerational engagement intervention in a long-term care facility in China

Aim: To shape an intergenerational engagement intervention through consultation with a patient and public involvement group.

Design: This paper describes how patient and public involvement contributed to the refining an intergenerational engagement intervention within a long-term care facility in China.

Data Sources: A patient and public involvement group composed of key stakeholders, including older residents of the long-term care facility, young people from a local school, a parent, and care facility staff, provided evaluative feedback. They reviewed and refined various aspects of the intervention (content, scheduling, and delivery of the intergenerational activities) and its evaluation (design, recruitment strategies, and study materials).

Results: Key modifications included adjusting activities to accommodate diverse backgrounds and technological capabilities, space limitations and number of participants to optimise engagement, and focusing on group activities to encourage lively and inclusive interactions. The group also made recommendations relating to scheduling sessions, length of intervention, and recruitment materials to facilitate greater accessibility.

Discussion: The integration of patient and public involvement made the intergenerational engagement intervention practical, culturally relevant, and tailored to meet the diverse needs of older and younger participants, enhancing its feasibility, acceptability, and overall effectiveness. The findings underscore the importance of early and continuous patient and public involvement in health and social care research to develop relevant and sustainable interventions. Future efforts should focus on policy support, funding, and education to embed patient and public involvement more broadly into health and social care research in China.

Patient or public contribution: Feedback was sought from a patient and public involvement group to refine and enhance the intergenerational engagement intervention, ensuring it accurately reflected the needs of participants. Notably, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in China to utilise patient and public involvement in the co-design of an intergenerational engagement intervention in a long-term care setting, offering valuable insights for future research and practice in this context.