"A new way of relating” - how research is changing perspectives
Care is more than providing support — it’s about relationships, communication, and mutual understanding. Through our research, we bring family members, people living with dementia, care professionals, and managers into a new kind of dialogue. A manager reflected:
“At first I wasn’t sure — should I say this or not? But looking back on today — how we spoke with one another, how we came together as family members, people living with dementia, care professionals, and managers — something has shifted. I’m convinced that when we meet again, I will approach you differently. And if you raise something with us, you’ll do it differently too. Because of the dialogue we had today, we’ve found a new way of relating to each other.”
These words come from a nurse who took part in one of our research sessions. They show how research can create understanding and shape everyday care — not through abstract theory, but through real encounters.
“I’m taking this with me as a vision. I’d like us, as a team, to have afternoons like this regularly — not because we have to, but because we want to, because we feel how valuable it is. A space where we talk about our concerns, our ups and downs. Where we look back, but also look ahead: Where are we today? What can we celebrate together? Where can we still find solutions — in Mrs Muster’s best interests? That would be my wish.”
Care is also emotional work — for family members and for care professionals. One nurse put it like this:
“Today I learned that the feelings and emotions — guilt, a bad conscience, a sense of failure — don’t simply disappear when family members see that their mother or father is doing well. I used to think that with trust and a good relationship between staff and families, this feeling would fade. But today I see that it remains. And I hope we can find ways to ease the burden for family members — by sharing these feelings, and maybe lightening them a little.”
This is exactly what our research aims to do: create space for exchange, open up new perspectives, and understand each person in their uniqueness.