Postdoctoral researcher Cross Border research in dementia wards

In the research project 'The use of closed doors in dementia wards. Comparing cultural and moral perspectives as well as contexts for mutual learning in the cross-border region', you will explore if and when a closed door is acceptable for residents with advanced dementia, how this is dealt with in practice and if/how this can be improved. To this end, you will conduct comparative social research in the regions of North Netherlands and North-West Germany (Niedersachsen), investigating for which residents the question is relevant, what interventions are already in place and what differences and similarities (cultural, moral and legal) exist.

This project forms an excellent opportunity to conduct cross-border scientific research to develop improvement strategies based on the exchange of knowledge and learning from each other. In addition, it will include strong collaboration with the field and therefore will directly contribute to the clarification of pressing questions on how to deal with wandering behavior in persons with advanced dementia.

The project is a subproject of the larger cross border research project Comparison of healthcare structures, processes and outcomes in the Northern German and Dutch cross-border region II (CHARE-GD II). This project is a collaboration of the UMCG, department of General practice & elderly care Medicine with the University of Oldenburg, Department of Health Services Research of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Ethics in Medicine. The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by both research groups and may use support from research assistants.

Main responsibilities
As a Postdoctoral researcher in this project, your job is to:
- Conduct a literature study on strategies to deal with wandering behavior among residents with advanced dementia in nursing homes.
- Coordinate and execute qualitative and quantitative data collection at 8 nursing home wards (4 in Groningen region, 4 in Oldenburg region).
- Analyze the data together with the research team.
- Organize site visits between the regions.
- Work in close collaboration with researchers in the project team, as well as stakeholders in the nursing homes.
- Report and present your findings for both scientific and non-scientific audiences.