Collective Insight Launches Groundbreaking Documentary on Engaging Older Adults in Research

Reimagining Expertise: Engaging Older Adults as Research Partners highlights transformative research partnerships, elevating the voices of older adults and showcasing the power of engagement in improving research outcomes

Collective Insight Launches Groundbreaking Documentary on Engaging Older Adults in Research

Missy Destrampe
Project Manager
missy@collectinsight.com
www.collectiveinsightllc.com

Collective Insight, LLC, a Massachusetts-certified woman business enterprise (WBE) committed to engagement, is thrilled to announce the release of its new documentary, Reimagining Expertise: Engaging Older Adults as Research Partners. This powerful film sheds light on the vital role older adults play in research and the critical need for their engagement to ensure meaningful and actionable results.

Collective Insight’s mission is to foster equity by engaging those most impacted by policies and programs in their design, delivery, and improvement. By empowering underrepresented communities, Collective Insight helps strengthen systems through inclusive, community-driven research practices.

The documentary explores how older adults—often overlooked in traditional research—bring invaluable expertise to the table. Their lived experiences provide researchers with relevant, authentic insights that lead to better research outcomes. The film illustrates the benefits of engaged research, including increased participation and retention of diverse populations in studies, which result in more effective solutions for the communities served.

"As a society, we’ve often excluded older adults from the research process," said Erin McGaffigan, Principal at Collective Insight. "This documentary not only challenges that status quo, but also offers real, actionable steps on how to bring older adults into the conversation. We hope this will inspire researchers, funders, and educators to adopt engagement strategies and prioritize the inclusion of those who have the lived experiences that matter most."

The documentary features collaborations with respected partners, including the Aging PCOR Learning Collaborative, the Leading Age LTSS Center at UMass Boston, and the Healthier Black Elders Center at Wayne State University, among others. Marc Cohen, Professor of Gerontology at UMass Boston and co-director of the Leading Age LTSS Center, shared his enthusiasm for the project: "I am honored to be part of this documentary. Working with Collective Insight has allowed us to engage older adults in meaningful ways, leading to better outcomes for our research and the communities we serve. I hope this film sparks greater interest and action in engaged research across the field."

Collective Insight hopes this documentary serves as both a call to action and a practical guide for those ready to take the first step in integrating engagement into their own work. From researchers seeking actionable insights, to funders looking for more sustainable and relevant projects, Reimagining Expertise provides the blueprint for change.

About Collective Insight, LLC:
Founded in 2014, Collective Insight is a woman-owned business dedicated to engagement. With a focus on strengthening systems through the engagement of underrepresented communities, the company partners with policy leaders, researchers, and technical experts to implement solutions that make a meaningful impact. Collective Insight's work spans a range of strategies, including advisory groups and action councils, all aimed at ensuring community voices shape the systems that affect them.