Background and objective: caring for people with dementia presents a growing challenge in an ageing society. We urgently need innovative future-oriented concepts of evidence-based health care which would improve the care for people with dementia, even under adverse circumstances. The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Witten is willing to meet this challenge.
Focus of research: the DZNE in Witten supports interdisciplinary research and houses three scientific work groups acting in close co-operation and focusing on 1) care structures, 2) care interventions, and 3) knowledge circulation and implementation research. A comprehensive project plan focuses on people with dementia's perspective in the early stages of the disease. It intends to investigate their needs, requirements und activities as a basis for the development of appropriate concepts. Apart from specific research questions methodological issues arising from the complexity of the subject are of interest.
Discussion: the institutional funding of the location offers an unparalleled opportunity to plan long-term and more complex projects. This might lead to a close co-operation with the Witten/Herdecke University, where health care research is of particular relevance.