Co-design and co-production of ‘Tools for ageing well with traumatic brain injury’

Background. Despite experiencing complex health needs, there are limited targeted resources to assist older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to age well. This report aims to describe the co-design and co-production of a tailored resource designed with, and for, older people with TBI, their families/carers, and health professionals working with them. Methods. A five-stage design-thinking process was followed, incorporating ‘empathising’ with older adults with TBI and their families/carers (stage 1); ‘defining’ health priorities/information needs (stage 2); ‘ideating’ the resource’s content, structure, and design (stage 3); ‘prototyping’ (stage 4); and ‘testing’ (stage 5). Results. ‘Tools for ageing well with traumatic brain injury’ was launched in September 2024, in the format of a printed manual and online web version with downloadable text resources and videos. The resource includes information to help older adults with TBI and their families/carers engage with health services, self-manage health conditions, navigate health care and funding systems, and advocate proactively for health care and support needs. Conclusions. This study reinforced the value of co-design and co-production within a five-stage design-thinking process in developing a resource that had meaning and relevance for people with brain injury and their families/carers, helping them to proactively plan for ageing well with TBI.