Collaborative stretching: A research agenda for enhancing the quality of lives of people with severe cognitive impairments

Abstract

This paper explains and demonstrates the early application of collaborative stretching: a new and practical technique for enhancing the quality of lives of people in care – particularly those who have severe cognitive impairments. An introduction explains severe cognitive impairment and the notion of quality of life. This is followed by an explanation of the nature of, theory behind, and the key steps of collaborative stretching. An illustrative vignette is then presented to demonstrate its application, utility, and value in one care setting. The paper concludes with a discussion around advancing a research agenda for this technique, and its potential implications for care service managers.