Key research focus on healthcare services research in the areas of gerontology, nursing and healthcare

The research focus is centered on current developments within gerontological fields of action as applied to nursing and the healthcare system. These developments are the subject of interdisciplinary research studies as well as basic and problem-oriented research projects as a basis for developing and evaluating innovative care concepts. For this purpose, intersectoral approaches and interfaces between the sectors are also included to further develop healthcare service offers and their respective settings.

The research projects aim to improve patient outcomes and the quality of life of people throughout the life span, even in cases of severe health burden.

To be able to determine the objects of research more soundly as well as to be able to specifically account for the differing perspectives of actors involved, various research methodologies are employed. These include, alongside classic qualitative and quantitative methods typically used in health services research, a range of mixed and multi-methodological approaches and participatory research methods enabling active involvement in the design of the research process of affected individuals, practitioners, and decision-makers (transdisciplinary approach).

Professors involved 

• Prof.in Dr. Mirella Cacace
• Prof. Dr. Michael Doh
• Prof.in Dr. Wiebke Göhner-Barkemeyer 
• Prof.in Dr. Ines Himmelsbach 
• Prof.in Dr. Anne Kellner 
• Prof.in Dr. Nadine Konopik 
• Prof. Dr. Frank Luck
• Prof. Dr. Claus Muke
• Prof. Dr. Eric Pfeifer
• Prof. Dr. Hauke Schumann 
• Prof.in Dr. Ulrike Thielhorn 

Current research projects

• Academic Nursing and Advanced Nursing Practice in Residential Long-Term Care: Promoting and Supporting the Deployment of Academically Qualified Nursing Professionals (AqP)
• DIGESA – Promoting Digital Health in (Advanced) Older Age
• European film festival for the generations  
• Healthy and Digital on Site
• GiveCare – Gender- and diversity sensitive holistic end-of-life care
• NaDiya 2 - Hope and Action

Examples of completed projects 

• DiBiWohn - Digital educational processes for older people in senior-specific residential forms of institutionalised care for the elderly 
• Sim-study: seniors, inofrmation, media 
• Scientific monitoring of the pilot programme "Dying where you live and are at home"
• (AP)²caritas - Academically-qualified nurse practitioners and the expansion of nursing practice in inpatient and outpatient care of a Caritas elderly care centre 
• AQuiLa - Development of community-based approaches for inpatient long-term care facilities
• SENSE-COG: Promoting health for eyes, ears and mind 
• Eye Bus
• Counselling map
• BEST - Citizen engagement ensures participation
• BeFo - Movement therapy training courses
• Caritas Eisenbach
• DEKOS - Demographic Coordination in Social Spaces
• EUMIP - Development of Support Structures for Central and Eastern European Migrants in Home Care Arrangements
• Fabel - Family support in rural areas with dementia
• Fit in old age
• Women in leadership positions in caritas associations
• Community of Eisenbach
• Community of Offenburg
• Gemo - "Health Promotion and HIV/AIDS Prevention for People from Eastern Europe
• Expert opinion concerning the Enquete Care Commission
• "Home Nursing Georgia" (Caritas International)
• Innogeso - Innovation and Demographic Management in Health and Social Professions
• Cosmobile Home Helpers
• LoChro - Local Chronic Care Management
• M.O.B.I.L.I.S.
• Movo-BnB
• Patient support
• PERLE - Staff Mix in Long-Term Care
• Basic Sports School
• Management and solutions in the Paul Wilhelm von Keppler Foundation during the first wave of the Covid19 pandemic
• ZAFH-AAL
• ZAFH-care4care
• Future Age - Joint Master of Applied Gerontology

Selected Publications

• Cacace, M., Castelli, M. & Toth, F. (2024). Strategies to Promote Vaccine Uptake in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the “Ladder of Intrusiveness” in Three Countries. J Health Polit Policy Law (2024) 49 (1): 133–162. Link zur DOI. 
• de Vries, T., Himmelsbach, I., & Doh, M. (2025). Die Relevanz digitaler Medien für Kommunikation und Teilhabe im höheren und hohen Alter in sozialräumlichen Kontexten. In E. M. Löffler, C. Bleck & H. Rüßler (Hrsg.), Forschen und Forschung in Kontexten des Alter(n)s (S. 194–207). Barbara Budrich.
• de Vries, T., Klank, C., Doh, M., & Himmelsbach, I. (2026). Sozialraum und narrative Identi-tät im Alter. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie. Link zur DOI.. 
• Graupner L., Gertsen W. & Himmelsbach I. (2024). Das Pilotprogramm „Sterben wo man lebt und zu Hause ist“: Unterstützung für pflegende An- und Zugehörige. ProAlter 4/24, 48-51.
• Himmelsbach, I., de Vries, T., Doh, M., Bröder, S., Grieser, L., & Klank, C. (2025) 'As long as I still can, I'll keep doing it' - chasing the odds - A case study on adult education and digitization in an assist-ed living facility. In F. Bellinger, R. Bolten-Bühler & M. Rohs (Hrsg.), Adult education research on digitalisation: Concepts - Scopes – Understandings (S. 65–83). wbv. Link zur DOI.
• Klank, C. Himmelsbach, I., & Doh, M. (2023). A Qualitative Case Study Focusing on the Relationship of Biography, Education, and Technology Use. Educational Gerontology, 49:5, 375-386, Link zur DOI.
• Konopik, N. (2025). Gesundheitskompetenz im Alter Bildungsprozesse im Kontext von Biografie und Umwelt. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 3(2025), 172–179. Link zur DOI..
• Konopik, N., & Stephan, A. (2025). Aufgaben und Tätigkeiten akademisch qualifizierter Pfle-gefachpersonen in der stationären und ambulanten Langzeitpflege sowie im Quartier in Deutschland. In E. Goller & C. Scharrer (Hrsg.), Berufsfeldentwicklung Pflege. Gesundheits-versorgung sichern, Profession gestalten (S. 338–348). Kohlhammer. 
• Leopold, D., Doh, M., Göbl, L., Schlichting, J. & Jokisch, M. R. (2024). Digitalisierung in der institutionalisierten Altenpflege – Befunde aus dem Projekt DiBiWohn. In C. Küster, S. Hagspihl & J. Rückert-John (Hg.), Verpflegung | Wohnen | Digitale Teilhabe: Inter- und transdisziplinäre Perspektiven der Alltagsversorgung zur Lebensqualität im Alter (S. 151–167). Springer Fachmedien.
• Muke, C., Elmer, M. & Kricheldorff, C (2024). Nadiya – Hoffen und Handeln: Ein Pilotprojekt zeigt Wirkung. In: I. Himmelsbach & T. de Vries (Hrsg.) (2024):  Lebenszufriedenheit und Wohlbefinden: Forschung an den Schnittstellen von Heilpädagogik, Psychotherapie und Versorgungsforschung. Analyse, Prognose, Innovation, Bd. 8. (124-143). Konstanz: Hartung-Gorre.
• Rathgeb, T., Doh, M., Jokisch, M., Tremmel, F., & Gerigk, Y. (2025). SIM-Studie 2024 - Seni-or*innen, Information, Medien. Basisuntersuchung zum Medienumgang von Personen ab 60 Jahren in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Süd-west (mpfs).
• Schiffer, K., Pfeifer, E., Stolterfoth, C., & Wittmann, M. (2025). Silence, darkness, and gravity: A qualitative analysis of individual experiences during Floatation-REST. Spiritual Care, 14(3), 263–277. Link zur DOI..
• Schwind, B., Garcia Nuñez, D., & Luck, F. (2025). Gender. In J. Kruse, W. Langewitz, A. Schneider, W. Söllner, C. Waller, K. Weidner & S. Zipfel (Hrsg.), Uexküll. Psychosomatische Medizin. Theoretische Modelle und klinische Praxis (9. Aufl., S. 221–228). Elsevier.
• Stolterfoth, C., & Pfeifer, E. (2025). Music therapy and silence – Silence in music therapy. A sys-tematic review. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 93, 102286. Link zur DOI.