In long-term care, new care models and person-centered care philosophies are being developed, focusing on increasing patient's autonomy, meaningful activities, and enabling residents to keep their own lifestyle for as long as possible. However, the uptake and spread of these models depends on academic institutions being able to work in good relationship with long term care providers. This symposium presents two successful models of partnership working between universities and providers, which

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... re developed independently in the UK and the Netherlands. The first presentation describes My Home Life, a UK wide initiative to promote quality of life for those living, dying, visiting and working in care homes for older people through appreciative, relationship-centred and evidence based practice. This culture change initiative focuses on changing the way people talk to each other, through having Caring Conversations. The second presentation focuses on the Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care, a model developed in the Netherlands that is characterized by interdisciplinary partnership and joint appointments, positively influencing the link between science, practice, policy and education. Whilst, My Home Life focuses on practice development informed by research, the Living Lab focuses on research driving quality improvement. Combined, they offer an innovative approach to enhance research impact, by encouraging academics to work in a different way with and for care homes. The final presentation offers insights into the active working mechanisms of both programs and reflects on lessons learnt from working with the care home sector over time.