My research focus is within eating difficulties, nutrition, neurology (stroke and Parkinson's disease), psychometrics and metrology. I am the third generation of nurses in my family. Grandmother Hanna Nilsson (born Åkesdotter) became a nurse in Kristianstad 1911, mother Ingegärd Westergren (born Nilsson) in Jönköping 1949, and I in Kristianstad 1989 Three generations of nurses. I am a professor of nursing (since 2009), director for the Research platform for Collaboration for Health and member of the faculty board.

During my Ph.D. studies, the focus for my research was on older people, especially older people with stroke and their problems with eating and nutrition. The studies were conducted within acute care and rehabilitation. After becoming Ph.D. (2001) the research has expanded to include care and service to elderly people within primary care and municipalities (special accommodation and ordinary living). The focus on neurology and nutrition maintains. I became associate professor at Lund University in 2006. During 2007-2009 I was employed as research assistant, funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). I became professor at Kristianstad University in 2009. During the autumn 2018 until autumn 2019 I am a visiting professor (in the name of Hedda Andersson) at Lund University, 20 %.

Besides the above mentioned, I am also working with psychometrics and metrology, methods for evaluation and development of instruments/rating scales based on classical and modern test theory.