The CIHR Institute of Aging Voluntary Sector Knowledge Mobilization Support Grant

In pursuit of our mission, our current project seeks to increase awareness of and enhance accessibility of physical activity knowledge that can support getting and staying active; thus, support lifelong healthy aging among Canadians. An important enabler to positive health behaviours, like physical activity, is health literacy and resources that older individuals can access and learn about good health practices that foster optimal aging. Our knowledge mobilization project seeks to support and promote a physically active lifestyle at any age, at any ability, and with any condition. We will be creating and promote a website containing a comprehensive directory of available evidence-based resources relating to physical activity and aging. Our dissemination strategy includes not only older Canadians themselves, but also those who play a role in supporting active aging. Our goal is that this one-stop, go-to resource directory of evidence-based physical activity for older adults’ resources will increase physical activity literacy and be an enabler of increased physical activity participation.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted in its 2021 Global Report on Ageism that 56% of people harbor ageist views to some extent. To address this issue, a proposal is made to create 3-4 educational modules on aging and ageism. These modules are intended to support the efforts of the International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC Canada) and the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA), a nationwide initiative launched in 2022 by ILC Canada in collaboration with numerous organizations.

The educational modules, which will be freely accessible to the public through the CCAA's network, aim to bring about a significant shift in societal perceptions by dispelling myths about aging, increasing awareness of ageism's impacts, and providing strategies for combating ageism in various settings. Additionally, the CCAA, with support from a CIHR grant, will host an ageism forum in June 2024. The forum's objectives include identifying education gaps among health and social service providers regarding ageism and developing consensus on essential training content.

The proposed modules and forum align with the WHO's recognition of education as a potent tool against ageism. By engaging in educational initiatives and fostering a culture of care that respects the rights of older individuals, the CCAA aims to contribute to broader social change and promote inclusivity and dignity for older Canadians.

Learn more about International Longevity Centre Canada Canadian Coalition Against Ageism

La Gang à Rambrou and Sans Oublier le Sourire have joined forces to highlight the life experiences of 21 people aging with neurodiversity aged 48 to 78. Drawn from interviews conducted as part of the research project "The Experiences of Social Exclusion and Inclusion Among People Aging with Neurodiversity and Their Families", their stories take shape in words and movements through artists who are aging with neurodiversity. At times poetic, at times poignant, the piece leads us to question ourselves about aging, strengths and resilience, the challenges of the health and social services system, housing, mistreatment, and the important role of community organizations. Choreography and direction: Jasmine Allan-Côté. The production will be filmed, and an accompanying toolkit created, which will be made available to interested health and social service organizations, community organizations, advocacy groups, schools, and others, to continue our knowledge mobilization efforts beyond the day of the event. Our objectives are to improve recognition and understanding of the diverse realities and experiences among people aging with neurodiversity and their families, break down barriers, and contribute to efforts to create more inclusive policies and programs in support of neurodiverse older people and their family caregivers across sites and sectors of care.

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The purpose of this project is the development of an implementation toolkit to extend the reach and uptake of the Well-Being Approach to Distress (‘The Approach’) across Canada to significantly improve the quality of life and care of people living with dementia and their care partners. The Approach aims to improve the physical, mental and social wellness of people living with dementia in long-term care and retirement homes (LTCRHs) and was developed by Dr. Allen Power, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation. The Approach is a non-pharmacological intervention that views expressions as the erosion of wellbeing and proactively works to address residents’ unmet needs. We have implemented, and are currently evaluating, The Approach in an Ontario LTC home and a similar application has reduced the use of antipsychotic drugs to 6.5 per cent averaged across 92 homes in Arkansas, USA, compared to an average of 16.8 per cent among non-participating homes in the state. An Implementation Toolkit for The Approach will be developed with, and for, LTCRH team members, and family and care partners of residents who are living with dementia. The toolkit will contain a staff handbook and a family and care partner education resource which we will disseminate nationally through partners, a webinar and a conference. The Implementation Toolkit will support staff to facilitate team huddles to identify the individual needs of residents and develop tailored care plans. The family and care partner education resource supports care partners, giving them practical strategies to proactively support their loved one’s well-being. Non-pharmacological approaches are essential for supporting the wellbeing of people living with dementia, despite team members and families often being unfamiliar with these strategies. The Approach is focused on resident well-being and has transformed the care environment in LTCRH for residents living with dementia and their care partners, drastically shifting away from the use of medications to manage expressions.

Learn more about Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging

Nav-CARE is an innovative, compassionate community program that builds upon the unique role of volunteers to provide early assistance to persons living with declining health. In the spring of 2023, South West District Palliative Care (SWDPC) became a Nav-CARE Hub, and a volunteer coordinator was hired, volunteers were recruited and trained, and client referrals were accepted. Posters and brochures were developed and put strategically throughout our region. Articles were placed in the local newspaper. Board members met with Municipal councils, the Town of Stonewall council, Seniors Resource Groups, Age Friendly groups, 55+ groups, Home Care nurses, Lion’s Manor (a Seniors Residence) to explain the program. Two satellite sites were determined, and presently the program continues to achieve milestones for accepting clients and training volunteers, to meet the Nav-CARE funding criteria.

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The Community-Based Seniors’ Services (CBSS) sector consists of non-profit and municipal organizations (e.g., senior centres, multi-service non-profits, neighbourhood houses, etc.) that offer a range of low-barrier programs and services for older adults that promote social connection, physical activity, good nutrition, and overall wellbeing. United Way BC actively works with a network of 195 CBSS agencies to deliver 331 Healthy Aging programs throughout BC. Through regional and provincial consultations conducted in 2022 and 2023, United Way BC has consistently heard from CBSS that they need more aging-related education and training opportunities for their program staff and volunteers. Unfortunately, most organizations have limited capacity to provide substantive training on the unique and intersecting needs of older adults. Through the CIHR Voluntary Sector Knowledge Mobilization Grant, we will leverage our online Healthy Aging CORE BC platform to share research evidence and best practices with CBSS to support the health and wellbeing of community-dwelling older adults. We will work with researchers and subject matter experts to develop educational and training materials on healthy aging topics for CBSS sector staff and volunteers that can be shared on our Healthy Aging CORE platform. We will also develop a series of infographics about the history and role of the CBSS sector in BC that can be used by agencies to educate volunteers about our sector and build more engagement.

Learn more about United Way BC