MileAGE Podcast

In this episode, Dan speaks with Dr. Vipan Nikore, founder and CEO of Homecare Hub.   What is Homecare Hub? Homecare Hub is a purpose-driven team with a bold vision to keep people out of large institutional nursing homes by building creative solutions that decrease the cost, and improve the quality and experience of receiving home care services. Our healthcare system is overwhelmed, and people with complex healthcare needs face challenges to preserve their current living situation. Homecare Hub was created to address the housing and home care needs of these individuals offering exceptional housing with more personalized, higher-quality care at a lower cost when compared to large nursing home or retirement facilities. Homecare Hub creates small, high quality 2-12 person shared care homes on-demand at an affordable price by matching people by care needs, language, disease process, and interests. For those not interested in our co-housing solutions, we offer other options through our suite of care solutions designed to help people age safely and comfortably at home for as long as possible.   Dr. Nikore's bio Vipan is a software engineer turned physician and global leader in Health Innovation. In addition to his role at Homecare Hub, he is the Chief Medical Director of TD Bank as well as a practicing internist at Trillium Health Partners and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Ohio and Toronto. Prior to Homecare Hub he was the Site Medical Director for the Department of Medicine at Trillium's Credit Valley Hospital, overseeing 15,000 admissions a year. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine where he teaches Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Innovation, Healthcare Quality and clinical medicine on the hospital wards, and is an investigator at the Institute for Better Health. He previously was co-course director for MIT's Global Health Informatics course where co-edited one of the first comprehensive Global Health Technology books.   Vipan has led and founded various organizations and groups, such as the non-profit uFLOW (now LYFE), which empowers underserved youth to start their own health service projects, which he expanded to Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. He is a former software developer at IBM, and also led projects at Sun Microsystems, Citibank, UCLA, WHO in Geneva, UNICEF in India, the Ontario Ministry of Health, and Lux Capital in NYC.   He is an advisor at the Health Education Project in Haiti and has worked clinically in Haiti, Peru, Ghana, Nepal, and India. He has served as an advisor and mentor at the Creative Destruction Lab, the Center for Social Innovation's Agents of Change program, Blueprint Health in NYC, and the Harvard Innovation Lab. He has authored chapters on e-Health, medical devices, and genomics, and given talks on healthcare technology, innovation, global health, and leadership across the globe.   Vipan completed his internal medicine residency training from Cleveland Clinic's main campus, MD degree at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), MBA at the Yale School of Management, and his BSc in computer science and software engineering at the University of Western Ontario. At Yale he led the student body as the President of the Yale Graduate and Professional Student Senate and as a resident he was selected as the sole recipient among all Cleveland Clinic residents for the Michener Leadership Award for leadership and dedication to community service and humanity. He is a former recipient of Canada's “Top 40 under 40” award, the country's most coveted award for young leaders.

Daniel Smiley, Research & Logistics Specialist, is your new host as Jenna takes on more responsibilities at the APPTA Hub. He welcomes Dr. Patrick Patterson to discuss his recent publications on long-term care policies pre- and post-COVID-19.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways   [:41] Daniel Smiley introduces himself as your new host and welcomes Dr. Patrick Patterson and asks him to share a top-level summary of his paper.   [1:38] Dr. Patterson talks about how Canadian differences in pandemic responses guided the focus of this research paper.   [2:51] The BC vs. Ontario choice came down to demographics and the existing long-term care framework.   [6:10] Hours per resident per day — or HPRD — is a data point that has existed for decades, Dr. Patterson shares what it actually measures.   [9:25] Dr. Patterson talks about two pre-pandemic initiatives to increase hiring in LTC in Ontario and BC as well as their results.   [13:16] The challenges of long-term care support differ from that of other healthcare sectors, Dr. Patterson explains how.   [18:06] Pandemic single-site orders for LTCs had different impacts on different provinces, with Ontario being far more heavily disrupted than BC. Dr. Patterson untangles some of the reasons for this.   [24:14] Varying types of LTC also were vulnerable in different ways to single-site orders.   [26:49] Recapping the factors discussed, Dr. Patterson talks about how BC and Ontario each fared during the first wave of the pandemic.   [31:33] Dr. Patterson adds geography, demographics, and occupancy as factors that aggravated Ontario's situation.   [33:16] Dr. Patterson talks about what he thinks the future holds for the long-term care sector. He also offers some thoughts on what should be done to strengthen the system.   [42:02] Find Dr. Patrick Patterson's paper here: https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/cpp.2022-011.   [43:05] Daniel thanks Dr. Patrick B. Patterson for sharing the findings from his latest research. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Project Team Biography   Dr. Patrick B. Patterson is a Knowledge Broker for the APPTA Hub. Patrick is a social anthropologist, with a background in using qualitative research methods to study organizations and policy formation. Within the APPTA Hub, his primary focus is supporting research and knowledge translation activities by looking at contexts, people, and processes that lead to policy decisions.   Mentioned in this episode   The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Dr. Patrick Patterson at APPTA Long-Term Care Staffing Policies Pre-COVID-19 and Pandemic Responses: A Case Comparison of Ontario and British Columbia   More about your host   Daniel Smiley at APPTA Daniel Smiley on LinkedIn   Tweetables (edited)   “Turnover is really high in long-term care. In Ontario, recent numbers show that pre-pandemic up to 25% of experienced support staff would leave the long-term care workforce in any given year.”   “Folks in long-term care are doing really important work, taking care of our loved ones when they can't take care of themselves anymore.”   “A hundred percent of long-term care workers lose 100% of their patients, that can't be easy.”   “The care center operators need to take it on board to reduce the turnover, converting part-time positions to full-time can give stability and career opportunity for workers.”   “The best long-term solution may be to proactively invest in building health and disease prevention throughout adulthood before people reach old age so that when people are older adults, they are healthy older adults who can stay in their homes longer.”  

Jenna welcomes Dr. Grant Handrigan, professor at the Université de Moncton to talk about his long-running project Dance Your Way to Health and the upcoming results.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:41] Jenna welcomes Dr. Grant Handrigan and asks him to share how his project Dance Your Way to Health came about, four years ago, and how it was anchored with the Grouille ou Rouille community group, founded in 1981.   [5:11] Dr. Grant explains sedentary behaviour and lists the multiple benefits of regular physical activity.   [8:11] The programs' participants were identified prior to even launching the project, Grant explains who they are, where they come from, and how many of them have participated throughout the years.   [10:44] Fredrickton and Saint-John now have the program as well as the original Moncton, Grant touches on how this happened and some other smaller communities he has had a chance to visit.   [13:07] Grant explains where the project is currently — intervention, evaluation, results — and talks about the struggles getting the project off the ground and during COVID-19.   [17:11] Grant breaks down the data points he is sharing and what information the results will include. He also talks about where the performance data was collected and how.   [20:27] The program is running on its own already, Grant explains what further steps will be taken to ensure sustainability.   [22:43] Jenna thanks Dr. Grant Handrigan for sharing how far this program has come. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Project Team Biographies Grant Handrigan: Grant Handrigan is an associate professor at the École de kinésiologie et de loisir at the Université de Moncton. He has a PhD in kinesiology from Université Laval where he was supervised by Professor Philippe Corbeil and Professor Martin Simoneau. His MSc degree is from Memorial University in exercise and work physiology where he was supervised by Dr. Fabien A. Basset. He also holds an undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Memorial University.    Lucille Wilson: Lucille Wilson is a certified kinesiologist and owner of Kinfit50. Kinfit50 is a company that offers exercise programming for older adults in New Brunswick. Lucille Wilson obtained an Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) from the Université de Moncton.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Grouille ou Rouille Université du Troisième Age du Sud-Est du Québec Lucille Wilson — KinFit50 Plain language summary Canadian Frailty Network New Brunswick Health Research Foundation   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn  

Jenna welcomes Dr. Grant Handrigan, professor at the Université de Moncton and principal investigator for the Implementing Virtual Reality in Advanced Fall Prevention, Building Resilience and Balancing Risk research project. They discuss the relative lack of fall management and prevention programs, the fear of falling as a barrier to a more active life, and the need for sustainable programs for both seniors and youth with regard to falls.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:41] Jenna welcomes Dr. Grant Handrigan to talk about his most recent project involving virtual reality.   [1:39] Grant shares how he came to work with virtual reality as well as what this project is looking to evaluate.   [4:48] Falls get left out despite the fact that they are an important cause of hospitalisation and often lead to a shift in independence levels.   [8:26] Grant talks about what he hopes this research provides in terms of implementing the use of VR for fall prevention and the management of fear of falling.   [11:52] Based on the most recent literature, the project is developing a program and beginning the recruitment of participants.   [13:41] Sustainability is hard to predict in the very early stages of a program, Grant shares the possible barriers he sees.   [16:15] Jenna thanks Dr. Grant Handrigan for sharing the beginnings of this project and signs off until the next episode. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Project Team Biographies Grant Handrigan: Grant Handrigan is an associate professor at the École de kinésiologie et de loisir at the Université de Moncton. He has a PhD in kinesiology from Université Laval where he was supervised by Professor Philippe Corbeil and Professor Martin Simoneau. His MSc degree is from Memorial University in exercise and work physiology where he was supervised by Dr. Fabien A. Basset. He also holds an undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Memorial University.      Dr. Jalila Jbilou: Dr. Jalila Jbilou is an associate professor at the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick and the School of psychology at the Université de Moncton. She holds a medical speciality certificate in public health (2006) and a PhD in community health (2010). Dr. Jbilou has expertise in qualitative and quantitative research as well as implementation science. Her main interest in research is on how to design, implement and evaluate synergistic interfaces between preventive medicine and primary care services.    Professeur Mark Chignell: Professor Mark Chignell has been a professor from the Mechanical & Industrial Engineering faculty at the University of Toronto since 1990. He is a leading expert in human factors, with a particular focus on the design and evaluation of interactive systems that support human performance and decision-making. His research is highly interdisciplinary and draws on theories and methods from engineering, psychology, computer science, and other fields. He has published over 400 articles on topics such as human-computer interaction, user experience, and information visualization. Professor Chignell's latest startup company, Centivizer Inc funded by the AGEWELL National Centre of Excellence, creates exergaming and cognitive assessment products to support healthy aging.   You Zhi: You Zhi is a first-year PhD student studying human factors engineering at the University of Toronto. With a background in cognitive psychology, she has expertise in evaluating the efficacy of online cognitive assessment games aimed at assessing the cognitive abilities of older adults. Her current research focuses on the development and evaluation of virtual reality applications combined with psychotherapy to promote mental wellness.   Other individuals in this project include Danica Maillet, Caroline Lovens and Mélanie Guitar. Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn  

Jenna welcomes Karine Levesque, Co-lead of the Enhanced Community Pathway program, currently in its pilot phase. They discuss the importance of offering a comprehensive and centralized health and social development proposition for frail seniors in crisis.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:41] Jenna welcomes Karine Levesque to talk about her project and the inspiration for it, but first, she asks her to define Enhanced Community Pathway.   [2:53] Karine talks about the combined health and social system approach her project takes with the participation of the Extra-Mural nurse and social worker to visit a client at home.   [4:31] With a system that is difficult to navigate, in-crisis frail seniors are particularly at risk.   [6:13] The objective of this project is to propose a preventative approach that bridges the gap between health and social development.   [6:44] Capturing the right patient at the right time. Karine describes an at-risk patient.   [8:35] Reaching the right patients is a multi-faceted approach, Karine explains the different partners involved in making the information public.   [9:48] The pilot has begun in Zone 1 (Moncton) and is hoping to gather about 100 participants.   [10:31] Karine touches on the key elements they're hoping to accomplish with the program.   [11:55] Sustainability is a goal, Karine explains how this might be accomplished.   [12:25] Jenna thanks Karine Levesque for coming on the podcast to talk about this pilot phase of the Enhanced Community Pathway program, and signs off until the next episode. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Link for ECP Referrals: Referrals | New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program (extramuralnb.ca)   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about our guest Karine Levesque is a Registered Social Worker working as a Health Consultant for the Home Care Branch of the Department of Health. She has an extensive career in Community and Home Care settings as a former Extra-Mural Social Worker for over 22 years. She joined the Department of Health in Fredericton in August 2021 and is the primary Lead to the Enhanced Community Project, funded through the Healthy Seniors' Pilot Project, which has recently launched in Zone 1 of the province and is ongoing until the end of March 2024.   Project Team members:   Karine Levesque ** Health Consultant, DH — Conseillère en soins de santé, MS Co-lead — Co-responsable   Dawn-Marie Buck Director EMP Operations South — Directrices des Opérations PEM Sud Subject Matter Expert (SME) — EMP Liaisons — Expert liaisons PEM   Marise Auffrey ** Director EMP Operations East — Directrices des Opérations PEM Est Director of EMP implementation area — Directrice PEM zone implantation   Janet Fogarty RN EMP Driscoll Unit — II Unité Driscoll CCC representative — Représante CCS   France Robichaud EMP Clinical Coordinator East — Coordonnatrice Clinique PEM Implementation South East — Implementation Sud-Est   Vicki MacGarvie-Gopal EMP Project Evaluation Coordinator — Coordonnatrice d'évaluation de projets PEM Project monitoring South East — Surveillance du projet Sud-Est   Annie Rickett ** Manager for Long Term Care and Adult Protection — Gestionnaire des Soins de longue durée et de protection aux adultes Subject Matter Expert DSD, Central Office — Expert DS, Bureau Central   Garra Mitton Supervisor SD — Surveillante DS Subject Mater Expert SD — Expert DS   Patricia O'Dell Supervisor SD — Surveillante DS Subject Matter Expert SD — Expert DS   John Eatmon Program Manager, SD — Gestionnaire de programme DS Subject Mater Expert SD — Expert DS   Anne Arseneault ** Health Consultant, DH — Conseillère en soins de santé, MS Project management support — Soutien gestion de projet   Rawia Mokhtar Project Manager, DH — Gestion de projet, MS Project management support — Soutien gestion de projet  

Jenna welcomes Judy Murphy, Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick, and Cecile Proctor from the University of New Brunswick to discuss their project using the creative arts to create intergenerational connections between low-income youth and seniors.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:41] Jenna welcomes Judy Murphy and Cecile Proctor to discuss the project they are co-piloting, Creative Pathways to Healthy Aging, Senior and Youth Engaged which works with older and younger generations.   [1:27] The Bridging the Gap project was the inspirational starting point for this research. Judy talks about the electric last day of Bridging the Gap.   [3:12] Low-income seniors face particular problems that this project attempts to tackle.   [5:12] Cecile talks about the goals of the project and how the research hopes to have an impact.   [7:48] The project team was unlike anything Cecile had ever worked with, she shares how the multidisciplinary sources of input created a wonderful depth of collaboration.   [10:05] Judy speaks about the way this project attempted to flatten the power balance and find a way to make everyone comfortable connecting. She touches on the adaptations COVID-19 required.   [15:00] Judy recounts a shared moment between school children and seniors when they found a connection despite uncooperative weather.   [17:41] The toolkit for adults was born out of the participation of both the youth and seniors in the project and is an interactive idea resource collection of the most popular activities.   [20:20] The program is completed, and Cecile shares how the data is being compiled and some of the results they are seeing.   [23:12] Judy explains what the toolkit requires to be finalized.   [24:20] Judy and Cecile share their parting thoughts and hopes for the program in the future.   [30:00] Jenna thanks Judy Murphy and Cecile Proctor for sharing the information and touching moments to come for this program, and signs off until the next episode. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about our guest Judy Murphy is the Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick and is excited to draw on her experiences in professional and volunteer leadership roles in national and provincial non-profits to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers at Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick and partners in the community. With her Masters' in Adult Education, she appreciates a work environment that integrates a feminist, holistic, and participatory approach that is inclusive, creative, and kind. She is a dreamer of innovative projects that invite the whole person to learning, an advocate for Human Rights and social justice issues, especially for vulnerable, yet strong, women and gender-diverse people who yearn to have a voice for personal and community change. She loves having the opportunity to play outdoors with friends, family, and dogs.

Jenna welcomes Carole Goodine, a practicing pharmacist, manager, and researcher for Horizon Health Network, Pharmacy services. Carole maintains a clinical pharmacy practice on the Healthy Aging and Rehabilitation unit at the Doctor Everett Chalmers Hospital (DECH) in Fredericton, NB, and participates in antipsychotic review rounds on the Transitional Care Unit at DECH. Carole's training includes a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Accredited Hospital Pharmacy Residency program, Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and post-doctoral fellowship. Her research interests include inpatient medication management, deprescribing in long-term care, and pharmacy practice.   She is currently leading the Hospital to Home Pharmacy Project, an applied research project funded by the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project initiative. The goal of the Hospital to Home Pharmacy Project is to help seniors stay healthy and improve pharmacy practice in New Brunswick. She looks forward to discussing this project with MileAGE listeners!   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:41] Jenna welcomes Carol Goodine to talk about her project: “a pharmacy hospital discharge: transitions of care prospect to facilitate transfer of care between pharmacy practice settings and improve patient medication knowledge and medication experience at hospital discharge.”   [1:54] Dr. Goodine explains what transition of care means and the problems that can arise from it.   [3:49] Medication harm and medication compliance are two areas where patient health might be at risk from miscommunication.   [7:19] Dr. Goodine breaks down where the study is taking place, who the major actors currently are, and what protocols this study is testing to streamline communication modalities.   [12:04] Jenna offers an example scenario and Dr. Goodine shares how her study works to modify the current service offer.   [14:55] Dr. Goodine explains how the program is structured so that hospital pharmacists, community pharmacist, and patients have open channels of communication.   [16:20] Dr. Goodine shares what her hopes are for the study both at the patient and pharmacy levels.   [18:01] The major goal for a sustainable program like this one is simply to ensure the continuity of useful service for patient care. Dr. Goodine speaks about some really interesting takeaways that stakeholder meetings yielded.   [22:25] Jenna thanks Dr. Goodine for sharing preliminary details of this project and signs off until next episode. Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital   Toolkits for Medication Management at Transitions of Care:   CSHP — Discharge Medication Management Toolkit (available to CSHP members only). ISMP HOSPITAL TO HOME — FACILITATING MEDICATION SAFETY AT TRANSITIONS A TOOLKIT FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. Login or register to download at: Hospital to Home—Facilitating Medication Safety at Transitions (A Toolkit for Healthcare Providers)   Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Discharge Planning and Transitions of Care Primer available at: Discharge Planning and Transitions of Care | PSNet   World Health Organisation (WHO) Medication Without Harm initiative: Medication Without Harm   WHO Medication Safety in Transitions of Care publication available at: Medication safety in transitions of care   WHO Transitions of Care Primer available at: Transitions of Care   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about the research team (Updated Feb 8, 2023) Principal Investigator: Carole Goodine, BSc (Pharm), ACPR, Pharm. D., Pharmacy Clinical Manager, DECRH Co-Investigators: Heather Naylor, BScPharm, ACPR, CHC, Regional Pharmacy Research and Education Coordinator Penny Demmings, Patient Experience Advisor Samantha Fowler, B.A. (Hons.), M.A., MSSU Clinical Research Manager, Office of Research Services Christine Boudreau, Pharm. D., BCGP, Pharmacist, Sobeys Michael LeBlanc, BSc (Chem), BSc (Pharm), Pharm. D., FCSHP, Regional Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Services, Horizon Health Network Sarah Bridges, BSc. Kinesiology, MAHSR, MSSU Clinical Research Assistant, Office of Research Services Horizon Health Network Douglas Doucette, BSc (Pharm), Pharm. D., FCSHP, Director of Pharmacy, Horizon Health Network Research staff: Natalie MacDonald, BSc (Pharm), Research Pharmacist Research Coordinator — vacant Tyler Adams, BSc. Kin, MSc. Kin, Research Assistant Siyum Mohiuddin, BSc. Kin, Research Assistant Selena Oakes, BSc. Kin, Research Assistant Student learners: Hanna Ramsay, Pharm. D. candidate Additional Advisors: Carol Reimer, BScN, MSc, Patient Experience Advisor Loreigh MacKay, BSc (Pharm), Community pharmacist consultant, Fredericton area  

In today's episode, Jenna welcomes four guests to talk about a novel research project! From Centiviser Incorporated and the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Chignell, Developer of the 2RaceWithMe device and Lisa Fannin, Educator and Volunteer. And from the Center of Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), Executive Director Justine Henry and Research Coordinator Debbie Barton. The project team would like to acknowledge the contribution of Principal Investigator Dr. Jalila Jbilou, M.D., Ph.D., Professeure agrégée, From the School of Psychology and the Centre for Medical Training in New-Brunswick — Université de Moncton.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   The Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), in collaboration with researchers from the Université de Moncton and University of Toronto, is trialing a novel way to promote physical activity for residents in long-term care centres. The Project is funded by the Department of Social Development (Healthy Seniors Pilot Project), Province of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). Research and Ethics Committee approval was received from the Université de Moncton, in Moncton, New Brunswick. (#2021-054).   The 2RaceWithMe technology combines a ‘biking' activity with travel around the world using augmented reality. Individuals, seated in an armchair or their wheelchair, can use the hand or foot pedals or both, to exercise and watch the travel videos. York Care Centre (YCC), a long-term care residence (LTC) in Fredericton, New Brunswick launched the pilot project in June 2021. A second site, the Faubourg du Mascaret, a long-term care centre in Moncton, New Brunswick is preparing for implementation in December 2021.   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's four guests: From Centiviser Incorporated and the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Chignell, Developer of the 2RaceWithMe device and Lisa Fannin, Educator and Volunteer. And from the Center of Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), Executive Director Justine Henry and Research Coordinator Debbie Barton. [1:45] Justine shares who CIRA is and what they do in terms of partnerships with researchers in the field. [3:16] The 2RaceWithMe technology uses augmented reality (AR) to promote physical activity in long-term care residents, Dr. Chignell shares a brief overview of what AR is and what the technology entails; he also touches on the two primary issues the 2RaceWithMe hopes to directly address. [6:11] Dr. Chignell describes what the device looks like and how it is intended to be used by participants as well as how it incorporates mechanisms to compensate for people with upper or lower limb challenges. [9:27] Debbie Barton breaks down the anticipated participation rate for the project and offers her thoughts on the expected outcomes of participant interaction with the technology. [12:30] When implementing the technology, some special considerations were required; Justine touches on what was needed in terms of community engagement. [15:22] Debbie explains the protocol prescribed in terms of activity requirements on the unit for the intervention period of this project. [17:15] Justine talks about future research and outlooks for the project. [18:46] Jenna thanks Mark, Lisa, Justine, and Debbie for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast CIRA: Agingresearch.ca/our-company CIRA race with me project: Agingresearch.ca/2racewithme Agewell Centivizer and testimonial: Youtu.be/OEvluo4EvOc   Twitter: @AgingResearchCA LinkedIn: @AgingResearch   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guests   Mark Chignell has a Ph.D. in mathematical psychology (University of Canterbury, 1981) and a Masters in Industrial and Systems Engineering (Ohio State, 1984). He was an Assistant Professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California from 1984 to 1990. He joined the Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering in 1990 and is currently a Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, with a status-only appointment in the Department of Computer Science. He was previously the Director of the Knowledge Media Design Institute and BUL Chair in Human-Computer Interaction. Currently, he is the director of the Interactive Media Lab and the founder of Centivizer Inc., a University of Toronto spinoff company. He carries out research in human factors and user interface design, with particular interest in aging, interactive machine learning, and healthcare.   Justine Henry, Executive Director of CIRA, has an Honors Degree in Psychology from Mount Allison University ('10), a Diploma in Health Wellness and Recreation from Eastern College (‘12), and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick (‘19). Previously, she has worked as a researcher in many fields including behavioral psychology, adulthood and aging, chronic pain, and human sexuality. More recently, Justine completed her Lean Six Sigma training and is a certified Green Belt. She is currently completing the Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Program through Saskatchewan's Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.   Debbie Barton, Research Coordinator with CIRA, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Michigan State University. She's worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in hospitals, schools, long-term care, and private practice. More recently, Debbie worked with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care and community-based organizations in Ontario, where she developed, implemented, and evaluated various healthcare initiatives. Debbie enjoys working with older adults and has always had an interest in research activities.   Lisa Fannin has a background in psychology and ESL teaching and retired from an administrative position at the University of Toronto last March. She became aware of the work of Professor Chignell's team, got excited about it, and offered to volunteer and assist. She has a strong interest in healthy aging and has two family members living in long-term care.   Principal Investigator Dr. Jalila Jbilou, M.D., Ph.D., Professeure agrégée, From the School of Psychology and the Centre for Medical Training in New-Brunswick — Université de Moncton.   To get in touch with Dr. Jbilou: École de psychologie-Université de Moncton Centre de formation médicale du NB-Université de Moncton Pavillon J-Raymond Frenette, Local B-127 Tel: (506)-858-4931 E-mail: jalila.jbilou@umoncton.ca

Jenna welcomes Dr. France Chassé, co-leader of the Madawaska's Elders Initiatives Project with Micheline Plante, Community Health Representative at the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation. They discuss the health needs of the aging population of the community. They talk about technology to assist them, especially a custom mobile app and other services developed to help seniors live safely at home longer.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it! Key Takeaways [:45] Jenna welcomes today's guest, Dr. France Chassé.   [1:13] Dr. Chassé explains the Madawaska's Elders Initiatives Project. She shared the needs of the aging population within the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation.   [1:58]  Three challenges characterizing the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation community: the size, the two official languages, and the remoteness.   [2:18] There was an increased demand for transportation to health appointments and specialized health care. In some cases, this involved language barriers. There was a decreased number of informal caregivers to help elders in their homes. [3:05] In partnership with the University of Moncton, the First Nation Community Health Center, used available funding to create the MEI Project, to reduce difficulties for elders accessing health care and services. The MEI Project proposed a mobile app connected to the Community Health Center.   [4:03] Elders from the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation were invited to participate in data collection. This data helped to identify health needs. The MEI Project developed initiatives to meet these needs.   [4:35] Three categories of initiatives were offered. The first was for transportation, accompaniment, and translation. The second was for home services, indoor and outdoor. The third was for other requests.   [4:59] The MEI Project hired a local company to develop a mobile app and put it in the Apple App Store. Since it was for seniors, Apple released 30 licenses free of charge. The apps were placed on iPads that connected to the First Nation Community Health Center.   [5:34] The MEI Project hired and trained a member of the community as a Global Health Assistant employee. This person speaks both languages, has confidence, shows respect for elders, and is resourceful, with a good driver's record.   [6:14] As of now, 29 of the 36 participants received an iPad and participated in the four-hour training sessions in both languages, presented to small groups of elders. The employee helped to train the elders to use the technology. About a year ago, after two weeks of practicing and adjustments, the MEI initiatives were implemented.   [7:09] The MEI Project stays in the community but uses the University's facility and expertise for statistical analysis.   [7:59] The mobile application is available in both languages. The application uses images, symbols, and drop-down menus to offer choices to the participant. There are simple instructions on each page. On sending a request, the elder receives a confirmation message immediately and a follow-up phone call within hours.   [9:12] The Project tried to anticipate every usability issue. They consulted with the elders before releasing the app. After training, two older participants returned the tablet after a couple of weeks because they did not feel comfortable with it.   [10:26] The Initiative provided cellular phone to the project employee so the participants that do not use the tablet could call the employee instead of using the app. The employee uses the iPad app to complete the application for the participant so the system has the information.   [10:51] When an elder that is not enrolled in the project calls for assistance, the employee completes the application for them and they are enrolled and given an iPad and training at a later date. The employee is always available to help seniors complete their requests.   [11:47] So far, 29 of the 30 iPads are loaned to Madawaska Maliseet First Nation elders. The Project purchased five additional iPads. Recently the Project did an application update and Apple generously released 30 more free licenses.   [12:19] The Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Chief and Council purchased an adapted vehicle, demonstrating the importance given to the well-being of seniors in the community and a lasting commitment to the future of the project. The Initiatives are expected to stay in place after the Project is over.   [13:04] The Project came at the right time, giving access to care by remote technology during the pandemic. The mobile application accumulates information about the number of requests received, the nature of these requests, the different services used, and the users' appreciation level.   [13:33] The transportation, accompaniment, and translation service remains the most popular initiative and the appreciation level is very high. The Project is slowly observing an increase in technology use to request services. The elders are now more autonomous in taking charge of their health needs.   [14:06] Based on other requests through the app, the Project has added four additional services: transportation home after a hospital discharge, telephone follow-ups, equipment loans, and friendly visits. Elders also use the technology for other needs such as contacting family and friends, reading the news, or playing games.   [14:43] The elders installed other applications on their tablets for memory exercise, healthy recipes, physical activities, and more. They feel less alone and isolated because they are now connected to the outside world.   [15:33] There is still work to be done to promote the MEI Initiative. They planned monthly activities for the elders but they had to cancel them due to the pandemic. The Project plans to deliver several workshops on healthy lifestyle habits and the prevention of disease.   [16:08] The Project would like to give more advanced training sessions to elders who want to use the iPad to pay bills, order medications, or order groceries. Another plan is for a doctor to be able to meet a patient through the iPad.   [17:01] Jenna looks forward to hearing more as the Project continues and she thanks Dr. France Chassé for being on the podcast, especially in English! Thank you to all listeners!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Community Health Center University of Moncton Edmundston Campus Apple   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest Dr. France Chassé holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Moncton as well as a master's and doctorate from Laval University in Quebec. She is a full professor in the Nursing Department at the University of Moncton Edmundston Campus. Dr. Chassé works in the fields of community health, health promotion, illness and injury prevention, international and intercultural health, women's health, health education, program evaluation, and continuous program improvement.

Jenna welcomes the team working on a deprescribing pilot project to the show. The project's Research Coordinators Cody Davenport and Marc-Éric Nadeau accompany Justine Henry — executive director at CIRA — as well as project lead Dr. Emily MacDonald from McGill University in a discussion on the impacts of polypharmacy and the benefits of deprescription in older adults. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guests and starts off the conversation with Justine Henry on an overview of who CIRA is and what they do. [3:07] Dr. MacDonald breaks down what Polypharmacy is and how it has evolved in the past decade. [4:13] Cody talks about the MedReviewer app and how it works in conjunction with MedSafer in order to begin decreasing potentially inappropriate or damaging prescriptions for older adults. [7:15] This web app is designed to be used by healthcare professionals, doctors, pharmacists, etc. Marc-Éric explains the training required to use the app. [10:00] Dr. MacDonald touches on the potential harms of taking a lot of different medications. [12:54] Dr. MacDonald talks about how MedReviewer addresses the issues that previous approaches for addressing polypharmacy left behind. [14:41] Cody and Marc-Éric share what community partners have gotten involved as well as the ones that partnered to develop the app itself. [16:00] Patient safety in general as well as for deprescription is a primary concern; Dr. MacDonald speaks to the importance of assessment and how the app addresses this. [18:24] The future of MedReviewer and the team's hope for polypharmacy. Justine Henry shares plans for the future of the pilot project. [21:14] Jenna thanks the team for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Program CIRA Center for Innovation and Research in Aging Missing Link Technologies New Brunswick Community College Rising Health Network McGill University Health Center   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest Dr. Emily MacDonald is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in General Internal Medicine and the Director of the Department of Medicine Clinical Practice Assessment Unit. Her research focuses on drug safety and effectiveness with a particular emphasis on polypharmacy and deprescribing in older adults.   More about Dr. McDonald here. Justine Henry, Executive Director at CIRA, has worked as a researcher in many fields including behavioral psychology, adulthood and aging, chronic pain, and human sexuality. Cody Davenport, Research Coordinator at CIRA, has an honors degree in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick and is currently taking a Master of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Alberta. Marc-Éric Nadeau, Research Coordinator at CIRA, has a degree in psychology from the University of Moncton and is currently taking a Masters in Counseling Psychology at the University of New Brunswick.   More about the CIRA team here.

Dr. Tracey Rickards, Principal Investigator of the Mobile Wellness Senior's Network Reaching Rural New Brunswickers talks about the research project and some of the more probing results it generated. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guest, Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick in the Faculty of Nursing and UNB Manager at the Downtown Community Health center in Fredericton, Dr. Tracy Rickards. [1:10] Dr. Rickards shares the story of how the project was initiated as well as some of the early health findings the pilot project provided. [4:42] Dr. Karen Cross from St. Michaels in Toronto developed a tool called the MIMOSA; Dr. Rickards explains how this was used in the research project. [6:22] Diabetes and foot care are intimately linked, Dr. Tracey touches on how this played out in the study and what it implies in terms of mobility. [8:26] The mobile Health Network provides a suite of services atop foot care; Dr. Tracey breaks down what was offered. [12:55] Dr. Tracey shares what happened with community partners that participated in the project. [15:19] Dr. Tracey speaks to the tools used in the assessment and how intervention personnel were categorised. [16:38] Data collection and the project timeline are currently kept flexible because of COVID-19, Dr. Rickards talks about the hard deadlines that will be coming up. [17:46] Dr. Rickards talks about the parallels that are often drawn between Extramural and this project and how they actually differ. [21:09] Dr. Tracey shares her ideas for the future when it comes to the project and the possibilities surrounding it. [23:36] Jenna thanks Dr. Tracey for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Program Mobile Health Senior's Network Dr. Karen Cross FDCHC   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest. Tracey Rickards, BN, RN, MN, Ph.D., is currently an assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. She completed her Bachelor of Nursing at UNB in 1986, her Master's of Nursing at UNB in 2005, and her Ph.D. in Nursing at Dalhousie University in 2013. Information about her Master's and Ph.D. research can be found in the Past Research section of this website.   More about Tracey Rickards on her website.

Today's guest is Dr. Danielle Bouchard, Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick in the department of Kinesiology. Dr. Bouchard joins the show to discuss the Zoomers for All project, for which she serves as Co-Principal Investigator. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guest Dr. Danielle Bouchard, and asks her to share the initial motivation for the Zoomers for All project. [3:20] How is the exercise program controlled? Dr. Bouchard speaks to the protocol they put in place for this project. [4:08] Barriers to exercise programs are numerous, Dr. Bouchard shares some of the key enablers of this program that aim at palliating those barriers. She also shares some of the effects of COVID-19 on the program. [6:29] About 1,200 people were seen through since the beginning of the program, but on average, about 600 to 800 people are present for each term. [7:28] Dr. Bouchard dives into the peer-led initiative aspect of this program and what is required to train the people who will lead the exercises. She also talks about how this initiative is in line with the Trauma NB mission. [14:25] Dr. Bouchard talks about the numerous partners and stakeholders that help this project move along. [17:28] Future plans for Zoomers for All. Dr. Bouchard expounds on the streamlining process the team is working on in this last year of funding. [20:34] The biggest factor in reducing falls is exercise, but it has to be the right exercise. Dr. Bouchard talks about the marketing the program uses and why. [23:50] Medicare information is collected in order to gather long-term data, Dr. Bouchard talks about the longitudinal effects they've seen even in the first four years of running the program. [26:37] Jenna thanks Dr. Bouchard for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Program Zoomers for All Trauma NB Association des aînés du Nouveau Brunswick GNB Horizon Health Vitalité   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn

Today's guests are CEO and Founder of Silvermark, Aimée Foreman, she joins the show today in her capacity as industry lead on the iGenNB Project alongside Andrea Trenholm, Postdoctoral Researcher on the team. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guests Aimée Foreman and Andrea Trenholm and invites them to explain what the iGenNB acronym stands for. [2:15] Amiée touches on the key issues that led to this specific project and how aging in place is critical to bending the curve away from long-term care. [3:55] The “Matching” component of the project is at the heart of the project's attempt to palliate the three biggest plights of aging — loneliness, boredom, and isolation. Aimée touches on how these aspects are addressed through home-sharing. [5:32] Aimée touches on the benefits that this type of sharing practice offers — and other jurisdictions have proven those benefits — as well as how this project is looking at implementation strategies specific to New Brunswick. [6:38] The process of finding matches for home-sharing was built through rigorous applicant surveys and references. Andrea explains how the project dove into greater detail to get to know individuals better and find ideal matches. [12:37] Aimée touches on the challenges the project faced when it came to reaching older adults and the ways the team found to circumvent these obstacles. [17:22] Andrea talks about how the pandemic interfered with some planned social activities as well as how the project evolved to compensate for these. [20:38] Andrea explains how the culinary connection was the result of a major trend. [23:09] One designed match came out of the project, Aimée talks about how this came about despite the pandemic having foiled most other attempts. [25:17] Andrea speaks to how the relationship was built, as well as the disappointment of the shared living dissolving after a month. [28:12] A great deal of the preliminary findings were collected because the match was dissolved. Andrea breaks down some of the things that they learned and touches on how despite the disappointment, this “failure” led to a great deal of information, from the perception of the social worker's roles and opportunities for celebration! [32:51] Jenna thanks Aimée Foreman and Andrea Trenholm for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Program iGenNB   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guests Aimée Foreman is Silvermark's founder and CEO. As industry lead, and project co-lead for iGenNB, Aimée brought her expertise in service delivery across the public, private and non-profit sectors to the team. She led the creation of a guide to advance intergenerational living locally and to support other communities wanting to develop home-sharing programs. Improving the quality of life for older adults through connection, purpose, and meaning is at the heart of all Silvermark projects. Aimée resides in New Maryland with her husband, two children, and pet dog, all of whom feel fortunate to live just a few minutes away from both sets of grandparents. Andrea Trenholm from St. Thomas University is the Postdoctoral Researcher on the team, Andrea contacted participants to discuss iGenNB's research component and schedule interview conversations with them. Originally from Alberta and having grown up in Ontario, Andrea has called Fredericton home for over 12 years. She lives with her husband, her two small children, and her husky, Echo. As a social sciences researcher, Andrea is passionate about hearing people's stories and believes that each individual carries important knowledge.

Today's episode is a discussion with the project team for an initiative on the use of virtual reality in independent homes and residences and its ability to increase rehabilitative training in senior populations. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guests, Dr. Lisa Sheehy, Affiliate Investigator at Bruyère Research Institute in partnership with the Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA); as well as the CIRA team, Lalita Bharadwaj, Research Coordinator, Kelsey Nissen, Research Therapist, and Justine Henry, Executive Director of CIRA. [1:30] What is the Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging and what do they do? Justine Henry shares the breadth of work that CIRA has undertaken. [2:51] Dr. Lisa Sheehy shares how this VR initiative was launched as well as the inspiration for the project to assess the Impact of adding home-based virtual reality exercise to maintain or improve physical conditioning in seniors living in long-term care facilities or seniors living independently in their homes. [4:54] Dr. Lisa Sheehy touches on the challenges that seniors requiring rehabilitative exercises range from motivation to access as well as how the VR initiative palliates these. [9:39] Kelsey Nissen explains the outcomes that this project is expecting as well as the way the VR tech works, how the participants engage with the apparatus and the types of exercises that are programmed into the routines. She also touches on the role caregivers play in the program. [14:00] Lalita speaks about how the project also works in collaboration with the New Brunswick Extra-Mural program. She also talks about the other four community partners. [15:45] Cost is often brought up when it comes to adding tech into a care program, Lalita explains that this initiative is currently free both for the program and the equipment required. She does add a caveat, would this program come to be available commercially. [17:57] The level of success already measured in this project is substantial, Justine speaks to the future! [20:29] Jenna thanks the entire research team for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Program Bruyère Continued Care Bruyère Research Institute Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging York Care Center in New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest Find out more about the entire team on the CIRA website. Lisa Sheehy is a physiotherapist who has worked in hospital and private clinic settings, including in geriatric and neurological rehabilitation. After working for 12 years she returned to school and completed her MSc and PhD in Rehabilitation Science at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. Lisa has worked at Bruyère Research Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, since 2014, first as a postdoctoral fellow, and now as an Affiliate Investigator. Her primary research areas include the use of non-immersive virtual reality for rehabilitation, telerehabilitation, the use of rehabilitative exercise for recovery from stroke, illness or injury, and the use of technology to assist in aging in place. Lalita Bharadwaj is working as the research coordinator for this VR project at CIRA. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Psychology Degree with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Calgary, Alberta. She is currently completing her Master's degree in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick. Through CIRA, she hopes to expand her understanding of medical research and positively contribute to the collective knowledge of our rapidly aging population and improve their quality of life.   Kelsey Nissen is working on the VR project as the Research Therapist. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, followed by her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, in Toronto. She is in the process of completing her Master's degree in Applied Health Services Research through the University of New Brunswick in association with the Atlantic Regional Training Centre. She is a practicing chiropractor with research interests in healthy aging, musculoskeletal health and function, rehabilitation, knowledge transfer, and clinical best practice guidelines.   Justine Henry, Executive Director of CIRA, has an Honors Degree in Psychology from Mount Allison University ('10), a Diploma in Health Wellness and Recreation from Eastern College ('12), and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick ('19). Previously, she has worked as a researcher in many fields including behavioral psychology, adulthood and aging, chronic pain, and human sexuality. More recently, Justine completed her Lean Six Sigma training and is a certified Green Belt. She is currently completing the Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Program through Saskatchewan's Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Dr. Allison Luke, Research Associate with the Center for Research in Integrated Care (CRIC) at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, and Amy Reid, Project Coordinator with the CRIC, joins the show to discuss their project Co-Designing Dementia Care. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guests Dr. Alison Luke and Amy Reid and invites them to explain a bit about the Co-Design part of dementia care and the multi-country and scope of this five-phase project. [4:49] Amy touches on how this five-country — and three-Canadian-province — project was orchestrated, the protocol that was followed by all participants, and some of the challenges they faced. [8:33] Communicating information about dementia comes with its own set of particular challenges; Dr. Luke touches on how these challenges affect the healthcare providers and the family, as well as the patient. [14:05] Phase 1 (the needs assessment phase) of the project provided interesting learnings on how the diagnosis affects care providers and patients, but it also showed some positive aspects of receiving this diagnosis. [16:28] Accessing care post-diagnosis is a reality, Dr. Luke speaks to “you don't know what you don't know” as well as how a few other ways empowering people can prevent a lot of negative outcomes. [18:18] Dr. Luke highlights the importance of their main community partner, the Alzheimer's Society. She also shares the long list of other contributors who helped make this project possible. [20:45] The website, which launched on November 15th, works to spread awareness, Amy also shares the other functions it fulfills for patients and caretakers. [22:41] What does the future hold for such a large project? Dr. Luke talks about Phase 5 of the project on sustainability led by Poland and the WHO representative that is helping move this forward. [25:21] Jenna thanks Dr. Alison Luke and Amy Reid for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Forward with Dementia Toolkit Alzheimer's Society of Canada Horizon Health Department of Health   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForwardwithDementiaCA Twitter: https://twitter.com/FWDDementia_CA   To share your experiences about accessing dementia care, or to give feedback on the Forward with Dementia initiative, please visit the evaluation page on their website here: https://www.forwardwithdementia.org/ca-en/get-involved-in-research/ ). There are several ways to participate, including a short survey or an individual interview. The team is looking forward to hearing from persons with dementia, care partners, as well as health or social care providers.  For general inquiries about forward with dementia, contact: info@forward-avancer.ca More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest Dr. Alison Luke is a Research Associate with The Centre for Research in Integrated Care (CRIC) at the University of New Brunswick Saint John. She was the Crawford/Jarislowsky Post-Doctoral Fellow in Health Policy from 2015-2018. Alison completed her PhD in Sociology at the University of Waterloo. Alison's research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of models of care that seek to improve integration and care coordination in the healthcare system. Most recently, she is working on several projects that seek to improve care coordination for individuals with complex care needs, their caregivers, and members of the care team. Find out more about Dr. Alison Luke on the University of New Brunswick Saint-John website. Amy Reid s a Project Coordinator at The Centre for Research in Integrated Care (CRIC) at the University of New Brunswick Saint John. She completed her Undergraduate degree in Psychology at St Thomas University in 2017, followed by her Master's in Applied Health Services Research at the University of New Brunswick in 2019. Find out more about Amy Reid on LinkedIn.

Isabelle Boulay, Research Assistant and First Link Support at the Alzheimer's Society in New Brunswick, joins the show to talk about Gentle Persuasive Approaches, a first-of-its-kind dementia care course for family and friend caregivers of persons living with dementia. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guest, Isabelle Boulay, and asks her to explain a little bit about the common manifestations of dementia as well as what inspired the GPA project. [3:45] Isabelle talks about ways in which the GPA program addresses societal stigma around dementia. She touches on the notion of personhood. [5:20] The key lessons of GPA are rooted in fundamental concepts as well as the scientific understanding of dementia. Isabelle explains how the program leads participants to better interactions with persons suffering from dementia. [8:34] Isabelle breaks down some of the differences she's seen between the GPA training and other available programs. [10:02] This project exists within a network of care professionals and a community, Isabelle lists off a few of the collaborators that have made this initiative possible. [11:50] Receiving the training is currently free online and ideally this would keep being the case in the future. [14:03] Isabelle talks about what the future may hold for the project. [17:04] Jenna thanks for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Alzheimer's Society of New Brunswick GPA Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Horizon Health Network Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) inc. Continuing Care Safety Association Bayshore Healthcare ltd. Loch Lomond Villa New Brunswick Home Support Association New Brunswick Special Care Home Association inc.   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guest Find out more about Isabelle Boulay on her LinkedIn

Tammie Fournier, Chair of the Allied Health Department at the New Brunswick Community College, comes on the show today to talk about the Healthy Seniors pilot project: Innovative and community Partnered Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Seniors in New Brunswick. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guest, Tammie Fournier, and asks her to share the inspiration for the Healthy Seniors pilot project she is currently leading. [3:26] COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Tammie talks about how prevalent this condition actually is and the vast array of issues that stem from this condition as well as the current methods of management for affected people. [6:47] Tammie touches on the goals of the program and how the environment is structured and how they hope it will improve outlooks for COPD patients. [8:28] The project is currently targeting around 40 seniors struggling with COPD so that the communal aspect of this group project can be adequately monitored and tested. Tammie touches on her hopes for the future of the program. [10:32] Tammie breaks down where exactly the five clinics will be located within New Brunswick and how COVID-19 has impacted their plans. [12:40] Tammie breaks down the measured outcomes of the project and shares some stories of participants. She also shares some of the methodologies used for measuring improvement and some unofficial preliminary results! [16:50] Blood oxygen levels non-invasively share a wealth of information on lung and heart function. [18:13] The 74 students that help in the project come from a variety of health fields ranging from respiratory therapy to pharmacy technology and nursing. [21:18] Tammie shares her hopes for the future of this project. [24:08] Jenna thanks Tammie for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast New Brunswick Community College Innovative and Community-Partnered Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Seniors in New Brunswick   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn

In today's episode, Jenna welcomes Beverly Kemp — Senior Manager, Health Promotion at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick — to discuss an exciting project called Stroke Navigation, part of the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project. We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it! Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes today's guest Beverly Kemp and asks her where the inspiration for stroke navigation came from and how the program emerged.   [2:25] The New Brunswick Integrated Stroke Strategy is an effort born of collaboration. Beverly touches on the five pillars and some of the 25 calls to action that the strategy outlined as well as the improvements the last 15 years have generated and the current aspects that still require some work.   [4:07] Beverly speaks to the 70% of people reintegrating into communities after a stroke with some measure of impairment, she talks about the types of impacts these people may face.   [8:53] The program is run through a three-pillar approach, Beverly explains what a typical client/patient journey might look like and where it starts.   [11:24] The resources included in this program were built along best practices as well as a strong community engagement with people who have been living with stroke and its effects for many years.   [12:44] TIA's are often referred to as mini-strokes; does the program include those and in what capacity? Beverly touches on another program available to stroke and TIA patients: Live Well | Bien Vivre.   [14:30] Beverly discusses the many stakeholders that Stroke Navigation works with as well as how these collaborations share and centralize resources.   [17:10] The program in its pilot stage is a no-charge service, Beverly shares her expectations for the future in terms of accessibility and the overall project.   [19:45] Jenna thanks Beverly for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast The New-Brunswick Integrated Stroke Strategy Healthy Seniors Pilot Project Stroke Navigation Live Well | Bien Vivre   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today's guests Beverly Kemp is Senior Manager, Health Promotion at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick. She has a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa and a master's degree in Public Health from Brock University. In her current role, Beverly is responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a variety of Health Promotion projects related to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick's mission to promote health, save lives, and enhance recovery.

CEO and Founder of Able Innovations Jayiesh Singh joins the show to talk about the current state of lateral transfers and how their disruptive device promises to change the landscape of the standard of care.   We're all aging, and everyone's talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna welcomes Jayiesh “Jay” Singh to the podcasts and asks him to share the story of how he came to be interested in doing “tech for good” and founding Able Innovations. [4:40] Jay breaks down the specific issues and dynamics he saw at play in the healthcare system where there was room for improvement, starting with the “sack of potatoes” issue. [7:06] The issue of safety comes up often in the implementation of automated tasks in healthcare, Jay shares how he addresses these concerns through research. [10:57] The Able Innovations device brings the standard number of required personnel down drastically, Jayiesh explains how policies may differ but the task is now made effortless. [13:06] Lateral transfers are a high-risk task and this device offers caretakers, patients, and family members peace of mind, but more than that, it could revolutionize home care. [15:17] Jay touches on the other modalities this technology is moving toward and how far and wide the implications of it really reach. [16:35] Jay talks about how COVID-19 has shocked the system and the opportunities that this disruption created. [18:36] Nurses and PSW workers are second only to construction in terms of types of workplace injury. Jay shares the shocking amount of weight a nurse moves every day. [19:46] Jay shares his hopes for the future of the Delta platform. [21:40] Jenna thanks Jayiesh Singh for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Able Innovations   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn

Ashton Applewhite joins the MileAGE podcast to challenge our biases — unconscious or otherwise — about aging! Ageism manifests itself in such a broad set of ways that it’s often difficult to sort out where we might be doing it. Tune in to this fascinating talk to get an idea of where we could begin. We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna introduces author and activist, Ashton Applewhite, and asks her to talk about how she came to be interested in longevity and eventually agism. [5:00] We’re all ageist. We’re all sexist. We’re all racist. The culture we grow up in shapes this into all of us. Ashton speaks to the importance of unlearning and educating ourselves. [7:00] Challenging preconceived notions with regards to age happens at the values level, Ashton shares some examples of what she calls “successful aging” and how we can all tackle our “stills.” [9:25] Letting go of the idea that to be good at aging we have to do things as we did in our younger years. [11:30] Ashton rightfully points out that ageism is not only about old age. [12:50] The cultural tendency to use generational labels is an enormous part of agist thinking. Ashton speaks to the broadening heterogeneity of “age groups.” [16:00] Judging each individual according to their interests and abilities. [17:40] What about the notion that ageism is a natural response because old age reminds us of our mortality. [19:45] Asthon answers the question: “I don’t want to be called a senior citizen! Ew!” [22:00] The unconscious biases Ashton runs into herself and the most common ones she sees crop up in different ways and different settings. [24:24] Ashton offers that we might each start with minding how we use the words young and old and shares a resource: The Old School Anti-Ageism Clearing House. [26:04] Jenna thanks Ashton Applewhite for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast Old School   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guests Find out more about Ashton on her Blog, her LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter   Buy Ashton Applewhite's book here! Celadonbooks.com/book/this-chair-rocks-a-manifesto-against-ageism/

Drs Joanne Ho and Sophiya Benjamin — Co-Executive Directors of GeriMedRisk, an online consultation platform for healthcare providers to access timely and specialized information that supports their patients’ needs — join the show today to talk about their platform, the way it has been working to promote quality, evidence-based, unbiased information on prescribing for older adults and enabling better access to specialists.   Tune in for this discussion on the new and exciting developments in clinical pharmacology and geriatric psychiatry. We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna introduces today’s guests, Drs. Joanne Ho and Sophiya Benjamin. Dr. Ho talks about what brought her to the Geriatrics field and how she and Dr. Benjamin met as well as how and why they started with GeriMedRisk. [7:50] Because of the interdisciplinary nature of GeriMedRisk, a typical week will look different depending on your specialty. Dr. Benjamin shares what the consultation process looks like. [11:31] Dr. Ho shares her clinical-pharmacologist perspective on the type of day GeriMedRisk implies. She also touches on their weekly practice of a pharmacological review of a medication as it applies to older adults, which enables the teams to stay at the forefront of pharmacological learning. [14:23] The educational initiatives put forth by GeriMedRisk began with a needs assessment which highlighted a pressing demand for high-quality, evidence-based, bias-free information about how to prescribe safely to older adults. Dr. Ho also speaks to the other initiatives, including training graduate physicians. [20:40] Medications can be quite complex and Dr. Jennifer Tung — co-founder and team member at GeriMedRisk — came up with the idea of infographics! [23:03] How has COVID-19 impacted online platforms? Dr. Benjamin talks about how the pandemic has underscored the existing inequities in terms of access to specialists and the way GeriMedRisk was already trying to palliate this issue from the onset. [27:44] Dr. Ho touches on the greater risks of complications from COVID-19 in older adults and the information gathering work GeriMedRisks has been doing to minimize the adverse effects of certain medications in the context of pandemic prescribing. [33:01] Dr. Benjamin talks about how the pandemic has impacted the GeriMedRisks team and processes as well as their thoughts on expansion, especially in long-term care where the need is pressing. [38:04] Drs. Ho and Benjamin share their hope for GeriMedRisks for the future. [41:32] Jenna thanks Dr. Joanne Ho and Dr. Sophiya Benjamin for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast GeriMedRisk — for clinicians IGeriCare — for caregivers and patients   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guests Dr. Joanne Ho is a Geriatric Clinical Pharmacologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine DIvisions of Geriatric Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology of McMaster University. She is also a Schlegel Clinical research scientist with the Research Institute for Aging in Kitchener Ontario. Find out more about Dr. Joanne Ho at McMaster University Dr. Sophiya Benjamin is a Geriatric Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University as well as co-medical Director at Provincial Geriatric Leadership Office. Find out more about Dr. Sophiya Benjamin at McMaster University

Dr. Meshari Alwashmi is the Chief Scientific Officer at Breathe Suite and he joins the show today to discuss the findings of his recent qualitative study on the potential features of a mobile app as examined in conjunction with healthcare providers and patients.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it! Key Takeaways [:40] Jenna introduces today’s guest Meshari Alwashmi and asks him to talk about the reasons that took him towards the health sciences and more specifically digital health. [2:38] Understanding which features of mobile health applications are attractive to both physicians (providers) and patients (users) who have COPD; Meshari talks about what he’s found from patients. [6:30] Having an action plan is invaluable in the management of a chronic disease like COPD; Meshari shares his take on the action plan provided through the BreathSuite apps. [8:33] Health care professionals agreed that usability and patient customization (or adaptability) were paramount in terms of app functionality as well as easy ways to gather patient usage data on specific variables (inhaler use, step tracking, and heart rate). [12:05] Patient usage data is hugely empowering; Jenna and Meshari discuss the implications of this trend as well as that of some of his findings in the future. [15:14] Breathe Suite is an app designed to track inhaler usage for patients with asthma and COPD, Meshari talks about the company and how the pandemic has affected app usage in patients. [19:39] Dr. Alwashmi touches on the barriers that need to be overcome for mobile health applications to be successful. [24:58] Jenna thanks Meshari for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAGE Podcast BreatheSuite “Features of a mobile health intervention to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study”, by Meshari Alwashmi   More about your hosts Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Meshari Alwashmi is Chief Scientific Officer at BreatheSuite and a recent Ph.D. graduate in digital health at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s; you can find out more on his LinkedIn.

Dr. Jonathan Rose, Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering at the University of Toronto and Nirtal Shah, Physiotherapist at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto join the show to talk about their current research project and marketed applications on the use of mobile apps in post-operative care and physiotherapy.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guests, Dr. Jonathan Rose, Professor at ECE University of Toronto, and Nirtal Shah, Physiotherapist from the University of Toronto. [1:32] Nirtal shares the story of how he and Jonathan met in 2010 and how their research collaboration flourished. [2:54] Jonathan and Nirtal touch on who plays what roles in their collaboration as well as the reasons for starting a for-profit company to distribute a physiotherapy mobile application for total knee replacement surgery. [5:03] Nirtal explains what replacement knee surgery entails as well as the lack of insurance coverage on post-operative physiotherapy — which created the opportunity to broaden access to post-op care. [8:07] What does the app look like and what does it do for the user? Jonathan and Nirtal explain the progression of exercises and the structure of the app. [10:59] Testing has found that patients are finding the app significantly more helpful than the conventional post-surgery care papers provided for them after the procedure as well as easy to use and understand. [12:19] Nirtal and Jonathan speak to the user feedback mechanisms they’ve put in place and how they helped co-create the app and make it a truly efficient supplement to rehabilitation. [15:39] Jonathan goes first in sharing his goals for the future of this application but also of technology in general in the field of medicine as well as the biggest problems he hopes to tackle in the field of physiotherapy. Nirtal touches on the prospects the work they are doing may be spearheading. [20:18] What adoption challenges could be forecasted with this application in terms of an older population? [24:22] Jenna thanks Jonathan and Nirtal for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Curovate   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Jonathan Rose at the University of Toronto Nirtal Shah at the University of Toronto

Dr. Linda Duffett-Leger is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and a user experience designer. She comes on the show today to talk about her current research project on the use of virtual reality in reminiscence therapy.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guest, Dr. Linda Duffett-Leger, Associate Professor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary, and a user experience designer. [1:15] Dr. Duffett-Leger talks about the research she is doing in nursing homes: a non-pharmacological approach aimed at reducing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: apathy, depression, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. [2:45] Reminiscence therapy involves using one or more of a person’s 5 senses to aid them in remembering past life events and people, and it has demonstrated a positive effect on people with dementia. [4:49] Dr. Duffett-Leger explains how her research uses virtual reality in reminiscence therapy to provide a 3D immersive experience. [6:00] She touches on how well the patients with dementia took to the technology as well as the surprise that family members expressed at how interactive the patients became. [6:40] The 3D scenarios are developed in conjunction with family members and caregivers and tailored to be meaningful to the patients. [7:28] Aside from the tailor-made 3D environments, Dr. Duffett-Leger shares other unique aspects of this study. [9:20] Dr. Duffett-Leger breaks down how the multidisciplinary approach serves the study and what each team member brings to the project. [11:28] Jenna and Dr. Duffett-Leger dive into the importance of user and key stakeholder feedback loops and the early work that needs to be done with the dyads — dementia patient/caregiver. [18:35] Dr. Duffett-Leger speaks to the aim of the project, to put this kind of intervention tool in the hands of caregivers, to democratize access and enable better autonomy in dementia patients. [20:45] Jenna thanks Dr. Linda Duffett-Leger for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.

Dr. Julie Robillard comes on the podcast to share the research she is currently doing on robots! With the support of AgeWell, Dr. Robillard’s team is leading the charge on cutting-edge robotics and their applications for aging adults; tune-in to hear what research is currently underway in the socially assistive robotics field.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guests, Dr. Julie Robillard, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia and Network Investigator for Age Well. [1:18] Dr. Robillard talks about the assessment work she did on patient experience of a computer-based cognitive screening tool, as well as how her research provided the key ideas for her current research project — emotions in assisted robotics. She shares the team’s surprise at some of the findings. [5:36] Negative emotions towards the assessment were likely due to the intersection of two important factors, Julie dives a little bit into each of them: vulnerability of the participants at the time of evaluation, and test design. She also shares some ways these situations could have been avoided. [9:03] Jenna shares a quote and asks Dr. Robillard to share what she believes is crucial to keep in mind when integrating technology into a practice, in order to prevent patients from feeling dehumanized. [12:20] Julie breaks down and explains Ethical Adoption, a framework that she developed with Drs. Jesse Hoey (UWaterloo), Ian Cleland and Chris Nugent (UlsterU). She also shares the recommendations for practitioners looking to adopt a new technology. [17:48] Jenna asks an unscripted question about co-design. [19:33] Julie shares resources — from smart homes to apps, to prioritizing your own set of values — that persons with dementia and caregivers interested in technology should learn about and she encourages them to get involved with the research! [22:20] Socially assistive robots are defined as providing assistance to humans through interactions and communications, and there are many already out there — mostly pet-like — Dr. Robillard lists off some of them including PARO the furry seal and Pepper, whom you can see at various airports (Julie jokes that drawing people to booths at airports is his side-hustle!). [26:48] Dr. Robillard frames the two primary questions her research aims to answer: 1. What do older adults actually want social robots to do for them? 2. How can we make social robots better responsive to human emotions? [30:06] Dr. Robillard’s team elected to partner with the Alzheimer Society of BC to explore the policy implications that arise with the development of new technologies. [32:10] Where does Dr. Robillard hope to see socially assistive robots in 10 years? [34:08] Jenna thanks Dr. Julie Robillard for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Neuroscience, Engagement and Smart Tech (NEST) Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CARD) AgeWell research Drs. Julie Robillard and Jesse Hoey: Emotional Motivation for Technology that Cares (EMOTEC) Ethical Adoption paper Dr. Jesse Hoey Dr. Ian Cleland Dr. Christopher Nugent Alzheimer Society of BC PARO Therapeutic Robot Miro-b Robotic cat Pepper   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Julie Robillard at the University of British Columbia Dr. Julie Robillard’s blog Dr. Julie Robillard on Twitter

Doctor Myles Leslie and Doctor Janet Fast come on the podcast to share the findings of their most recent study and collaboration on caregiver goals. Tune in for an enlightening episode on the need to sometimes shift focus to gain a better perspective.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guests, Dr. Myles Leslie from the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary and Dr. Janet Fast from the Center for Research on Aging Policy and Practices at the University of Alberta. [1:29] Dr. Fast explains the interactive and relationship focus of the Human Ecology field of study, she dives into how this focus has shifted how she approaches caregiving. [4:20] Jenna gives context for the listeners in terms of the proportions of Canadians acting as unpaid caregivers. [5:55] Twelve years ago, the data available estimated that unpaid caregiving among 45 years olds and older amounted to about 24 to 31 billion dollars in savings on the healthcare system, Dr. Fast shares the updated numbers. [8:02] Dr. Leslie and Dr. Fast are the leads on a research project that aims at understanding caregiver’s goals as opposed to their needs. Dr. Leslie unpacks the origins of this research idea starting with the dual aspects of what caregivers do: caregiving and relationship and the realization that the entire body of research on caregiving was done on one of those aspects only. [13:05] Dr. Fast invites Dr. Leslie to touch on the difficulties caregivers seem to have talking about their own needs, as opposed to those of the person cared for. [17:00] Dr. Fast digs deeper into the two primary goals of caregivers that the research survey has found: enhancing capacity to provide care as well as resiliency and sustainability. [19:15] Dr. Leslie underscores the different understandings of what sustainability means, whether from the policymaker’s or the caregiver's perspective. [21:57] Where does technology fit into all of this and what barriers exist for caregivers to adopt a new technology? Dr. Fast shares what 3 broad categories the survey findings highlighted in this respect: awareness, confidence and resource constraints. [25:15] Dr. Leslie breaks down the 3 broad categories that were expressed in his focus groups and how they intersect with Dr. Fast’s findings: cost, time, and social isolation. [27:19] To combat social isolation and promote connectedness, they have partnered with the Huddol online platform. Dr. Fast explains how this partnership works and what services Huddol offers as well as their incentive initiative to try to tackle some of the cost issues related to caregiving. [31:50] Drs. Fast and Leslie agree that online communities like Huddol are the biggest and best change we are seeing in the caregiving field today as well as the innovative way they are tackling the definitions of sustainability. [38:02] Dr. Leslie shares his thoughts on the warped understanding we’ve developed around the word innovate. [40:14] Dr. Fast shares other work that has been done with AgeWell that relate to this idea of innovation as a new way to do something that’s been done before. [41:32] Drs. Leslie and Fast answer the question as to what their aspirations are for the future, following this research project. [47:27] We thank Dr. Lesile and Dr. Fast for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast School of Public Policy Center for Research on Aging Policy and Practices (RAPP) Huddol Senior Center Without Walls   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Myles Leslie at the University of Calgary Dr. Janet Fast at the University of Alberta

Dr. Carole Goodine is the Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton New-Brunswick and a research fellow in conjunction with AgeWell and the New-Brunswick Health Research Foundation.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guest, Dr. Carole Goodine, Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital. [1:20] What polypharmacy is and what its role is as well as why Dr. Goodine’s deprescribing project aims at reducing this tendency. [3:00] Dr. Goodine shares her inspiration for launching this project as well as her drive in terms of research. [4:49] Dr. Goodine details some of the impacts of polypharmacy such as fall risks, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence, excessive weight loss, etc. [6:52] Although decreasing polypharmacy is important, it bears reminding that in some cases the medication is necessary and no reduction should be expected. [8:20] Lack of care coordination can be a big driver of polypharmacy as well as detrimental information. [9:40] Dr. Goodine digs into the details of her project in conjunction with Medsafer at McGill (Thank you McGill!), how it works, and what it does and what unique opportunity she is tackling. [13:39] The aim of the project is obviously to improve the patient’s care, wellbeing, and overall health. Jenna and Dr. Goodine talk about the great opportunities for the future of this project. [17:06] We thank Dr. Goodine for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast MedSafer Dr. Emily McDonald Dr. Todd C. Lee   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Carole Goodine on LinkedIn Dr. Carole Goodine on Twitter

Rosalie Wang, Ph.D., OT Reg. (Ont.) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. She is an Affiliate Scientist at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and a member of their AI and Robotics in Rehabilitation team. Dr. Wang’s research focuses on developing and implementing technology to enable daily activity participation and social inclusion of seniors. She is leading research in robotics for post-stroke rehabilitation and on the use of information and communication technologies by seniors with cognitive impairments. As an AGE-WELL investigator, she leads a national project on enhancing equitable access to assistive technologies.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guest, Dr. Rosalie Wang, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. [1:05] Dr. Wang describes assistive technology as a system that includes a subset of products or devices as well as a servicing, delivery, and/or maintenance component that enables an individual’s daily function. [5:29] Phones, tablets, and computers, as well as software and applications, are included within the broad definition of what is an assistive product, however, in terms of public funding, they may not be recognized as such. [8:33] Dr. Wang is working on a broad project called Aging, Disability and Technology: A Framework for Research, Implementation and Policy. She shares the results of the recent jurisdictional scan her team completed and explains what this survey gathered and why this information was necessary. [12:43] The fact that the very definition of assistive technology is unclear and complex is a problem for building programs that address the right issues and structure funding in an efficient manner. Dr. Wang shares what her findings have pointed to, in terms of the gaps that this issue causes. [18:05] Beyond even the cost of access for an app or a phone, the price of Internet access is not being factored in, and neither is basic access to the network. [19:55] Dr. Wang details the main barriers she found to accessing assistive technologies such as systems navigation and knowledge gaps, and groups stood out as underserved like mental health disability or rural communities. [29:30] Jenna touches on the enormous comprehensive breadth of this project and Dr. Wang shares the far-reaching steps to be taken to complete this research as well as identify the short-term and long-term policy action to better meet the needs of the population. ● Citizen survey ● Policy Symposium (co-hosted by the APPTA hub) [39:45] We thank Dr. Wang for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information. Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Aging, Disability and Technology: A Framework for Research, Implementation and Policy Jurisdictional scan report Policy Symposium AgeWell Conference in Moncton More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn More about today’s guest Rosalie Wang at AgeWell Rosalie Wang at the University of Toronto Rosalie Wang on LinkedIn Rosalie Wang on Twitter

Today we talk to Dr. Stephen Katz, Ph.D., a Professor (Emeritus) of Sociology, Distinguished Research Award winner, and founding member of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, at Trent University, Peterborough, Canada. He is the author of several books, journal articles, book chapters, and media interviews on aging bodies, critical gerontology, biopolitics, cognitive impairment, and health technologies. His current research involves partnerships and collaborations on funded projects related to quantified aging and digital technologies, as well as a new book project on Self, Mind, and Body in Later Life.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces today’s guest and we launch today's interview by asking Dr. Katz to tell us a bit more about the ACT Project. [3:25] Dr. Katz talks about how his current research integrates into all three aspects of the ACT Project, as well as some of his offshoot interests in Boomer music! [5:51] We ask Dr. Katz to dive deeper into the communications aspect of his research and he explains how the three aspects of the projects were eventually developed. [8:07] What is the Quantified Self Movement? Stephen explains how that phenomenon drove his use of the term “Quantified Aging” as a way to explain a new set of cultural practices that are shaping aging and the research he has been leading on this front. [12:32] We ask if Dr. Katz actually tests the devices and he shares all of the areas of research he’s involved in, from code design to walking ethnography. [15:19] What is Dr. Katz’s take on the potential for technologies to increase independence in the future. [19:14] Emily asks if Stephen sees a way for technology to help change the image in the culture around aging. [23:25] We talk about technologies problematizing and stigmatizing aging as well as the elitist, caucasian, heteronormative language and imagery used to promote programs. [31:52] Stephen touches on the improvements he would like to see in terms of responsible, socially contextualized technologies as well as a real commitment by tech companies to offer tested products to older markets. [34:22] We ask Dr. Katz to weigh in on the sources and effects of the Neoliberal narrative and policies on health and aging. [40:46] Emily goes off script again and asks Dr. Katz to talk about his research around gaming and brain plasticity, and weigh in on the possibility of us being able to change, improve, and protect our own brains from decline. [47:24] We ask Dr. Katz to share his thoughts on data privacy issues as they pertain to the use wearable technology as well all the impacts of the bigger companies’ involvement in the healthcare field. [55:36] What legacy is Dr. Katz hoping to leave behind with his research? [59:59] We thank Dr. Katz for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast ACT Project Vivametrica SSHRC   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Stephen Katz

Today we talk with Olive about aging in place and her recent Ph.D. on this very subject. Olive Bryanton recently completed her Ph.D. in Educational Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island. Her research was about women age 85 and older living in rural PEI with a focus on what supported or limited their ability to age in place. She used the Photovoice research method as a way to learn about their lived realities, to give them a voice, and to increase their visibility as active and healthy members of society. As a researcher and an older adult herself, she believes that older adults must be recognized as integral to all aspects of our society and should be involved as advisors in any research or program development that could impact their lives. As a lifelong advocate for older adults, Olive was actively involved in the establishment of the PEI Seniors College and the Seniors Active Living Centre in Charlottetown. Her ongoing work has included program development for older adults, research on transportation, abuse of older adults, seniors safety program, and this past year was appointed by the Minister of Health to serve on the Executive Advisory Committee for the development of the initial PEI Seniors Health and Wellness Strategy.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:39] Jenna introduces Dr. Olive Bryanton and asks her to talk a bit about what aging in place means. [2:32] Olive seems to talk about older adults as a separate group from herself, is she included in the group? Has that perspective of being an older adult colored her researched? [3:40] Olive shares advice for younger researchers working with older adult populations. [4:33] Emily asks what inspired Olive to take on her Ph.D. project on what supports or limits our ability to age in place. [6:10] Olive shares her study structure as well as some of the interesting results her research yielded on aging in place: agency, community involvement, and family proximity are some of the factors that facilitate aging in place. [9:20] Jenna, Emily, and Olive discuss the replicability and biases of the study as well as the research opportunities it opens up. [10:05] Emily details the four research questions of Olive’s study and asks her to dive deeper into each of them. 1. What are the lived realities of women aged 85 and older living in rural communities? 2. How do social structures and government policies influence these women’s daily lives? 3. How do women 85 and older educate themselves about aging and living in rural communities? 4. How do women 85 and older share their knowledge and mentor others? [11:14] Olive explains why she chose 85 and older women as well as why and how she framed question number 1 which naturally led to question 3 and 4! [13:00] Olive touches on the inception of the question around the formal structures in place to support aging populations (Q. 2) and how it yielded surprising results on the importance of informal structures available. [15:45] Olive chose a semi-structured interview, photovoice and storytelling of lived experience to answer the four questions; she talks about why she chose a group method and how it played out in the field. [22:25] During one of the photovoice research gatherings the PEI minister for seniors showed up, Olive explains how that led to the Senior’s Independence Initiative, what it is, and her one suggestion to the minister! [25:39] Emily asks what the major takeaway is from this study; Olive is quick to highlight that older women are not a burden on society and it’s not about independence but interdependence. [27:33] Olive goes in depth about how she believes that technology has a role to play in supporting aging in place. [33:31] Emily asks what legacy Olive hopes she leaves behind with her work as well as what her coming projects are. [36:08] We thank Olive for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share! If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information. Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Photovoice Senior’s Independence Initiative   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn More about today’s guest Dr. Olive Bryanton at AgeWell

This is Part 2 of the interview with Dr. Nancy Newall, Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Brandon University. Tune in to find out what research Nancy and her colleagues are doing from CLSA data as well as what she thinks the future holds in terms of technologies.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:38] We welcome listeners back for Part 2 of our interview with Nancy Newall. [1:14] Nancy explains what the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing is. [3:12] Nancy also shares what secondary data analysis she and her colleagues have been doing with the CLSA data, the biggest of which is to do typology analysis on groups of people that have diverse or restricted networks of contact. [8:14] We touch on how guidelines should be developed in terms of social isolation and how difficult it is to actually figure out how much is enough! [10:32] We ask Nancy what her take is on the use of technologies, which can both foster and reduce social isolation. [13:00] How does Nancy see technology playing a role in how we age in the next 20 years? [15:46] We ask Nancy what legacy she is hoping to leave behind with the work that she is doing. [16:59] We thank Nancy for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Nancy Newall

Today’s guest, Dr. Nancy Newall, is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Brandon University whose research focuses on loneliness and social isolation and how these experiences affect the health and well-being of older adults. Recent research also explores what types of interventions can help older people become less lonely or isolated and more socially connected.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:38] We welcome Nancy to the podcast and ask what sparked her initial interest in the very complex issue of social isolation. [4:02] Nancy touches on some of the risk factors that place older adults at a higher risk of social isolation, namely widowhood and health concerns; she notes, however, that loneliness is not an inevitable part of aging at all. [5:47] Income and education level are proxy measurements for socio-economic status — which can limit a person’s ability to do what they want to do — and as such, become a factor for social isolation. [7:06] Nancy’s study showed that we can better predict the people who will become lonely than its opposite, and she talks about some protective factors from social isolation. [9:09] Nancy dives into the process evaluation work she did with the Senior Center Without Walls, a very interesting telephone resource program that reaches the most extremely isolated people in our communities. [11:30] The Senior Center Without Walls bypassed many mobility issues or physical isolation by being accessible in home and offers an incredible variety of services that range from book clubs to classes, to coffee talks. [13:45] Nancy touches on how she found out they were reaching extremely isolated individuals, people with no contact or friends and how that realization ended up shaping her future research interests. [16:55] The fact that this free program had minimal access barriers meant that the result was that people wanted more programming, evenings, weekends, etc. and Nancy was able to isolate the benefits of this initiative. [21:01] Nancy talks about future avenues for the program, including more web-based initiatives, but they will depend on the feedback from the population. [23:57] Thank you for tuning in to the podcast and tune in for the next episode for the continued interview. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Senior Center Without Walls A&O Support Services for Older Adults Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Nancy Newall

Today’s guest is Dr. Josephine McMurray, Ph.D., MBA, MRT, an Associate Professor at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University. She teaches in the Business Technology Management Program & is a member of the Health Studies Faculty. Her research portfolio focuses on issues at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and management and includes economic evaluations of new health technologies and the experiences of female founders in health and non-health startups. She has presented her research with the AGEWELL National Centre of Excellence exploring what regions have to do to become “Silicon Valley” — like spaces that encourage innovation and technological solutions to support healthy aging, both nationally and internationally.   We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:38] We are currently in Vancouver for the Age-Well Annual Conference and we are happy to welcome Dr. Josephine McMurray. We have invited her to share a little bit about her research. [1:20] We ask Dr. McMurray, how she became interested in aging. [1:58] What the Drive Health Ecosystems approach is and how it came about — as well as how most innovation in research takes place and the role of stakeholders in that growth. [5:45] On the different “Helixes” in stakeholder relationships. [8:05] A great example of developing interrelated technologies in a concerted and integrated manner. [10:47] Waterloo has one of the most innovative communities in the whole of Canada, and Dr. McMurray dives into some of the reasons why! [13:24] We discuss the importance of investing in human capabilities. [14:46] What is implementation science and how can we make sure that not-for-profit results are viewed as beneficial as well? [15:58] What are the barriers older adults might be experiencing with the adoption of newer technologies? (There is a funny anecdote here!) [21:57] On the critical importance of protecting vulnerable populations from healthcare reforms and ensuring equal access. [22:48] We unpack the preconceived idea that older adults are a homogenous group and the opportunities that arise from seeing the vast diversity within that segment. [25:15] We ask Josephine if there are more details she would like to share about her research — and there are so many interesting things! [32:07] How does Josephine think technology will change the way we age in the future? [38:29] We thank Josephine for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at Agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast Age-Well Annual Conference in Vancouver Drive Health Ecosystems Approach Synergy Resilience Regional Innovation System Triple Helix RIM Blackberry Social Capital Implementation science Bits and Bytes “Making Connections: Working Together with Technology to Support Social Inclusion for Older Adults” Smart Cities Challenge Hacking Health: Hackathons/True North 2019 Sam3 Innovation Hub   More about your hosts Dr. Emily Read at APPTA Dr. Emily Read on the Web Dr. Emily Read on Twitter Dr. Emily Read on LinkedIn Dr. Emily Read at the University of New Brunswick   Jenna Roddick at APPTA Jenna Roddick on Twitter Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn   More about today’s guest Dr. Josephine McMurray at the Wilfrid Laurier University Dr. Josephine McMurray on LinkedIn Dr. Josephine McMurray on Twitter Dr. Josephine McMurray’s research projects

Today’s episode is guest hosted by Patricia Seaman — Senior Manager Event Planning, Communications and Public Engagement at the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) — she welcomes, from the APPTA Hub: Candice Pollack, Executive Director, Emily Kerry, Research Assistant, Jenna Roddick, Coordinator of Research and Knowledge Translation at APPTA Hub and Dr. Emily A. Read. We’re all aging and everyone’s talking about it!   Key Takeaways [:38] APPTA stands for Advancing Policy and Practices for Technology; we explain what its mission is and a bit about how and why it began. [2:48] Patricia asks what everyone around the table does at APPTA Hub: Jenna Roddick, Candice Pollack, Emily Kerry, and Dr. Emily Read. [7:17] We take turn highlighting what APPTA has accomplished since its launch in 2017. [11:07] Patricia invites us to explain what exactly knowledge translation means. [13:44] Innovation, Connection, and Progression — we explain how these help us fulfill our mandate as well as the programs and initiatives that have been set up. [16:28] Everyone shares their vision for the APPTA Hub’s future. [22:03] Patricia Seaman thanks her guests and invites listeners to tune in for future episodes of the MileAGE podcast.   If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us and visit our website at Agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.   Mentioned in this episode The MileAge Podcast website APPTA Hub Age-Well National Innovation Hub New Brunswick Health Research Foundation   More about today’s host Guest host: Patricia Seaman   More about today’s guests Jenna Roddick Candice Pollack Emily Kerry Dr. Emily Read