Catherine was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 conference – ‘Fostering Innovation in Research on Aging’held in Montreal, QC (October 20-22, 2016).

Panel Discussion: Progressing toward Person and Family-Centred Care - Triumphs and Challenges

Written by: Catherine Dyer

Person and family-centred care (PFCC) acknowledges each aspect of an individual, respects differences, and provides care based on the person’s needs, desires, and hopes for the future. It involves putting clients/residents and their families at the heart of all decisions.

In the panel discussion titled “Progressing toward Person and Family-Centred Care – Triumphs and Challenges” at the 2016 meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG), chaired by Nancy Lefebre, chief clinical executive and senior vice-president at Saint Elizabeth Health Care, the presenters considered their individual journeys while involved in the implementation of a PFCC regime within the long term care domain. Danielle Bender lead investigator gave an overview of the research project, which partnered Saint Elizabeth Health Care and the Alzheimer Society of Canada to develop and offer a series of educational workshops focused on providing PFCC to staff and leaders in home, community and long term care organizations. Neil Stuart, a director with Patients Canada, outlined the processes involved to ensure that decisions reflect an authentic patient voice. Geneviève Martin, from Accreditation Canada discussed the significance of implementing a PFCC approach from the governmental standpoint. Lastly, Josie Ryan director of Northwood, a care facility which acted as a pilot site for the research project in Nova Scotia, debated the intricate relationships surrounding PFCC implementation, with enlightening stories of successes and challenges. The areas discussed within this panel feed directly into Catherine’s field of research, where she is examining the inter relationships between the family caregiver role and the health care systems. It is extremely rewarding to be witness to the processes involved surrounding the implementation of new regime such as the PFCC and to have up to date firsthand knowledge about patients’ rights, as well as the impact on residents and their families at a facility such as Northwood. Often the systems at large are not set up to ask the individual how they are managing their transitions on a daily basis and as such the family caregivers can be left out of the process. The insights from this panel have served to inform the audience and researchers alike that all family members, including those in the family caregiving role, should be considered in our endeavours to implement change. With CAG facilitating lively panel discussions with consistent audience engagement such as this one, it serves to enlighten and promote further debate involved in a cultural change to PFCC.

Jessica was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 conference – ‘Fostering Innovation in Research on Aging’ held in Montreal, QC (October 20-22, 2016).

While at the conference, she atteneded the workshop: Theory and Practice of Digital Storytelling for Older Adults.  Learn more about how this workshop relates to her research:

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Written by: Jessica Pace

The use of visual and arts-based methodologies is on the rise in social research, a trend which was apparent at the 45^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology. At the workshop: Theory and Practice of Digital Storytelling for Older Adults, David Kaufman, Michelle Vanchu-Orosco, and Simone Hausknecht from Simon Fraser University demonstrated the process of developing digital stories with older adults by combining elements including text, images, sound effects, music, and video with narratives. The team from Simon Fraser presented several digital stories which were created by older adults in their 9-week workshop and described important aspects of the digital storytelling approach as a tool to increase communication and social connectedness among participants. The workshop leaders emphasized potential benefits of the digital storytelling process related to reducing loneliness, depression, and cognitive decline. The process of creating and sharing stories has been well-received by participants in their workshops, who report that creating the stories allows them to reclaim their identities and build new relationships with their peers. 

The content of this workshop ties into my post-doctoral research which utilizes Photovoice to document and understand experiences of aging, health, and dementia among southern Labrador Inuit. I have become increasingly interested in the potential strengths of participatory, arts-based methods, such as Photovoice, as a technique for visualizing experiences of aging and a tool to prompt storytelling. This workshop highlighted additional benefits to the process of an arts-based method (digital storytelling) and the potential social and cognitive benefits for older adult participants who are involved in this type of research. I engage in community-based, participatory research with Indigenous older adults which puts significant value on developing research processes that meaningfully engage participants and have positive outcomes for the communities I works with, while simultaneously providing rich research data. The digital storytelling technique described by Kaufman, Vanchu-Orosco and Hausknecht has intriguing possibilities for this type of work, and it is promising that the idea of ‘research as process’ seems to be gaining traction as a research approach in gerontology.

Rachel was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 conference - 'From Possibility to Practice in Aging: Shaping a Future for All' held in Calgary, AB (October 23-25, 2015).

Improving Knowledge Translation and Dissemination in Health Research - By Rachel Weldrick

Developing and implementing innovative strategies for the dissemination of research findings is becoming increasingly important for researchers across many disciplines. At the 44^th annual scientific and educational meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Dr. Sharon Straus of the University of Toronto delivered a keynote address titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Knowledge Translation in Health Care”. In this presentation, Dr. Straus addressed many of the barriers faced by health researchers when looking to implement their research findings in meaningful ways. She also discussed some of the tools that have been created to assist researchers with knowledge translation techniques.

Dr. Straus emphasized that when translating knowledge into action, particularly within the realms of health and health care, there are many individual, and even organizational barriers that can prevent research findings from being implemented. She also reminds us that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for disseminating knowledge, and that different strategies are required for making changes at different levels. For example, different techniques should be used for bringing evidence to the department level vs. the whole-hospital level.   

There are also challenges to conducting research on knowledge translation techniques, she tells us. Within the knowledge translation literature, there exists much confusion around language. There are dozens of terms used by researchers in various fields, all used to refer to knowledge translation, including knowledge dissemination, knowledge mobilization, knowledge implementation, etc. This can be challenging for those who are looking to assess the existing tools for implementing research findings and develop their own approaches. As a result of this problem, Dr. Straus mentions, several tools have been developed to assist researchers and students access knowledge translation literature, including search filters and databases. She mentions, however, that even when researchers have access to literature, the still exists the issue of ensuring that we maintain a focus on the “synthesis of knowledge”, rather than the constant implementation of single study findings.

Dr. Straus’s keynote address was informative and useful, particularly for students and trainees who are working to build up their knowledge translation skills. Her discussion of both the benefits and challenges of knowledge translation provided a helpful lens with which to approach these activities from an interdisciplinary standpoint. 

Rachel was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 conference - 'From Possibility to Practice in Aging: Shaping a Future for All' held in Calgary, AB (October 23-25, 2015).

Advancing Critical Perspectives on Aging - by Rachel Barken
Critics have long argued that gerontology is rich in data, yet poor in theory. Presenters challenged this argument in a session titled “Critical Perspectives: Possibilities and Pathways for Theoretical Development in the Study of Aging and Late Life,” at the 2014 meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG). Here scholars presented rich theoretical perspectives on important questions of inequality and diversity in later life. Laura Hurd Clarke gave insight on experiences and attitudes of masculinity among older men; Barbara Marshall led the audience through a critical discussion of sexualized embodiment among older women; Toni Calasanti challenged us to consider sexual inequalities in spousal caregiving; Émilie Raymond used an innovative methodology, the photo-novel, to help understand challenges at the intersections of aging and disability; and finally Amanda Grenier advanced our thinking on agency in the Fourth Age—a life stage typically considered devoid of agency. Together, these papers pushed the boundaries of gerontological knowledge and promoted new ways of theorizing diversity and inequality in later life. In a discussion led by Julia Twigg, the audience responded with challenging questions on the construction of masculinities and femininities among older people, and on the ways we might consider both cognitive and physical impairments when conceptualizing agency in the Fourth Age. Such critical perspectives were an important contribution to the CAG and will surely spark further discussions and debates.

Jessica was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the 'Health and the Whole Person: A Healing Arts Conference' held in Burlington, ON (May 27, 2015)

How can the health humanities (art, music, drama, narrative) help us better understand patient experiences and grow as professionals?  

This was the theme explored within the conference “Health and the Whole Person: A Healing Arts Conference” hosted by the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging on May 27th at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

 With this theme in mind, I entered my morning workshop, “Applied Drama and Health: Why Health Needs some Drama”, which discussed the application of drama within the healthcare field and in relation to patient care. The facilitator, Hartley Jafine, opened with the line “the word drama strikes fear deep into the heart.” He hit the nail right on the head. I hadn’t been involved in a drama class since high school and I was definitely experiencing some anxiety while waiting for the session to start. However, Hartley was an excellent facilitator and I found the workshop to be extremely interesting and eye-opening. Every activity made me much more aware of issues within the healthcare system and how incorporating the health humanities would enhance the care provided by healthcare professionals. Additionally, this workshop emphasized the body as more than just an object, but as a means of engaging with the world. Drama is an important tool for healthcare providers as it encourages the embodiment of experience, leading to a more in-depth understanding.  

From my perspective as a patient, this workshop taught me to be much more conscious of the relationships I have with my healthcare providers and not blindly accept everything I am told. And from the perspective as a student this workshop, and the conference as a whole, really enticed personal and (future) professional growth as I became much more knowledgeable about the health humanities and possibilities for incorporating these practices into my future career.

Overall, this conference was extremely engaging and intellectually stimulating. It was unique to other conferences I have been to because it was incredibly interdisciplinary, which provided an opportunity to hear and learn from a range of perspectives throughout the day. I would like to thank the Gilbrea Centre for Studies on Aging for the opportunity to attend and I can’t wait to see what the conference committee has in store for us next year.

Photos courtesy of Peter Whitehouse

 Hartley Jafine - Health Science and Arts & Science Professor at McMaster University

Diana was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the 'Health and the Whole Person: A Healing Arts Conference' held in Burlington, ON (May 27, 2015)

The Health and the Whole Person: A Healing Arts Conference was an interactive, workshop style conference that brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds – health care professionals, researchers, students, and community members – with a shared interest in aging and the health humanities.   As a graduate student I have attended many academic conferences but the Health and the Whole Person conference was an especially unique experience for me.  Unlike so many other conferences, this one valued the voices of the community and those with lived experiences were importantly included as both attendees and panelists, kindly inviting us into their lives and sharing their stories with us.  It was enlightening to hear their experiences and stories as they tell them and not as told by someone else.

The workshop-style nature of the conference also facilitated a dynamic and engaging environment among diverse individuals.  I participated in two workshops: “Mindful Movement: Exploring the Brain’s Role in Healing the Body” and “The Role of Visual Literacy in the Development of Reflective Health Care Providers.”  Though very different, both of the workshops were interactive and involved practical activities, ranging from mindfulness and the Feldenkrais Method to interpreting pieces of art and creative writing, and shed light on some of the different ways the humanities and arts-based learning are tied to care and well-being.   As an anthropology student researching care, it was interesting to learn more about the ways the arts and humanities can be called on the help shape perceptions about health and aging and how different forms of art can be incorporated into care practices.  The health humanities can encourage care practitioners to be more reflexive of their own practice, to care for the person not the patient and listen to people’s stories, which have the potential to enhance care experiences. It was also really interesting to learn about new, creative ways to disseminate research findings, such as through performance art, in a way that includes the community and makes the findings accessible to them.  

The Whole Person conference was a wonderful experience that was truly dynamic, creative and inclusive.  At the end of the conference I felt excited about the future of the health humanities and my own deeper understanding of the interconnections between health, care, and the arts. 

Photos courtesy of Peter Whitehouse

Nicole Knibb - Education Coordinator at the McMaster Museum of Art

Dana was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology Conference held in Niagara Falls, ON (October 16-18, 2014).

 S82 - Companion Animals and the Health of Older Persons

 Dana Bandola ¹, James Gillett²¹International Federation on Ageing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ²McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

This presentation presents findings from a report published by the International Federation on Ageing critically reviewing current knowledge on the field of companion animals and the health of older people. Encompassing published research from 1980 to 2013, it considers the impact on the physical, psychological, emotional and social health of older people, both in the community as pet owners and as residents of care facilities and other institutions to whom animals are introduced for recreational and therapeutic purposes. The economic impact of companion animals is also considered. Despite limitations and gaps in the research caused by weak project design or poorly-controlled studies, the positive indicators of improvements to the health and well-being of older people are encouraging and affirm the value of future research in this field. 

Charles was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology Conference held in Niagara Falls, ON (October 16-18, 2014).

Cristi was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology Conference held in Niagara Falls, ON (October 16-18, 2014).

 P170 - Discourse and dying: A comparative case study on national news organizations' framing of Canadian right-to-die cases

 Cristi Flood ^{1 ,21}St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, ²McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

 The ongoing right-to-die debate in Canada has important implications for both older adults and gerontological research. This comparative case study examines how the national media covered Canada’s two largest right-to-die cases, which were brought to the fore by Sue Rodriguez in the 1990s and Gloria Taylor in the 2010s.  To discover how discourses surrounding the right-to-die debate have shifted and to better understand the power relations embedded in the right-to-die debate, data was collected from The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and CBC’s coverage of each case.  This data was then analyzed through critical discourse analysis and thematic analysis, with both analyses being guided by various Foucauldian theories.  The study’s findings reveal that the Canadian press covered Rodriguez, Taylor, and their respective right-to-die cases in a sympathetic way.  The findings also reveal that the press was slightly more sympathetic towards the legalization of physician assisted suicide in covering Taylor’s fight for the right-to-die.  In both cases, sympathy was constructed through illustrating assisted death as the only alternative to terminally ill people’s suffering, positioning terminal illness as an inherent threat to all-important dignity, focusing on the functional and physical losses that can be associated with terminal illness, and harping on the importance of choice.  This study concludes that the aforementioned news organizations’ coverage of each case was influenced by neoliberal ideals, and was able to portray physician assisted suicide in a positive light by perpetuating dominant discourses about aging, which construct aging, illness, and dying as horrific processes of decline.

Rachel was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology Conference held in Niagara Falls, ON (October 16-18, 2014).

 S83 - Feminist and Interactionist Perspectives on Companion Animals in Late Life

 Rachel Weldrick
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Pet ownership continues for many older men and women into their advanced years. A critical question regarding aging and companion animals is understanding why older adults continue to have pets into late life. This paper draws on Interactionist and Feminist theoretical perspectives to explore this question. A critical analytic review of the extensive literature on pets and older adults was conducted. Interactionist and feminist theoretical perspectives were used as the critical analytical framework for assessing current knowledge in this area. From an Interactionist approach, older men and women engage in symbolic interaction with animals not simply as objects, which enables individuals to create a rich social life with their companion animal that is based on communication and shared experiences. Older adults will often ascribe to their pets' actions meanings that are relational and socially sustaining. It is significant to point out gender differences in our current understanding of the relationship between animals, and older men and women. From a feminist perspective, older widows, particularly, reach to companion animals in order to fulfill the nurturing aspect of her identity that may have been lost following the death of a spouse. Animals may also become a means by which to give and receive unconditional love that is free from patriarchal constraints. Theoreticalperspectives on older adults and companion animals have the potential to provide insight on the social underpinnings of pet ownership in late life.  These perspectives begin to explain aspects of the psychosocial benefits that are often gained through pet ownership.