Stephanie was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2017 conference – ‘Evidence for Action in an Aging World’ held in Winnipeg, MB (October 19-21, 2017).

Scholarship and Synergies: Ageing and the Humanities

Written by: Stephanie Hatzifilalithis

Having an educational background in Cognitive Neuroscience and now focus in Social Gerontology, Professor O’Neill’s keynote address entitled “Scholarship and Synergies: Ageing and the Humanities” captivated my interest. Prof O’Neill is a medical gerontologist at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Although trained as a medical doctor, Prof O’Neill has focused on work that collaboratively engages a wide range of disciplines, including scholars in the humanities, neurosciences, artists, ethicists, architects and musicians, and is passionately interested in developing the process of interdisciplinary research on the themes of aging and memory. Prof O’Neill is an advocate for the integration and uptake of the humanities in the medical field and has made a significant impact to the field of gerontology and geriatrics.

Prof O’Neill’s research and presentation focused on quality of life aspects of care and the therapeutic value of art in healthcare, with specific reference to Dementia. Although at first the disciplines might seem strikingly distinct, the synergies and potential strengths this cross-disciplinary lens holds can have significant implications on the well-being of people with dementia and older people in general. The utility of arts-based methodologies is on the rise in social research, a trend that was apparent in sessions and presentations held by Dr. Pia Kontos that were based on dementia and elder clowning, digital storytelling, theatre and dance. I have always found atypical interdisciplinary work fascinating and highly relevant in the field of aging- an inherently transdisciplinary field. Prof O’Neill’s keynote was able to encourage and advocate for the arts and their involvement in research and practice. This line of work has intriguing possibilities, and seems to be gaining traction as a research approach in gerontology. By engaging in the scholarship that involves the integration of various disciplinary perspectives one can see the significant value these synergies add to the research process, practice, communities and policies in our field of interest.

Thank you to the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, CAG’s Legacy fund and the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University for the opportunity to witness cutting edge research and development in the field of Gerontology. 

“Scholarship and Synergies: Ageing and the Humanities”: Keynote Lecture. Thursday October 19, 2017.

Rachel was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2017 conference – ‘Evidence for Action in an Aging World’ held in Winnipeg, MB (October 19-21, 2017).

Older Adults and Mental Health

Written by: Rachel Weldrick

As always, I was excited to attend this year’s annual meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG). I have been a student member of the CAG for four years, and have attended as many annuals meetings since 2014. Each year I look forward to meeting with like-minded students and academics, and learning about the wide array of gerontological research that is occurring across Canada and beyond. Since 2014, I have also become a Student Representative with the CAG, proudly representing McMaster with the CAG Student Connection.

This year I was particularly intrigued by a session entitled, “Older Adults and Mental Health”. Naturally, this session piqued my interest as a mental health researcher because this title involves a surprisingly rare combination of words. All too often we have conversations about mental health that exclude mental health in later life. Simultaneously, our conversations about late life “mental health” often remain tightly focused on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

The session included a variety of oral presentations on several topics. Denise Waligora began the session with an engaging overview of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s new Mental Health First Aid for Seniors training program. Sadaf Saleem Murad (University of Alberta) presented a systematic review of suicide prevention programs for older people. Norma Gilbert (Centre of Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology, Canada) showcased a program called Count Me In! – a workshop aimed at promoting mental health well-being among older people. Delphine Roulet Schwab and Cécilia Bovet (Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé La Source, Switzerland) then provided a fascinating look at a project involving anti-ageism documentaries. Lastly, Olga Strizhitskaya (Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia) discussed her research on cognitive functioning and mental well-being among older people.

The session was very informative and covered an impressive range of issues in a single hour. As a social researcher, I was happy to see that several of the presenters highlighted importance issues pertaining to late life mental health and marginalized populations.  In particular, Denise Waligora’s critical look at late life mental health crises also included an important discussion of the different groups of older people who experience mental health concerns in later life (e.g. chronic/recurring; new mental health concerns in late life; symptoms of dementia; medical conditions with mental health symptoms), highlighting the need to consider life course trajectories and disadvantage. I was thrilled to see an emphasis on the life course.  Overall, I was happy to see a dedicated session to mental health in later life at this year’s conference, and I hope to see continued discussions at future meetings.

Thank you very much to the following organizations for supporting my work and my trip to Winnipeg to attend this year’s conference: the Department of Health, Aging & Society at McMaster University; the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging; the CAG Legacy Fund; and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

“Older Adults and Mental Health”: Oral Session. Friday October 20, 2017. 

Kelsey was awarded a Gilbrea Travel Award to facilitate her travel to the Canadian Association on Gerontology 2017 conference – ‘Evidence for Action in an Aging World’ held in Winnipeg, MB (October 19-21, 2017).

Physical activity and aging

Written by: Kelsey Harvey

Many informative and interesting presentations, symposiums, workshops, and keynote addresses filled the 46th Annual Scientific & Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG).  Given my research interest in physical activity and aging, the oral presentations on this subject made an impression on me. The five presentations were chaired by Dr. Joanie Sims-Gould, who also presented her team’s work on innovative community-based physical activity programs in British Columbia. Similarly, Lora Bruyn Martin, Research Application Specialist, described the knowledge translation and evaluation tools she and her co-author undertook to develop, mobilize, and reinforce a novel initiative to increase physical actively, thus reducing sedentary time, in individuals living in a long-term care residence. Dr. Michelle Silver presented her work with retired Olympic athletes. Dr. Brad Meisner presented on behalf of Ariane Seguin, whose qualitative interviews for her Master’s thesis were situated within the extant literature on older exercisers. Much like the work of Dr. Silver, Seguin’s findings focused on coping with life transitions and changes in functional abilities, but also acknowledged social support as a social determinant of exercise participation and challenging age-based stereotypes regarding physical activity. The final presentation, by Dr. Luisa Pedro on behalf of her team, returned to the implementation of a physical activity intervention in Portugal, which sparked a conversation among presenters and attendees alike on the fit, or lack thereof, of the present physical activity guidelines for older adults.

Questions and debates that remain include:

• Is vigorous activity appropriate for older adults?
• Since intensity is not only subjective, but also exists on a continuum, then what constitutes an appropriately high intensity recommendation for older adult exercise?
• How can the physical activity guidelines be more inclusive of other definitions of physical activity?

While scholars consider and investigate these issues, it is hoped that we will return next year, to CAG 2018 in Vancouver, to further advance this discussion and many more in gerontology and physical activity.

Physical Activity: Oral Presentations VII. Sunday October 21, 2017. Chair: Joanie Sims-Gould 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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

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).

S11 - “I like doing the things I do”: The impacts of self-care on older adults’ experiences and expectations of home care services

Rachel Barken
McMaster University , Hamilton, ON, Canada

Objectives: Research on home care typically focuses on the types of help clients need. Previous research suggests, however, that older adults often practice self-care by directing and maintaining their own health, engaging in preventive behaviour, and responding to illness while receiving home care. The purpose of this paper is to examine how older adults’ self-care activities shape experiences and expectations of home care services. Methods: Findings are derived from semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 30 older adults using home care services in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were designed to elicit participants’ views on the intersections of home care and self-care. Results: Self-care activities are fluid: they shift over time, from day to day, and with changes in health status. Despite differing health conditions and levels of ability, participants practice self-care in diverse ways such as learning to use technology, following exercise routines, and preparing healthy meals. Participants view self-care as way to maintain a sense of control in caring relationships. They express a desire to engage in self-care to whatever extent possible while using home care. Conclusion: To ensure that home care services are responsive to individuals’ personal circumstances, care providers should consider clients’ ability and interest to practice self-care. Services that support older adults’ capacity for self-care can improve clients’ satisfaction with home care.

S79 - Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Older Homeless People: Shelters Workers' Perspectives

Rachel Barken ^{1 ,2}, Amanda Grenier^{1 ,2}
McMaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, ²Gilbrea Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Objectives: The number of older people experiencing homelessness is increasing across Canada. Yet their needs are often overlooked in homelessness reduction strategies, which focus on younger populations. The objectives of this paper are to explain the challenges older homelessness brings for those working in shelters, and to suggest practice changes required to meet the needs of older homeless people. Methods: Findings were gathered through semi-structured interviews with fifteen stakeholders working in shelters in Montreal, Quebec.
Results: Findings reveal three key service gaps and challenges in shelter workers' experiences working with older homeless people. First, understanding the complex individual and structural factors - beyond simply a lack of shelter - leading to homelessness in later life is necessary to respond to older adults' needs. Here considering differences in the trajectories of people who are chronically homeless throughout their lives and those who become homeless for the first time in later life is necessary. Second, services that are adapted to the challenges specific to older adults (such as access to pensions) as well as services that respond to diversity among older adults, are necessary. Third, a wider array of integrated, accessible health and social services are necessary to support older homeless adults as they transition to stable housing.
Conclusion: Services for homeless people are currently ill-equipped to support older adults. Innovative programs and service changes are necessary given the growing number of older homeless people.