Overview
The Gilbrea Centre has four membership groups: associate faculty members, graduate students, older persons and community organizations. These groups work together to fulfill our mandate outstanding inter-disciplinary research; translating research results into policy and care practices; developing successful partnerships in the public and private sectors; engaging in effective and sustained community outreach and partnerships; and increasing the range and prominence of aging studies in the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate curriculum.
Associate Members
The Associate Members group is comprised of faculty members from across the University, and serves to facilitate interdisciplinary research and exchange through the Centre. Located in the Faculty of Social Sciences, a number of our Associate members teach in the Department of Health, Aging and Society. Our membership also extends across the campus, with the varied disciplinary composition of the Gilbrea Centre's Associate Members helping to achieve our mandate, increase the visibility of research on aging, and facilitate meaningful forms of knowledge sharing.
Interested in learning more about membership? Please email gilbrea@mcmaster.ca
Social Sciences and Humanities
Gavin Andrews |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Lori Campbell |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Vikki Cecchetto |
Linguistics and Languages, Humanities
|
Read More |
Amelia DeFalco |
English and Cultural Studies, Humanities
|
Read More |
Margaret Denton |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
James Dunn |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Chelsea Gabel |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
James Gillett |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Jessica Gish |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
James Gladstone |
School of Social Work, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Igor Gontcharov |
Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Amanda Grenier |
Health, Aging and Society , Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Meridith Griffin |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Michel Grignon |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
David Harris Smith |
Communication Studies and Multimedia, Humanitites
|
Read More |
Jeremiah Hurley |
Economics, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Randy Jackson |
School of Social Work, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Anju Joshi |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Jessica Pace |
Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Ellen Ryan |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Mat Savelli |
Health, Aging & Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Chris Sinding |
Health, Aging and Society, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Magda Stroinska |
Linguistics and Languages, Humanities
|
Read More |
Michael Veall |
Economics, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Rachel Zhou |
School of Social Work, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
McMaster University
Vanina Dal Bello Haas |
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Maureen Dobbins |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Brock Dubbels |
Computing and Software, Engineering
|
Read More |
Qiyin Fang |
Engineering Physics, Engineering
|
Read More |
Robert Fleisig |
Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice, Engineering
|
Read More |
Karin Humphreys |
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, Science
|
Read More |
Sharon Kaasalainen |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Lori Letts |
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Janet Lovegrove |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Maureen Markle-Reid |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Carrie McAiney |
Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, Science
|
Read More |
Stephen McBride |
Political Science
|
Read More |
Bruce Newbold |
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, Science
|
Read More |
Mark Oremus |
Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatisics, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Antonio Páez |
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, Science
|
Read More |
Jenny Ploeg |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Darren Scott |
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, Science
|
Read More |
Allison B. Sekuler |
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, Science
|
Read More |
Patricia Strachan |
School of Nursing, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Brenda Vrkljan |
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Allison Williams |
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, Science
|
Read More |
John You |
Medicine, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Isik Zeytinoglu |
Management and Industrial Relations, DeGroote School of Business
|
Read More |
Other Universities
Rachel Barken |
Department of Sociology
|
Read More |
Ellie Berger |
Sociology, Arts and Science
|
Read More |
Alexander Crizzle |
School of Public Health and Health Systems, Applied Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Charles Emlet |
School of Social Work, Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Laura Hurd Clarke |
School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education
|
Read More |
Stephen Katz |
Sociology, Arts and Science
|
Read More |
Pia Kontos |
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
|
Read More |
Brad Millington |
Department of Health, Humanities and Social Sciences
|
Read More |
Kristine Newman |
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Community Services
|
Read More |
Debbie Rudman |
School of Occupational Therapy, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Mark Skinner |
Geography, Geography
|
Read More |
Laura Tamblyn-Watts |
Canadian Centre for Elder Law
|
Read More |
Peter Whitehouse |
Neurology, Health Sciences
|
Read More |
Student Members
Students are future researchers, policy makers, professionals, and clinicians from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. Our graduate student group is a peer-led group of students with interests in aging. Members of this group provide insight into new knowledge in their field of study, network with other Centres and groups, and carry out events and activities as part of our programming. Student members serve an integral role at the Centre working alongside faculty, clinical researchers, community professionals, and seniors.
Are you a student looking to connect with our student group? Please email gilbrea@mcmaster.ca
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Jeffrey Liu
-
Grace Martin
-
-
-
-
-
Thipiga Sivayoganathan
-
-
-
-
Stefania Cerisano - Co-Chair
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Stefania is a Masters student in the department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University. She works in the Cognitive Science Lab under Dr. Scott Watter and Dr. Karin Humphreys. She obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Psychology from McMaster University in 2015. Stefania is currently studying how cognitive factors, such as memory and attention, interact with hearing ability in young and older adults. She is working in collaboration with Starkey Hearing Technologies in order to help improve hearing aids and the quality of life of those who wear them.
Catherine Dyer
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Catherine is a Masters student within the Department of Health and Aging at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Grenier. She completed her BA in Human Relations, Minor Psychology, with Distinction from Concordia University in June 2014 and was awarded The Robert C. Rae Book Prize, for the most outstanding graduate within Applied Arts and Science. Catherine has over ten years of palliative care volunteer experience in both the hospital and home settings. Her roles have included, coaching family caregivers within a palliative care clinical-research study, bereavement support group facilitation, palliative care ward duties and telephone peer mentorship for young widows. She co-presented a selfcare workshop, specifically designed for volunteers, at the 2014 International Palliative Care Congress, Montreal, and co-presented a research project workshop, highlighting the role of a volunteer caregiver coach, at the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Conference, Ottawa. Catherine’s graduate research will center on the family caregiver role for those caring for someone at the end of life, with an emphasis on preparatory education provision made for those entering the family caregiving role, examination of the support mechanisms available before, during and after their caregiving experience, and recommendations family caregivers have for systemic changes.
Rachel Estok
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Rachel is a Master’s student in the department of Health, Aging, and Society at McMaster University. She recently graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours BA in Sociology. While at the University of Guelph, Rachel completed an interdisciplinary undergraduate thesis focusing on personal support worker perspectives on ethnic-specific long-term care homes. She plans to continue her graduate research on this topic. Rachel has previous experience working with older adults from her volunteer work as a Resident Companion, and as a Cyber Senior volunteer. Recently Rachel has joined a volunteer group on campus where she holds weekly arts and crafts activities with older adults in the Hamilton area.
Charles Furlotte
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email furlotcr@mcmaster.ca View Website
Charles Furlotte is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the School of Social Work. Charles is interested in critical approaches to social gerontology, with a particular emphasis on growing older with complex chronic health conditions, including HIV/AIDS. His thesis research addresses perspectives on aging and time of older gay men living with HIV in Ontario. He is a member of the National HIV and Aging Coordinating Committee, and involved in a number of community activities. His work on HIV, aging and housing has appeared in the Canadian Journal on Aging. Charles is the recipient of the 2012 Ellen B. Ryan Scholarship for graduate students conducting research in the field of aging. He previously completed a master’s degree in social work from Carleton, and a degree in psychology and aging from Mount Allison.
Cristina Galle
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Cristina is completing her MA in the Department of Health, Aging, and Society under the supervision of Dr. Gavin Andrews. Her research interests include mental health and illness, social determinants of health, health policy, health care systems.
She recently completed an honours undergraduate degree in Health Studies and Gerontology at McMaster University in 2017. Her undergraduate thesis was on the need for greater mental health initiatives for children and adolescents, and she hopes to further her inquiry into mental health and illness through the study of complimentary alternative medicines in her MRP.
In her final year as an undergraduate, she was the Vice-President of the Health, Aging, and Society Student Association, which strives to bring students together through academic, social, and recreational activities in health in order to make a difference within the community.
Kelsey Harvey - Academic Coordinator
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Kelsey has spent the last 10 years working in community support services, holding positions such as Coordinator of Caregiver Services for VON Niagara and Director of Education and Training for the Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter. She has also held teaching appointments with the University at Buffalo and Brock University. Kelsey earned a Bachelor's of Music Degree Summa Cum Laude in Music Performance from Binghamton University, a Bachelor's of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Health and Human Services concentrating in Social Gerontology from the University at Buffalo, an Advanced Certificate in Long-Term Care Administration, and a Master's of Science Degree in Adult Education from Buffalo State College. Kelsey began working towards a Ph.D. in Social Gerontology at McMaster University in the Fall of 2016 with an interest in researching geragogy.
Stephanie Hatzifilalithis - Communications Coordinator
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Stephanie holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Sheffield and has recently been awarded her MSc In Cognitive Neuroscience from University College London, UK. She is currently commencing her PhD in the department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University under the guidance of Dr. Amanda Grenier. Through out her academic career she has focused on the health and well being of the ageing population, specifically looking at the benefits social interaction has on older adults cognitive vitality. She was given the opportunity to work with older adults on several projects including Digital literacy programs. This largely influenced the development of her PhD project that will investigate the framework, methodologies, and applications of Intergenerational Learning (IL), in hopes to discover and implement leading IL programs across Canada.
Allee Holland
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Alyson is a PhD candidate in the department of Anthropology under the supervision of Tina Moffat. Her doctoral research focuses on how the relationship between osteoporosis and nutrition is understood by young adults. She is particularly interested in exploring how ideas of future disease risk are developed and applied by younger adults who are not currently at risk of osteoporosis, but are engaging in behaviours that might affect their future risk. Her research aims to inform the design of osteoporosis prevention programs that reflect the beliefs and attitudes of young adults in order to reduce the future burden of disease. Her doctoral research is related to her MA research which focused on identifying the presence of osteoporosis in ancient populations using a variety of digital imaging modalities.
Sasha Johnstone
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Gerontological research has studied how social constructs shape the decisions that women make about hairstyling, but it has not yet examined the role hair stylists play in supporting and influencing women’s decisions about how their hair should be cut, coloured, and styled in relation to extant age norms. I conducted a full year undergraduate thesis, which explored how hair stylists act as an important cultural mediator between individuals’ desires, dominant cultural expectations, and emerging hair trends. In graduate school my goal is to expand upon this research to conduct a research-based Master’s thesis. My goal is to conduct extended ethnographic research using the qualitative data collection tools of participant observation and one-on-one in-depth interviews in a hair salon in order to further explore how hair stylists respond in their work to age norms, the aging body, and social constructs about how women should style their hair.
Julieta Lazo-Zelada
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email julieta_lazo@hotmail.com
Julieta I. Lazo-Zelada is currently a second degree McMaster student, enrolled in Sociology. Holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. After obtaining her Masters, worked at the University of Saskatchewan, Graduate Research department for a year, in charge of implementing a database of research funding for the university’s faculty. Subsequently, Julieta moved to Ottawa, ON, where she worked as a Business Analyst and Software Tester in various Federal government projects for a few years. Next move was to Chicago, IL, USA, where she worked as a Lead Quality Assurance Analyst and Software Tester in large software development projects for insurance and investment applications for 7 years. Returned to Canada in 2004 where she continued working in the same capacity for various large multi-platform insurance and banking projects in Toronto, ON. Julieta retired from BMO Financial Group, Technology Division in 2009. In 2010 and 2011 worked in several large software development projects at Scotiabank, CIBC and TD as Lead Quality Assurance Analyst and Senior Software Tester; moved to Hamilton, ON in 2012. Julieta was born in Guatemala, Central America, immigrated to Canada when she married and is mother to two adult sons. Julieta has been a Canadian citizen for many years. Her academic interests now are in the field of aging and health, particularly preventive health and how to aid seniors, especially those already at an advance age to more actively participate in their own health care.
Alison McNeil - Co-Chair
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Alison is a PhD student in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Gavin Andrews. She has recently completed her MA in Health and Aging from McMaster University and also holds a BSc (Hons) in Biology from the University of Western Ontario. Alison has a passion for improving the wellbeing of older adults. Over the last several years, she has worked directly with older adults in Schlegel Village communities in many capacities. Through her academic work, Alison has gained a deeper understanding of the necessary features of age-friendly communities and the challenges and barriers older adults face while aging in place. Alison’s work investigates age-friendly communities, particularly with respect to social participation, and how these communities can best be developed by incorporating the knowledge and voices of the older adults who live in them.
Sherry Nesbitt
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Sherry holds a BSc (Hons) in Nursing and is presently pursuing a MSc. in Global Health. Sherry is passionate about Global Health issues and particularly issues faced by women and older adults. She is enthusiastic about policy analysis and qualitative research methods and has chosen to complete her degree by thesis under the guidance of Dr. Amanda Grenier. Sherry’s research focuses on social isolation and exclusion among rural -dwelling older women.
Kathleen Oliver
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email oliverlk@mcmaster.ca Call 905.525.9140 ext. 22853
Kathleen is a Ph.D. student in the department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University. She works in Dr. Karin Humphreys and Dr. Scott Watter’s Cognitive Science Laboratory. She obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Psychology from Cape Breton University in 2013.
Kathleen’s community-based research focuses on language in older adults. She is currently doing work in local retirement homes looking at the effect of age and cognitive impairment on speech production and alternative ways to predict early stages of dementia through language measures. She is also doing work on the social cognitive influences that lead to the progression of dementia.
Samantha Rossi
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Samantha completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science at McMaster University in June, 2016. An enthusiast of many subject areas, her academic interests throughout her undergraduate career included music, linguistics and languages and health sciences. She is currently commencing her MA in the department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. Throughout Samantha’s academic career she has focused on the health and well being of the aging population. Her honours thesis examined the barriers to meeting the cultural needs of Italian seniors in long-term care. She plans to continue along this trajectory during her MA. She has also volunteered extensively in the Hamilton community, providing music activities and Italian language support for seniors at St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke and St. Peter’s Hospital.
Daina Stanley
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Daina Stanley is a Ph.D. candidate in Medical Anthropology at McMaster University. Daina is currently conducting her dissertation research, which is influenced by her Community-based Research experiences and background in public health and social and medical anthropology. Daina’s community-engaged ethnographic study examines community-based end-of-life care models and programs in prisons across the United States and explores the experiences and identities of prisoners engaged in hospice as “volunteer” providers of end-of-life care. Her doctoral research will suggest policy changes and meaningful models of community-based end-of-life care in correctional settings that include prisoners in the process. Ultimately, Daina aims to establish a community-based research platform that will impact end-of-life and hospice care and services in North American prisons. She holds an M.A. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Anthropology and Criminology from the University of Ottawa.
Rachel Weldrick - Social Coordinator
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Rachel has recently completed her MA in the Department of Health, Aging & Society at McMaster University. Prior to this, she completed her BSc (Honours) in Psychology at Acadia University.
Since completing her MA, Rachel has worked as a Program Coordinator for the SPCA Dogs on Campus Initiative at McMaster. She also currently works as a research assistant in the Department of Health, Aging & Society, and as a Program Coordinator with the Regional Geriatric Program at St. Peter's Hospital in Hamilton.
Her research has largely focused on the social experiences of older adults, particularly those with mental health conditions or concerns. Her work has also examined alternative approaches to social engagement and well-being in later life, including animal-assisted therapies, and the various ways in which the use of technology can benefit seniors in their daily living.
Rachel will be starting her PhD beginning in September 2015.
Erin White
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Erin is a Masters student within the Department of Health and Aging at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Michel Grignon. In June 2014, Erin graduated with her honours Bachelor of Health Science, specialization in Health Studies, from Western University. Erin’s research with Michel will center on the use of the Quality Adjusted Life Years measurement tool and the implicit age-based rationing associated with it. Other interests include equitable access to health care, innovative health care system design, resident quality of life in long-term care, and patient narratives as a form of data collection.
Erin has a deep passion for improving the health and quality of life of older adults. She enjoys both working with older adults directly, as well as working with organizations that aim to better the experience of aging in Canada. Through the Health and Aging program at McMaster, she has come to understand the aging experience through a critical social lens, and has gained new appreciation for the experience of aging and the lives of older adults.
After graduation in August 2015, Erin is enthusiastic about ongoing education through the workforce and hopes to pursue a career in the field of gerontology where she can put her acquired knowledge and skills to use to improve the health of older adults.
Kaitlin Wynia - Secretary
Student Member, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Kaitlin is a PhD student in Health Studies under the supervision of Dr. Lori Campbell at McMaster University. Kaitlin recently graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS where she focused on learning more about how Canadian Armed Forces Veteran families demonstrate family resiliency in light of the stresses associated with leaving the military and entering civilian communities. Kaitlin hopes to continue exploring the connections between preventative healthcare, family relationships, later life transitions, and social policy in her doctoral studies.
Sina Afshani
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Sina is currently a student at MTEI program at McMaster University. Prior to joining McMaster, Sina finished his bachelor’s degree in industrial design from OCADU (Ontario College of Arts and Design University). His interest in aging and mobility started when he first worked at IDRC (Inclusive Design Research Center) as an Inclusive Designer working on accessibility and virtual interactions. His undergraduate thesis focused on mobility and aging at home inspired by his family’s struggles with Alzheimer. His first hand struggle with providing care at home pushed him to create his own company focusing on creating and designing products and services that would increase the quality of life for both caregivers and patients. Sina is currently working with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at McMaster University to turn his vision into reality.
Erica Areseneau
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Brian Budd
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Rebecca Casey
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Rebecca is a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Department of Sociology at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Lori Campbell (supervisor), Dr. Margaret Denton, and Dr. Peri Ballantyne (Trent University). Her dissertation research focuses on the health status and lived experience of people with physical impairments, with a particular focus on injured workers with permanent impairments. She is particularly interested in the aging experiences of people with physical impairments and how they negotiate the health care system and manage chronic health conditions. Her dissertation involves three separate but related projects: a longitudinal analysis of unmet health care needs; a quantitative analysis that compares participants from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) to injured workers with permanent impairments from the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury (RAACWI) Health Survey with a particular focus on access to health care and chronic health conditions; and a qualitative analysis focusing on the lived experience of 10 injured workers with permanent impairments and their access to health care. She is also involved in several projects with Dr.Ballantyne and other RAACWI researchers. These include: studying the economic situation of injured workers, particularly those who have low income, and their health care experiences; and comparing older and younger injured workers with permanent impairments and their occupational outcomes following a work injury. Her dissertation research builds nicely on my MA thesis that explored the lived experience of eight people with a physical impairment to better understand their coping mechanisms as they aged with their impairment.
Emily Cichonski
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Huyen Dam
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email damhd@mcmaster.ca Call (905) 525-9140 ext. 20440 View Website
Huyen Dam is a PhD Candidate in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences at McMaster University. Her broad research interest is on the lived experience of immigrants and refugees in Canada over time. Her MA research focused on the sense of place, home and identity of the Vietnamese Boat People in Canada. Her interest in the health of immigrants and refugees has led her to explore the ways in which culture shapes and impacts people’s ideas about wellness and illness. Her current research is focused on the following: the role of cultural and linguistic brokers in knowledge exchange in health promotion; (2) the capacity of service providers to diversify mental health promotion strategies though the process of engaging multi-cultural groups; and (3), to explore the ways in which equity and inclusion in mental health planning can affect diverse communities in Hamilton. Huyen has been a member of the Hamilton Immigrant Partnership Council (HIPC) since 2011 and sees the importance of research that is connected to the community.
Peter DeMaio
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email demaiop@mcmaster.ca View Website
Peter is an MA candidate in the Department of Health, Aging & Society at McMaster University. He also holds a Double (Honours) BA in Health Studies and Gerontology from McMaster University.
As an undergraduate student, Peter completed two theses. He conducted in-person interviews and online surveys for an analysis of the changing experiences, perceptions and practices of older adults who use complementary and alternative medicines. He also wrote a scoping review of the literature on adult day centre programs.
Peter’s research interests include community services targeting older adults; aging in place policies; health policy; Indigenous health and wellness; and complementary and alternative medicine.
Peter will begin his studies in the MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation program at Oxford University in October 2016. He hopes to work as a researcher to support innovative policy solutions and health services targeting older adults.
Kelly Hall
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Kelly is a Master’s student in the Department of Health and Aging at McMaster University. Having completed her undergraduate studies at McMaster in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in a Combined Honours program in health studies and sociology, Kelly decided to remain at McMaster and pursue her interests in health further.
Throughout her undergraduate education, Kelly acquired a strong academic interest in the study of determinants of health and social outcomes. Specifically, she is interested in the ways that individual attributes such as social economic status and culture influence factors such as educational attainment and achievement, quality of life, and end of life care. It is within this area of study that Kelly has developed a desire to pursue graduate research in the topics of mental health and aging, with particular focus on depression, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Working under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Grenier, Kelly expects to further explore the issues related to mental health and the illness experience.
Angela Haufler
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Email haufleam@mcmaster.ca View Website
Angela Haufler is an MA candidate in the department of Health, Aging and Society. She holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Health Studies, both of which were also attained at McMaster University. Angela’s research interests largely centre around accessibility concerns and the patient-provider relationship. Her recent work has focused primarily on maternal and child health, but she is broadly interested in the interplay of systematic barriers throughout the life course.
Katherine Killam
Student Alumni, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
Kathrine is an M.A. student in Gender Studies and Feminist Research here at McMaster University. She earned her B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Laurentian University. Her areas of interest include: aging and illness studies; family and child relations; feminist ethics of care philosophy (particularly related to identity, obligation, and witnessing theories); and ethical practices in story ‘telling’. Kathrine’s current research is an ethnographic study of complex care relationships. The burden of caring for an aging or ill person – providing emotional, economic, and/or physical support – is often placed on adult children, but many parent-child relationships are damaged in ways that limit the child’s ability to provide ethical care for their aging parent. Limited attention has been paid to the complexities that may render the ethical relationship between adult children and their aging parents in need of care difficult to navigate. The intent of Kathrine’s ethnographic study is to record and examine some of the complex care relationships being experienced in Canada today, in order to explore the cultural phenomenon of providing obligation based care.
Senior-Scholar-in-Residence
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Margaret Denton, Professor Emeritus (Health, Aging & Society), to the Centre as Senior-Scholar-in-Residence.
I am very pleased to be appointed Senior-Scholar-in-Residence in Social Sciences working through the Gilbrea Studies on Aging. In this role I will continue working with faculty, students, research staff and community partners on research related to the health and well-being of older adults. Of particular interest to me are issues related to the delivery and receipt of home and community care, as well as retirement planning and income. Currently I am working with Dr. Isik Zeytinoglu and Dr. Catherine Brookman on a study of the health and safety of personal support workers in home care. I am also Vice President of the Hamilton Council on Aging and in this role I am leading the initiative to make Hamilton an age-friendly city. We are working with the City of Hamilton, and many other partner organizations, including the Gilbrea Centre to implement and evaluate Hamilton’s Plan for an Age-Friendly City. Also working with the Hamilton Public Library and Inform Hamilton, the Hamilton Council on Aging is implementing and Older Adult Peer Connector Programto help senior link to the resources they may need to promote their optimal aging.
For those interested in learning more, check out the following publications:
Denton, M., Brookman, C., Zeytinoglu, I.U., Plenderleith, J., & Barken, R. 2015. Task shifting in the provision of home and social care in Ontario, Canada: Implications for quality of care, Health and Social Care in the Community, 23(5): 445-455.
Denton, M., Plenderleith, J., & Chowhan. 2013. Health and Disability as Determinants for Involuntary Retirement of People with Disabilities. Canadian Journal on Aging, 32: 1-15.
Tindale, J., Denton, M., Ploeg, J., Hutchison, B., Brazil, K., Akhtar-Danesh, N., & Plenderleith, J.M. 2011. Social determinants of Older Adults’ Awareness of Community Support Services in Hamilton, Ontario. Health and Social Care in the Community, 19(6): 1365-2524.
Seniors Helping Advance Research Excellence
Seniors Helping Advance Research Excellence (S.H.A.R.E.) is a volunteer research group administered by the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging.
The involvement of seniors is central to the Centre’s mandate and the senior’s group allows for a more active and meaningful relationships between seniors, the Centre, and all of our membership groups.
The SHARE group is a group of seniors aged 55 + who volunteer to participate in graduate and faculty research on a variety of topics. These projects address topics such as successful aging, communication, memory volunteering, and health. Participation is always voluntary and members can choose which studies they will participate in. All information is used for research purposes only and is kept strictly confidential.
Are you a senior who would like to be more involved in research and Centre activities?
Partner Organizations
The Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging has longstanding relationships with several groups and organizations who work with older people. These collaborative relationships help us to create new knowledge, foster research relevant to community need, and provide our partners with cutting edge research and suggestions for best practices. Partnerships with the community are an important aspect of knowledge exchange between faculty members, students, seniors and the community.
Community partners of the centre will have opportunities to participate in Centre events and activities; co-host or partner on events; connect with faculty or student researchers around social and inter-disciplinary aspects of aging; develop, lead or participate in co-run research projects; and/or access professional development or training sessions.
Interested in becoming a partner?
Our Partner Organizations

Dementia Alliance
On April 1, 2010, the Alzheimer Societies of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk and Hamilton Halton integrated their delivery of services to those affected by dementia under a new corporation called Dementia Alliance. This corporation is composed of three board members from each of the local Societies, and was developed to create efficiencies and ensure the best use of our financial and human resources to meet the needs of persons affected by dementia across our communities. The local Societies continue to exist and act as the local face of our services, fundraising and public awareness efforts. Currently, Dementia Alliance has more than 70 full and part-time staff delivering services in the local communities.

Dundas Community Services
Dundas Community Services is located in the heart of downtown Dundas. Our mission is…“to provide or facilitate services that enhance the social well-being and development of the community”. We have information, programs and service available to enhance the quality of life in our community. As well, we provide; services for seniors and persons with disabilities, information, counselling and referral services, volunteer services, family and individual counselling and co-ordinated services.

Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant CCAC
Your Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) connects you with the care you need, at home and in your community. Our dedicated professional staff and management are guided by our vision and mission, and we strive to live our values as we deliver your care each and every day.
Ontario's 14 CCACs share a common vision and mission. We recognize that each community is unique – to reflect this, our values are developed by each CCAC locally.

Hamilton CARP
CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to a ‘New Vision of Aging for Canada’ promoting social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. Our mandate is to promote and protect the interests, rights and quality of life for Canadians as we age.

Trent Centre for Aging & Society
Leveraging its strategic location in one of Canada’s most rapidly aging communities and its interdisciplinary strengths in Social Sciences and Humanities research, Trent University has prioritized the Trent Centre for Aging and Society as a key academic research, knowledge mobilization and community engagement initiative.The Centre's research mandate is to: cultivate new areas of scholarship in aging studies; enhance Trent's existing capacity in the study of aging and old age; and support community engagement that is responsive to the challenges and opportunities facing older people and aging communities.

AGE-WELL
AGE-WELL is a pan-Canadian network of industry, non-profit organizations, government, care providers, caregivers, end-users, and academic partners working together using high-quality research to drive innovation and create technologies and services that benefit older adults. Thier vision is to harness and build upon the potential of emerging and advanced technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), e-health, information communication technologies (ICTs), and mobile technologies to stimulate technological, social, and policy innovation.

Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences (GERAS) Centre
The Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences (GERAS) Centre is committed to educating and empowering seniors to regain and retain independence and to manage their health through active participation in their care. These new models of care engage family members and build capacity for support within the community. The experts at St. Peter’s are also dedicated to advancing health care education for the present and next generation of health care professionals. Through innovative research the GERAS Centre will close the gap between knowing and doing to contribute to improved quality of life for seniors.

Hamilton Council on Aging
The Hamilton Council on Aging (HCoA) is a senior-driven initiative that was founded by a group of concerned citizens in the community.
HCoA is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all seniors in Hamilton.
Our strength is in our membership. A volunteer Board of Directors, subcommittees, as well as HCoA staff, volunteers and community partners work together to support current projects and community initiatives.
Wesley Urban Ministries
Wesley Urban Ministries offers daily support, every step of the way, to over 1, 250 children, youth, adults and seniors living in poverty in Hamilton. As a multi-service organization, Wesley has a portfolio of over 30 different programs in 19 locations in the areas of: Children, Youth & Family Services, Housing & Homeless Services and Neighbourhood & Newcomer Services. The long-term impact of our programs includes improved education, successful employment and supportive independence. Wesley has been responding to poverty in the Hamilton community since 1955, when a senior’s outreach program began in the basement of Wesley United Church in downtown Hamilton. Wesley’s services are possible through a broad base of funding support from government, business, foundations, individuals and churches.

YWCA Hamilton
YWCA Hamilton has been a part of the Hamilton community for 126 years. As a women’s led organization, YWCA is committed to offering valuable programs and services to groups of all ages with diverse backgrounds and needs. The organization is engaged in community collaborative activities and planning groups to work with government and non-profit partners in a variety of sectors to improve the quality of life for women and their families. These collaborative activities and community planning initiatives address issues including but not limited to: poverty, housing and homelessness, violence against women, child care, adults with developmental disabilities, youth services, and supports for an aging population.

AbleLiving
AbleLiving is a non-profit charity that has been serving adults with physical disabilities for more than thirty-five years. We provide the assistance that people may need to manage their lives as independent adults. In addition to a wide array of supportive care options we offer training in life skills, self-development, falls prevention and dementia care. Among our clients are adults with physical disabilities, elderly people who are becoming frail, and family members who need respite from the role of caregiver. We provide services and accommodation in several communities: Burlington, Binbrook, Mississauga, Stoney Creek, and Hamilton.

Thrive Group
Thrive Group provides a spectrum of integrated services to support and care for individuals to live as independently as possible. By bringing together like-minded organizations Thrive Group develops and delivers quality services that are responsive and innovative, enhances collaborative approaches to service provision, informs government directives and influences health care system transformations, and creates efficiencies and reduces duplication.

St. Joseph’s Home Care
Since 1921 St. Joseph’s Home Care has provided high quality, values-based home and community services in a spirit of compassion and dedication. At SJHC we tailor our home care programs to meet the needs of each individual client. We serve a wide variety of clients with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. As a faith-based organization, we are committed to serving all clients regardless of their beliefs or background. Our organization reflects the diversity of ethnicity, culture and religion in our community. We understand and respect each individual’s requirements and are sensitive to each individual’s beliefs and spiritual care needs.

Realize
Realize, formerly known as the Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR), is a national organization that has been a leader and a catalyst for improved access to rehabilitation services for people living with HIV and other episodic disabilities since 1998. Through research, education, policy and practice, Realize works to create change for people living with HIV and other episodic disabilities – to make their daily lives better, so that they can live well and live fully. HIV and aging is one of our strategic directions and we are proud to serve as the secretariat for the National Coordinating Committee on HIV and Aging (NCC).

Elder Abuse Ontario
Elder Abuse Ontario is a not-for-profit charitable organization that was established in 1990 and is funded by the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat. Their mission is to create an Ontario where all seniors are free from abuse through awareness, education, training, collaboration, service co-ordination and advocacy. The Senior Safety Line, 1-866-299-1011, provides contact and referral information across the province and is available in 150 languages.

Age Friendly Hamilton
Age Friendly Hamilton (The City of Hamilton, Neighbourhood and Community Initative) is a partnership with the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Council on Aging and Seniors Advisory Committee. The Age Friendly Hamilton Plan was developed through community consultantion with over 700 stakeholders. The Plan helps to identify and address the needs and priorities of the growing population of older adults and seniors in Hamilton.

RISE (Reach Isolated Seniors Everywhere)
Launched in October 2015, the objective of the RISE campaign is to help Canadians of all ages, cultures and regions become aware of the impact of loneliness and social isolation on their older family members, friends and neighbours – and to take action. It is a national campaign that will involve partners across the country as well as individual Canadians. The goal of RISE is to share information and encourage thousands of concrete actions across the country to help reduce the social isolation and loneliness of our older people.

Hamilton Aging Together: An Aging in Community Group
Hamilton Aging Together (founded in 2013 and led by Ellen Ryan) is an aging-in-community group of community-minded individuals, mostly between their mid50s and mid80s, residing in the Hamilton area. One member lives in a retirement home; quite a number have downsized to condo homes or seniors buildings. They are committed to learn and inform others about housing alternatives and other mutual support strategies for maturing adults and seniors. They are committed to get to know each other and to rely on each other in times of need.
Centre Staff
At the Gilbrea Centre, we can help to facilitate connections between research staff, faculty members, students and our partners. We can also provide a number of services for a fee including assistance with budgets, ethics proposals, and organization of events or workshops.
Are you a partner organization looking for assistance with a literature review, research project or event. Please contact our office.
-
Gavin Andrews
Acting Director, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
andrews@mcmaster.ca
-
Amanda Grenier
Director, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
grenier@mcmaster.ca
-
Meridith Griffin
Associate Director, Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
-
Rebecca Hessels
Website & Communications Assistant/Finance Admin
hesselsr@mcmaster.ca