41st Annual Spring Research Symposium | May 8

Join us for the 41st Annual Spring Research Symposium taking place this year on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Presentation sessions will take place in

204 Marshall McLuhan Hall, UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
Fort Garry Campus | University of Manitoba
Winnipeg MB  R3T 2N2

May 8 sessions

Listed below is the upcoming program from this year's 41st Annual Spring Research Symposium.

The theme is Dialogue on Aging. This year's sessions will be available in a hybrid format, with attendees invited to participate in person or stream sessions live online.

Download a copy of this year's sessions and presentation schedule: Symposium information sheet (PDF)

As part of the Spring Research Symposium, attendees are invited to view the poster sessions taking place in the Multi-purpose rooms. Additional posters will also be available on the Centre's Web site on May 8.

Day 1 Presentations Welcome and University greetings

9–9:15 a.m.

Michelle Porter, PhD, Director Centre on Aging

Morning sessions Exploring the role of smart technologies in at-home rehabilitation

9:15–10:00 a.m.

Amine Choukou, Ph.D.
Associate professor, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy; Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba

This presentation delves into the expansive potential of smart technologies in at-home rehabilitation, with an emphasis on telerehabilitation, IoT-enabled rehabilitation, and their practical applications in remote settings. Dr. Choukou’s insights stemming from leading the Active@Home Program® provide a distinct perspective on leveraging at-home rehabilitation with smart technologies to support remote communities. The discussion includes the feasibility of VR-based cognitive telerehabilitation and remote hand therapy, shedding light on the evolving landscape of at-home rehabilitation and its intersection with the evolving needs of the aging population.

Morning sessions University of Manitoba efforts to improve its age inclusivity

10:00–10:30 a.m.

Michelle Porter, Ph.D.
Director, Centre on Aging; Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba

In 2016, the University of Manitoba became one of the first universities in the world and the first university in Canada to join the global Age-friendly University network established by Dublin City University in Ireland.  Since 2016, the University of Manitoba has engaged in many initiatives to improve its age inclusivity, with the Centre on Aging taking on a leadership role for many of them.  In this presentation, an overview will be given on many projects and initiatives that have occurred recently, focusing on those led by the Centre on Aging.

Morning sessions Morning break

10:30–11:15 a.m.

Poster session can be viewed in the MPR or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 8.

Light refreshments will be served in the MPR. Attendees can also visit the food vendors, or bring your own reusable bottle to fill up at the water stations on Fort Garry Campus.

Visit the Exhibitors in the MPR

View the Age-Friendly University Showcase in the MPR.

Morning sessions Older adults’ roles in economic development in Indigenous communities: Lessons from Taiwan

11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Hai Luo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Work; Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba

Indigenous Taiwanese have a history of 7000 years. During the last 400, multiple colonial regimes caused permanent damages to Indigenous cultures and life. Since the Indigenous rights movements in the 1980s, the government of the Republic of China has modified its constitutions and adopted new policies to return to Indigenous Peoples their autonomy, cultural rights, welfare rights, land title, and other rights. Indigenous communities, however, face tremendous challenges in developing sustainable economics in the context of revitalizing damaged cultures and identity. Following a concise summary on changes and challenges faced by Indigenous older adults in the current society, this presentation will demonstrate how older adults have played active roles collaborating with younger generations in community economic development and cultural revitalization. Suggestions for policy makers and frontline workers of Indigenous affairs within and beyond Taiwan will conclude the presentation.

Lunch break

12:00–1:00 p.m.

Poster session can be viewed in the MPR or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 8.
Light refreshments will be served in the MPR. Attendees can also visit the food vendors, or bring your own reusable bottle to fill up at the water stations on Fort Garry Campus.
Visit the Exhibitors in the MPR
View the Age-Friendly University Showcase in the MPR.

Afternoon sessions How do long-term residential care staff understand and use space to prevent violence?

1:00–1:45 p.m.

Rachel Herron, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Environment; founding Director of the Centre for Critical Studies of Rural Mental Health, Brandon University; Canada Research Chair in Rural and Remote Mental Health (Tier II); Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba.

Long-term residential care (LTRC) should be a safe place to work and to live; yet there is increasing recognition that it can be a site of violent situations for older people and staff. In this presentation, I explore how staff control and manage the risk of violent situations in LTRC. Data for this presentation are drawn from a four-year research project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which included telephone and web-based semi-structured interviews in Manitoba and Nova Scotia from 2021-2023. LTRC staff described having access to and support from other staff as an important feature of safe places. They also emphasized visibility, opportunities to escape from violent or threatening situations, being cognizant of objects that may be used as weapons and moving some residents to other tables, rooms, or specialized units. Finally, some staff acknowledged tensions between person-centred care and protecting staff and resident safety. Our analysis raises concerns about whether the management of space, objects, and activities employed to promote safety contribute to the care and dignity of older people.

Afternoon sessions The Conceptual Framework for Adult Community Rehabilitation:

A Manitoba-made framework to support policy, planning, care and research

1:45–2:30 p.m.

Kathryn Sibley, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Community Health Sciences and College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba; Canada Research Chair in Integrated Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation Sciences; Director of Knowledge Translation, George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation; Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba

Rehabilitation interventions can help people attain and maintain function in homes and community settings, but it is well-recognized that existing organization of services is disjointed and fragmented. In this presentation I will share how our team of Manitoba health system leaders and university researchers partnered in the development of a conceptual framework for community rehabilitation, using data from 194 relevant documents and 30 Canadian programs, interviews with 29 Manitoba rehabilitation service and system providers, and 6 older Manitobans receiving services and their family caregivers. I will discuss potential applications and implementation planning for the framework, and explore possible next steps.
 

Afternoon sessions Afternoon break

2:30–3:00 p.m.

Poster session can be viewed in the MPR or find virtual posters on the Centre’s Web site on May 8.
Visit the Exhibitors in the MPR
View the Age-Friendly University Showcase in the MPR.

Afternoon sessions In-home companion robots to support wellness

3–3:45 p.m.

James E.Young, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Computer Science; Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba

Robots can be designed to interact with people socially, similar to a person or pet, providing companionship, comfort, and a range of supports. Research has demonstrated how these social robots can create emotional connections with people, positively influence mood and behaviour, and provide a range of wellness benefits. This provides exciting opportunities to support older adults, particularly given how society is becoming increasingly isolated and older adults are facing the related mental-health challenges. In this talk we will present our recent work on companion robots, including demonstrating prototypes, and discuss future directions for exploring companion robots to support older adults.

Afternoon sessions Spring Research Symposium concludes

3:45–4:00 p.m.

Return evaluation forms and name badges to the Registration Desk in 204 Marshall McLuhan Hall.

Previous Spring Research Symposium programs

View the Spring Research Symposium programs from previous years.