Presentation schedule

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.

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.

Michelle Porter, director, Centre on Aging
Elder Norman Meade, Elder in residence, University of Manitoba
Honourable Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training, Province of Manitoba
Annemieke Farenhorst, Associate Vice-President (Research)

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.

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.

The morning break session is sponsored by Extended Education.

Visit the multi-purpose room to view the poster session, meet with exhibitors, and connect with UM representatives for the Age-Friendly University Showcase.

Virtual posters presentation links can be found on the Poster presentation web page.

Light refreshments will be served.

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.

The exhibitor hall is sponsored by The Wellington.

Visit the multi-purpose room to view the poster session, meet with exhibitors, and connect with UM representatives for the Age-Friendly University Showcase.

Virtual posters presentation links can be found on the Poster presentation web page.

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.

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.
 

The afternoon break session is sponsored by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Visit the multi-purpose room to view the poster session, meet with exhibitors, and connect with UM representatives for the Age-Friendly University Showcase.

Virtual posters can be found on the Poster presentation web page.

Light refreshments will be served.

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.

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

• 41st Spring Research Symposium (PDF)
• 40th Spring Research Symposium (PDF).
• 39th Spring Research Symposium (PDF)
• 38th Spring Research Symposium (PDF)

To request to view past Spring Research Symposium programs, email the Centre on Aging.