Impact Stories

The importance of co-design in long-term care homes

Aging is complex and unique to every person. While researchers and experts in the field of aging may have decades of experience and knowledge, residents have unique and valuable firsthand experience of aging themselves. That’s why the Ontario Centres for...

Shaping guidance on the management of osteoporotic spine fractures

Spine fractures, the most frequent osteoporotic fracture, can cause severe chronic pain, spinal deformity, and functional disability, leading to a diminished quality of life and increased mortality. They are also associated with psychological distress like depression,...

Preventing adverse drug events from medication list discrepancies

As we age, our bodies change, and so does the way we process medication. Combine this with the fact that older adults often have to manage multiple medications for various health conditions, and it’s easy to see how things can get tangled up. While accurate medication...

New research underscores the value of MINT Memory Clinics in alleviating health-care pressures

A new study exploring the cost-effectiveness analysis of MINT Memory Clinics has found a net cost savings of $51,500 per patient, compared to those in Ontario without the service, with improvement in quality of life for those living with dementia. The study, titled...

Seniors’ care enriched by Living Classroom model

Personal support workers (PSWs) provide hands-on care for more than 80,000 long-term care residents across Ontario. Their role in our healthcare system is vital to the well-being, health and quality of life of older adults. In early 2020, a report from the Ontario...

RIA enhancing national dementia care

December 2020 In 2019, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced the launch of Canada’s first national dementia strategy, a milestone in our country’s efforts to help people affected by dementia and address the impact of dementia on social and health care systems....

Changing nutrition care across Canada and around the world

December 2020 Food is central to our overall health and quality of life. Nutrition becomes even more important during times of recovery and healing, yet many older people in hospital don’t get the nutrients they need. Schlegel Research Chair Heather Keller is a global...

Bringing research in space closer to home

November 2020 “How many of you experience dizziness when you stand up?” Professor Richard Hughson asked last year at one of our monthly lunch and learn sessions. Every hand went up. “You know why that happens? Because we all have trouble regulating our blood pressure...

Transforming dementia care in Ontario

December 2020 In her early days as a family physician, Dr. Linda Lee noticed a troubling trend: individuals with memory changes and dementia were going undiagnosed and under-treated. She witnessed first-hand the challenges that patients and families experienced due to...

GeriMedRisk supports primary care for older adults

I’m a geriatrician, internist and clinical pharmacologist who is proud to be collaborating on the GeriMedRisk program. Simply put, it’s a support system for doctors, pharmacists and nurse practitioners who have questions regarding medications as it relates to the...

Real-life connections building real-world solutions

December 2018 Four years ago, Don Nightingale had a stroke. This left him with decreased mobility, and he and his wife Mary decided it was time for Don to move into long-term care. They decided on University Gates Long-Term Care home, a partner and neighbour of the...

Making new old friends leads to more compassionate care for seniors

December 2020 When you teach, your student will know or learn something, but what they experience becomes something they feel. That was the inspiration behind Make A New Old Friend, a program developed by Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology, Andrew Costa,...