COVID-19

A timely defense against COVID-19

Navigating through the seemingly endless challenges presented by COVID-19, studies like COVID in LTC are paving the way for a more informed approach for older adults in senior living settings. Co-led by Andrew Costa, Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology...

Improving life at work for healthcare providers

Seven in 10 healthcare providers (HCP) reported worsening mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. While much of the general population has struggled with mental health concerns over the past few years, HCP have faced particular...

Research Break: 3rd Dose and COVID-19 Immune Response in Long-Term Care

Research break is a series of short webinars to share timely and evolving research with those working in the senior living sector, older adults, care partners, and the general public. In the 3rd Dose and COVID-19 Immune Response in Long-Term Care webinar, Andrew...

Spiritual resilience during the pandemic

Spiritual care recognizes and responds to the needs of the human spirit. It supports practices, beliefs and relationships that people find meaningful and often turn to for help in difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Chi-Ping Loreta Sinn, Kinesiology...

Q&A with Andrew Costa: 3rd Dose and COVID-19 Immunity in Long-Term Care

In the first webinar of our Research Break series, Andrew Costa, Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology, discussed his study looking at COVID-19’s impact on long-term care residents, staff and visitors. He also explained the current research on the need for...

Driving change in long-term care

For 15 years, the RIA has supported research and initiatives that enhance the quality of life and care of older adults, including those who call long-term care (LTC) home. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many to face the long-standing challenges in Ontario’s long-term...

McMaster-based study supports third vaccination for seniors

Dawn Bowdish and Andrew Costa, researchers with Canada’s Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats, have shared important initial findings from an unpublished study on COVID-19 immunity responses in Ontario long-term care facility residents. The study,...

Three new CABHI-funded projects address COVID-19 concerns

Congratulations to our researchers Kate Dupuis, Heather Keller and Linda Lee on their newly funded projects through the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) Spark-ON Program! Their projects were selected along with 21 other COVID-19-centric innovations...

Understanding spiritual care in long- term care: Before, during and beyond the pandemic

Spiritual care is an important part of life in long-term care (LTC) homes. Spiritual care providers can support well-being, promote resilience and provide opportunities for religious practice and rituals. However, there isn’t much regulation or consistency across LTC...

RIA researchers look at ways to reimagine long-term care post pandemic

Several researchers at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging recently published a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on long-term care (LTC) homes. The paper, titled Reflecting on the COVID-19...

Studying how well vaccinations work in long-term care

Andrew Costa, Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology, is leading a study in Ontario long-term care (LTC) homes to learn about how well COVID-19 vaccines work in residents and what factors contribute to outbreaks in LTC homes. The RIA is excited to be a...

Protecting the well-being of Ontario’s long-term care workers during COVID-19

While most of us stay home to do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19, team members who care for one of our most vulnerable populations – older adults – are still going to work at long-term care homes across the province. Even though they may be feeling...

COVID-19: Doing our part to flatten the curve

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is committed to protecting the health and safety of our team, the older adult population we work with, our partners and the community. The RIA has been monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely, taking steps to...