News

Remembering David Kent

The RIA team is saddened to learn about the passing of our friend David Kent, Vice President, Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils. We had the pleasure of working closely with David on a number of initiatives and his drive and dedication to enhance quality of...

Executive director Josie d’Avernas announces her retirement from the RIA

It is with bittersweet emotions that the RIA team announces the planned retirement of Executive Director, Josie d’Avernas, effective July 2021. Josie joined the RIA in 2005 when the organization was founded, and held several leadership positions before taking the...

Sheridan College and the RIA continue innovative arts and aging partnership

Sheridan and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) are thrilled to announce the five-year extension of an innovative research partnership. The continuation of this commitment will support the ground-breaking research work of Kate Dupuis, Schlegel...

Working together for better dementia care resources

On September 21, around the world people celebrate World Alzheimer’s Day. This day is an opportunity to share stories of dementia and Alzheimer’s, to spread awareness and reduce the stigma people living with dementia face. The RIA is proud to work with an inspiring...

RIA celebrates World Seniors Citizens Day

Each year, around the globe, people honour older adults by celebrating World Seniors’ Day on August 21. World Senior Citizens Day highlights the accomplishments of older adults, as well as their participation and contributions in society, to raise awareness of the...

Using technology for a better understanding of sleep

Sleep is an essential part of health and well-being – it helps with cognition, mitigates depression and boosts the immune system. Age can impact sleep, and for older adults who live with dementia, sleep can become even more disrupted. Researchers at the RIA are...

RIA Annual Report 2019

We are proud to present the 2019 RIA Annual Report, which is now available online. Through research and innovation, our work improves the lives of older adults in Ontario – and around the world. Learn how our work is bridging the gap in a variety of fields and topics....

International project will improve dementia diagnosis and post-diagnosis experience

There are too often significant gaps during and after a dementia diagnosis. On top of long wait-times to have testing done in the first place, family and care partners are often left in the dark about what their diagnosis is and where they can turn for help...

Filling the gap in information to improve spiritual care

There is no shortage of data when it comes to long-term care. Many researchers are conducting studies and compiling data sets across Ontario and Canada hoping to find patterns and new innovations from the information they collect. However, there is an area where there...

Bringing different generations together for health, well-being and understanding

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many issues to light as we all work hard to stay connected while practicing physical distancing. It’s become clear that many older adults in our communities are socially isolated, and have felt that way since long before the pandemic...

Expect the unexpected

Written by Jane Kuepfer, Schlegel Specialist in Spirituality and Aging. When asked a few months ago what advice they would give about aging, a group of seniors responded, “Expect the unexpected.” That advice is relevant to all of us this spring! In later life it...

Slowing down ultrasound imaging, speeding up innovation

Imagine a video replay of a goal scored at a hockey game. If you view the replay at full speed, you might not be able to tell exactly what happened before the goal. But when you slow down the video frame by frame, you can see who hit the puck in and when it crossed...

Small ideas make for big change when partners come together

Innovation often comes from a simple idea - one person wondering how things could be better and working with other innovators to find solutions. As ideas grow, so do partnerships and relationships and before you know it, a simple idea has grown into something that...

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...

Celebrating our female researchers: International Women’s Day 2020

At the RIA, we are proud to support our female researchers who are making great strides in a variety of aging research topics. From finding ways to enhance the diets of older adults, to developing exercise programs that keep us healthy as we age to exploring new ways...

RIA receives funding to promote social inclusion among older adults living with dementia

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) announced its latest initiative to enhance life for those living with dementia in Waterloo Region at a public event hosted February 14, 2020. The Honourable Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors, was on hand to make the...

Peer mentoring in long-term care is a win-win

Interacting with peers in a purposeful and meaningful way can help combat loneliness and depression in long-term care a recently published paper has found. Susan Brown is the Director of Research Coordination and Research-Practice Integration at the RIA, and one of...

Helping children and older adults connect: Breaking down barriers and stereotypes with music

On Friday January 24, 2020, the Village of Riverside Glen long-term care home in Guelph hosted a “Lunch-and-Learn” event to showcase their innovative intergenerational music therapy program and discuss the benefits of the program for residents and members of the...

Connecting the dots: Helping older adults navigate the legal system

Navigating the legal system can be challenging at the best of times. Some older adults face additional barriers to accessing legal information they may need – perhaps they don’t have family or friends they can turn to, or aren’t aware of what sorts of legal documents...