Today is Giving Tuesday, the world’s largest generosity movement.

What started in 2012 (2013 in Canada) as a simple idea, has grown into a global movement and inspires millions of people to give, collaborate and get involved each year.

Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity makes a difference. Whether it is a financial donation or volunteering your time, Giving Tuesday is about supporting organizations and causes most meaningful to you.

This Giving Tuesday we want to raise awareness about important research initiatives focused on enhancing the care and quality of life of older adults and how your generosity and support can truly make a difference.

Click here to support aging related research.

Change is happening in aging research. Every day, researchers at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, are making progress towards enhancing the quality of life and care in older adults, specifically in the areas of dementia, culture change, workforce development, and technology.

Because of you

Our work directly affects everyone’s future.

Researcher Andrew Costa, Schlegel Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology, is leading a study that is the first of its kind in the world in monitoring how well COVID-19 vaccines work in older adults. This work has and will continue to inform public health vaccination programs in Canada.

Our work is bridging the gap between aging research and care of older adults.

Because of you, our work is bridging the gap between aging research and care of older adults.

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques contributed to extensive experiments on the human aging process at the International Space Station (ISS), led by Professor Emeritus Richard Hughson, Schlegel Research Chair in Vascular Aging and Brain Health. Previous research showed that astronauts experience an “aging-like” hardening to the heart and arteries during space flight.

Dr. Hughson and his team are comparing data collected from astronauts on the ISS with older adults to identify a means of slowing down or even reversing cardiovascular aging and reducing the frequency of falls in older adults due to reduced oxygen to the brain.

Because of you, we can change how we age in Canada.

We’re enabling the recruitment, training, and mental health of long-term care team members. We’re innovating solutions for older adults’ physical, spiritual, and psychological needs. We’re building intergenerational partnerships to reduce social isolation and promote inclusion for people living with dementia and their care partners.

Your financial donation matters to our work in this community and across Canada. By supporting the RIA, you are helping to build a legacy of hope for future generations and ensuring older adults will live their best lives.