Participate in Research
Help us drive innovation! Get involved with the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) initiatives and research to help us answer some of the most challenging questions facing an aging population.
Current Research Opportunities
Co-designing action-oriented mental health conversations between care providers and aging Canadians in the community: mitigating the wider impacts of COVID-19
We are looking for older adults (age 55+), family/friend care partners, and community-based health/ social care providers to participate. You must be able to read, write, speak and understand English or French to participate, and currently be residing in Canada.
In the survey, you will be asked to review a visual model, the Mental Health Continuum for Aging Canadians, that describes a range of mental health experiences. You will also be asked to indicate your level of agreement with the model’s components for guiding mental health conversations when receiving care in the home and community.
Survey participants will have an option to enter a draw to win 1 of 10 $50.00 CAD gift cards.
Compassionate Relational End of LIfe Care for Persons Living with Dementia
Help researchers improve end of life care for people living with dementia through documentary film! We are conducting a research study (led by Dr. Sherry Dupuis from the University of Waterloo and Dr. Pia Kontos from KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network) and we are looking for people living with dementia, their family members, and professionals who work in dementia and palliative care.
Participation includes:
- Discussing in a research conversation group of 5-7 people what compassionate, relationship-centered end-of-life care could look like.
- Completing a short demographic questionnaire.
Participants will receive a small honorarium after participating in the research conversation as a thank you for their time.
For more information, please contact Romeo Colobong at: romeo.colobong@uhn.ca.
Culturally inclusive menu planning in long-term care: Dietician and food service manager perspectives
Researchers are interested in understanding how menu planning happens in your LTC home and determine what barriers and facilitators you have experienced in developing culturally inclusive menus. Your perspective on how we can create culturally inclusive menus will help us improve menu planning in Ontario LTC homes. Click here to learn more.
Virtual lifestyle intervention for better brain health
In appreciation for your time and effort, you will receive up to $100 in gift cards and resistance training bands.
Exploring the experiences of those working and training in long-term care
A team of researchers, led by Kate Dupuis, Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging at Sheridan College and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, has launched a new survey that will explore the experiences of people working and training in long-term care.
The team is particularly interested in learning more about what strategies may help support the mental health and well-being of learners and staff.
Click this link to learn more about the study.
The survey has received institutional REB approval through Sheridan College. All respondents are eligible to be entered into a draw for 1 of 320 $20 virtual Amazon gift cards.
Fortify Bones
In this study, we will compare three different types of exercise to help inform exercise recommendations for people with osteoporosis or low bone mineral density. As part of this study, you will participate in two weekly exercise sessions at the Toby Jenkins Applied Health Research Building at the University of Waterloo or perform twice weekly exercises at home with twice monthly Zoom sessions. In addition, we would ask you to come in for three study visits. These would happen when you join the study, after 6 months in the study, and at the end of the study.
For this study, we are looking for men and postmenopausal women who:
- Are aged 50 or over
- Have received two vaccines for COVID-19
- Have a low bone density, osteopenia, or osteoporosis
- Are willing to participate in twice weekly exercise sessions for 12 months
Click here to learn more, or contact the study team at boneslab@uwaterloo.ca or 519-904-0660, ext. 4222.
Security and privacy concerns of older adults in Canada
We are looking for volunteers for a survey of older adults’ security and privacy concerns when using technologies in Canada.
The project aims to understand the main technology security and privacy concerns, experiences and mitigation strategies of older adults who are living in Canada.
Eligibility criteria:
- 65+ years of age or older
- Comfortable with English or French
- Resident of Canada
Participants will receive a $5 gift certficiate of their choice (Starbucks or Tim Hortons).
The survey can be completed online or by telephone.
If you are interested, please complete this form and a team member will contact you with next steps.
For additional information, read this invitation or contact the REB Chair at 613-520-2600 x4085 or at ethics@carleton.ca.
This research has been cleared by the Carleton University Research Ethics Board B Clearance #119733.
SCREEN questionnaire
We would like to determine if a questionnaire can be used by older adults with diagnosed memory problems, mild cognitive impairment or dementia OR by residents living in retirement homes to identify nutrition challenges.
Click here to learn more, or contact the study team at screen.study@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567 ext. 41470.