Greetings!

We are gratified by the attention our email updates have received from our readers. Aging-in-place is a challenge faced by many of us and, with that in mind, we have added “The SHIH also shares information relative to aging in place with our network of engaged older adults” to our mission statement.

In this email we are sharing current news concerning Primary Care, two unrelated requests for participants, and a Village Canada update.  

PRIMARY CARE

Ontario Investing in Primary Care

On February 9, the Ontario government announced that it was providing new funding to expand the recruitment and retention of the province’s primary care health-care workforce. Read the full news release here.

National Institute on Ageing (NIA)

The NIA recently released Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada: The 2025 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey.  Their Ageing in Canada Survey is a decade-long annual research program measuring older Canadians’ experiences, perspectives and expectations of ageing through 10 indicators.  The fourth annual NIA survey was conducted online from June to July 2025, with a representative sample of 6,001 Canadians aged 50+ living in community settings across all provinces and territories.   The findings serve as a call to action for policymakers, organizations, and stakeholders to prioritize evidence-based strategies that address social isolation, financial insecurity, and barriers to health care access.  Their full report and Executive Summary can be found here.

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED 

Bruyère – Caregiver feedback on care related digital signature

This study aims to determine if data collected from a home technology platform could be used to detect care partner burden levels. Using data collected from sensors in a research study where a technology platform was installed in participant homes for up to 18 months, we used artificial intelligence to develop a model that predicts caregiver burden.

With your consent, you would be asked to participate in a 1-hour interview, held over Zoom or in-person at the Bruyère Health Market Site Hospital. The interview would include questions about your thoughts of the artificial intelligence model, and its potential impact on your role as a care partner.

Prior to the interview, you will be asked demographic questions like age and sex, questions about whether you have experience with home sensor platforms and your experience with home sensors and smart home technologies.  For your participation in the interview, you will be compensated with a gift card.  

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Bruyère Health Research Ethics Board as study # M16-25-006. If you have any ethical concerns about the study, or the way it is conducted, please contact the Bruyère Health REB at REB@bruyere.org

If you would like to participate in this research project, or have any questions about the research, please contact us at memoryresearch@bruyere.org.

UofO – Heatwave Simulation Studies

Extreme heat is affecting Canadians of all ages, from children and youth to older adults, including workers. At the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU), University of Ottawa, we are conducting leading-edge heatwave simulation studies to understand how heat affects health and wellness.

Our research focuses on:

• Indoor heat in classrooms and homes and its impact on children and youth
• Heat tolerance in older adults, including those with chronic conditions (type 2 diabetes, hypertension) or mental health disorders (depression, schizophrenia)
• Safe limits for physical activity during hot weather across children, youth, and adults
• Evidence-based heat management guidelines for workers in extreme conditions

Our work has already helped establish new indoor temperature limits for older adults and policy-relevant guidance to protect communities and workers during heat extremes.

We are currently recruiting participants for our studies:

• Children and youth: 10-15 years
• Young adults: 18-30 years
• Middle-aged and older adults: 50-85 years

This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Ottawa Health Sciences and Science Research Ethics Board. Participation is entirely voluntary, and all participants are fully informed about the study procedures. The research team prioritizes participant safety, comfort, and privacy at all times.

With your participation, we can continue to generate the evidence needed to protect all Canadians from rising heat risks.  If you are interested and/or have questions related to the ethics review, please contact Glen Kenny at gkenny@uottawa.ca or visit our website at hepru.ca

VILLAGE CANADA

We would like to thank those of you who participated in the Canada Lands Corporation (CLC) consultation on the Master Plan for Confederation Heights held on January 22. Although it is too early in the process for developers to be identified, our presence made it clear to CLC that Village Canada is alive and well in the minds of many residents of our community.

Another effective avenue to show support is to email the representatives at the three levels of government and/or CLC stating your support. It need not be long. Some ideas for wording can be found here.

We hope you are enjoying the snow and cold in one way or another.  On a sunny day, it is beautiful, if nothing else!

As mentioned at the beginning, you may be hearing from us more frequently due to the revision of our mission – sharing information to enhance healthy aging in our community.

Cheers!

The SHIH Steering Committee

Margaret Tansey (chair)

Anna Cuylits

Carolyn Inch

Patricia Eakins

Peter Heyck

Terrance Hunsley

If you have any questions /comments please email us: SHIH Gmail