Researcher and CanAssist will undertake a community-based research initiative to better understand the current needs, challenges, and priorities of seniors living independently at home, building on foundational research conducted in partnership with a researcher nearly a decade ago. Since the original study, significant changes in healthcare systems, technology, social connection, accessibility, and aging demographics have reshaped the experiences of older adults. Through focus groups and community engagement activities involving seniors, caregivers, and service providers, the project will identify emerging needs and opportunities to support healthy aging, independence, safety, wellbeing, and social connectedness. The project will also explore how existing digital assistive technologies developed by CanAssist (e.g., CanPlan, CanConnect, Motivex) can be adapted and implemented to better meet the evolving needs of older adults in real-world community and care settings. Thus, we aim to determine how the current needs, challenges, and priorities of seniors living independently at home in British Columbia, and to identify how accessible technologies and community-based supports can be implemented to promote healthy aging, independence, safety, wellbeing, and aging in place.
We will host two virtual meetings and one in-person session to bring together stakeholders invested in healthy aging and assistive technology. These sessions will facilitate dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaborative priority-setting between researchers and care home communities, and will include presentations, facilitated discussions. The in-person session will provide hands-on demonstrations of the technologies and small-group workshops to map care workflows, identify implementation challenges, and co-develop practical strategies for integration. This format will support deeper engagement and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
Participants will include aging researchers (n=10), healthcare providers (n=10) from Island Health, policy-makers (n=5), community partners such as Broadmead Care Society (n=5), persons with lived experience ( Adults >70 years of age living independently n=20). This diverse group ensures implementation planning is informed by both research expertise and lived experience.
Findings will inform the future development of accessible technologies and community supports, and innovative solutions that help seniors age well in place.