John Lewis, BA (Hons), M.Pl., M.Sc., PhD

John Lewis, BA (Hons), M.Pl., M.Sc., PhD

Associate Professor, University of Waterloo

John Lewis (University of Waterloo)

Profile

Current Activity
My work focuses on the development of explicit and culturally relevant Age-Friendly Community (AFC) principles for Aboriginal communities with a recent focus on the needs of Métis older adults in Ontario. Consistent with non-Indigenous older adults, Indigenous older adults and largely seek to age-at-home among the family and community relationships that provide self-worth, an on-going capacity to function and contribute to one’s community. The significance of AFC planning for Indigenous communities is growing. As the proportion of Indigenous older adults and Elders is projected to increase over the next decade, geographic isolation and the diminished capacity of traditional community relationships to provide culturally relevant and safe care challenges the ability of Indigenous older adults and Elders to age well and age-in-place.

Areas of Interest

  • Age-friendly communities
  • Mobility issues
  • Housing (Staying at “home”, retirement homes, assisted living, long term care)
  • Isolation
  • Socialization and participation
  • Indigenous Older Adults

Approaches to Innovation

  • Technology & Aging

Networks

  • City of Waterloo multi-agency age-friendly committee

Student Mentorship
Interested in supervising:

  • Master’s students
  • PhD students
  • Older adults pursuing higher education