
Research & Innovation in Aging Forum (RIAF)
The Research & Innovation in Aging Forum (RIAF) is hosted by the Centre in Studies in Aging & Health and brings together researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders to discuss research related to aging. The forum is a platform for sharing research ideas, research in progress and completed projects with the goal to augment communication networks, have opportunities for discussion and feedback and to celebrate each others’ work.
Upcoming RIAF Sessions
2023 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – The Critical Role of Caregivers: Insights from Ontario’s Caregivers and Strategies for Caregiver Inclusion and Support
This webinar will focus on key insights from caregivers across Ontario from the Ontario Caregiver Organization’s December 2022 Spotlight Report, discuss the impact of caregiving on caregiver well-being, offer practical strategies and tools for healthcare settings and providers to include and support caregivers, and provide an overview of programs and services that are available.
January 25, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2021 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Exploring the Community Reintegration of Previously Incarcerated Older Adults: Insights from a Community Residential Facility in Peterborough, Ontario
This presentation will address the immediate gap in knowledge about community reintegration of previously incarcerated older adults, by focusing on the experiences and perspectives of older adults, staff members and community stakeholders from a CSC contracted community residential facility program (Haley House) in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
July 14, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Ageing Well
Professors Drummond and Sinclair discuss the impact of post-pandemic reviews of long-term care facilities need to consider a broader context, which must embrace and deliver on what seniors want. They must recognize the coming surge in seniors, especially of older cohorts and explore ways of promoting the options for seniors to age in place.
March 17, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults aged 65 years or older
The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology assembled a Consensus Panel to create the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults aged 65 years or older which were released in October 2020. This webinar will discuss how and why were the guidelines created, what the guidelines are, and how to apply the guidelines.
January 20, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Canadian Guidelines on Substance Use Disorders Among Older Adults
The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) officially launched four sets of Clinical Guidelines on Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults in January 2020. Dr. David Conn and Dr. Kiran Rabheru will provide an overview of issues that are common across substance use disorders among older adults, how and why were the guidelines created, what the guidelines are, and how to apply the guidelines.
January 12, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2020 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Findings from a literature review on social isolation, loneliness and older adults during COVID-19
This webinar will discuss the results of a literature review conducted to determine the evidence-based interventions used to address social isolation in community-dwelling older adults, and how the policies and recommendations related to COVID-19 have impacted social isolation in older adults.
October 21, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Findings from a literature review on social isolation, loneliness and older adults during COVID-19
This webinar will discuss the results of a literature review conducted to determine the evidence-based interventions used to address social isolation in community-dwelling older adults, and how the policies and recommendations related to COVID-19 have impacted social isolation in older adults.
October 21, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Using Research-based Film to Improve the Care of Older LGBTQ People Aging at Home
Dr. Alisa Grigorovich and Siobhan Churchill developed a short research-based film. The film – Out at Home – combines documentary footage of interviews with older LGBTQ adults and advocates with dramatized vignettes, based on research, to model examples of how to provide quality care to LGBTQ older adults in the context of common home care interactions.
July 29, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2018 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Participation Experiences of People with Deafblindness or Dual Sensory Loss
PhD Candidate Atul Jaiswal introduced the condition of dual sensory loss or deafblindness and discussed the characteristics, epidemiology and impact of dual sensory loss on life.
December 11, 2018 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Aging, Privacy & Technology
Dr. Lisa Carver reviewed technology that ‘supports’ healthy aging for people aging in place and in their community, discussed data collected and novel applications of that information, and promoted the prevention of unintended and intended violations of older adult’s privacy and autonomy.
October 16, 2018 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2017 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Gazing Critically at Age-Friendly Communities
Dr. Mark Rosenberg described the importance of including the voices of the older population in all discussions about how to make communities age-friendly, the data in our communities and priority areas of focus that are emerging as trends across the country, and how data profiles can help us learn more about older adults in our own communities, and geographic trends across our province and country.
January 17, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Design of Devices to Increase Independence
Dr. Claire Davies describes the interdisciplinary collaborations in the design of assistive devices, identified some overlaps between engineering and health care when working with devices, explored the importance of ensuring the user is paramount in the design process, and reviewed recent design innovations.
February 21, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2016 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Balance Impairment and Fear of Falling in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Need to Think Beyond Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Dr. Nandini Deshpande shared data and results from four studies exploring the effects of the subtle degradation in the function of multiple sensory systems critical for balance control in older persons with type 2 diabetes. She also presented data that underlines the importance of recognizing the fear of falling in older persons, particularly with type 2 diabetes.
November 15, 2016 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – One Year Later: Lessons Learned from the Ontario Age-Friendly Community Planning Outreach Initiative
Sarah Webster and Dr. John Puxty provided an introduction to age-friendly communities, summarized the current status of 56 Ontario Communities that received AFC Community Grant Funds, and explored the ways in which the Ontario Age-Friendly Community Planning Outreach Initiative has increased awareness, connectivity, and capacity across the province.
October 18, 2016 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Wound Bed Preparation From Evidence to Policy Development
Dr. Kevin Woo simplified the complexity of chronic wounds and evidence-based approaches to management, examined the challenges of self-management in people with chronic wounds, and presented a policy agenda to address chronic wound care in Canada.
June 21, 2016 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Diabetes Within Ontario’s First Nations Peoples
Dr. Michael Green shared information about research that takes a closer look at diabetes within Ontario’s First Nations peoples and explored the possible impact of this research and our understanding of the health trajectory of older adults.
May 17, 2016 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – To be or not to be, that is the Question: Getting ready for Physician-Assisted Death
Dr. Chris Frank discussed the specifics of the Supreme Court ruling, reviewed the College of Physicians and Surgeons guidance to physicians and explored how you and your organization may approach requests.
April 21, 2016 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
2015 RIAF Sessions
RIAF Webinar – Palliative Care: Evaluating Regional Initiatives to Reduce Hospital Utilization
Dr. Raymond Viola reviewed factors associated with the location of palliative care delivery for individual patients, described two southeastern Ontario initiatives to facilitate end-of-life care in the community, and outlined an ongoing study to evaluate these two initiatives.
December 15, 2015 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Regional Integrated Falls Prevention & Management
Dr. John Puxty & Mariel Ang shared information about a newly launched regional collaborative initiative focusing on developing an integrated falls prevention & management strategy. Highlights included: Overview of the literature supporting the need for an integrated falls prevention and management strategy Description of best practices in Ontario around falls prevention and management Presentation of the current regional falls prevention and management initiative in South East Ontario Presenters...
November 17, 2015 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Quinte Healthlink: Redesigning Care for Patients with Complex Needs
Mary Woodman reviewed the various benefits to patients and the health care system by implementing HealthLinks, explored how this approach addresses unmet medical, mental health and social needs, helps patients navigate the system, and improves end of life care Overview of the literature supporting the need for an integrated falls prevention and management strategy Description of best practices in Ontario around falls prevention and management Presentation of the current regional falls prevention...
October 20, 2015 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Age-Friendly Communities Project
Dr. John Puxty introduced the concept of what Age-Friendly Communities are and how they benefit older people, explored what has been done in other parts of Canada and Ontario, and discussed the innovation coming into being through the assistance of the Senior Secretariats vision. Overview of the literature supporting the need for an integrated falls prevention and management strategy Description of best practices in Ontario around falls prevention and management Presentation of the current regio...
July 7, 2015 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmRIAF Webinar – Problem Solving Therapy for Depression in Older Adults
Dr. Dallas Seitz reviewed the evidence for problem-solving therapy for depression in older adults from a systematic review, discussed the implementation and evaluation of problem-solving therapy in the seniors mental health program at Providence Care, and explored opportunities for future research studies in problem-solving therapy.
June 16, 2015 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm