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Principal Investigators:

Dr. Tanya Packer (Professor, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Grace Warner (NSH Affiliate Scientist; Professor at ±«Óãtv University)

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Beverley LawsonÌý(Capacity Development Officer, BRIC NS; Senior Research Associate, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Susan KirklandÌý(Professor, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Elaine MoodyÌý(NSH Affiliate Scientist; Assistant Professor, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Sorayya AskariÌý(NSH Affiliate Scientist; Assistant Professor, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Parisa GhanouniÌý(Assistant Professor, ±«Óãtv University)
Dr. Yu-Ting ChenÌý(Postdoctoral Fellow, ±«Óãtv University)
Erin ChristianÌý(Implementation Director, PHC-NSH)
Sarah ManleyÌý(Operations Consultant,ÌýPHC-NSH)
Jacqueline CampbellÌý(Community Development Officer, Home and Community Care, Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care)
Janet SimmÌý(President and CEO, Northwood Corporate)
Margaret SzaboÌý(Research Coordinator, ±«Óãtv University; Citizen Partner)
Ron SwanÌý(Chair, C.A.R.P. Nova Scotia Chapter)

Wider Team:ÌýBrianna Wolfe (Research Coordinator),ÌýBryah Boutilier (Research Assistant)

Funding: This project is funded by the Nova Scotia Research Fund ($99,308; 2021-2024) and Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care ($517,500; 2022-2025)ÌýÌý

Listen to the CBC Cape Breton interview about this project (8 minutes):

Project Partners:

Project Summary:

Community-level data is needed to evaluate and monitor the health and wellbeing of aging adults and the communities in which they live. This is critical for developing policies and programs that support aging well in communities. TheÌýACTing CollectivelyÌýresearch project will pilot an innovative approach to gathering data on the needs of, and available resources for, community-living older adults to age well in communities. The project’s focus on aging well in communities addresses the Nova Scotia Health Research Fund priority of aging and continuing care, and supports Nova Scotia Health’s strategic vision ofÌýHealthy people, healthy communities – for generations. This project also aligns with Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care’s Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, which aims to help Nova Scotians stay active, healthy, and engaged in communities.

Our Vision

Ìý

The evidence-based innovation is called Age Care Technology (ACT^TM). The ACT^TMÌýis a set of integrated tools used to 1) assess the needs of older adults and provide them with an individualized report linked to a list of related community resources, and 2) connect to a global database that tracks intervention outcomes and trajectories in aging adults’ wellbeing, independence, social connection and health in other locations. A unique aspect of this project will be the design and creation ofÌýCommunity Profile Reports, intended to inform local policy makers and planners about the specific needs of their communities.

TheÌýACTingÌýCollectively research project is founded on a collaborative partnership betweenÌýNova Scotia Health (NSH),the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care, Northwood Corporate, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (C.A.R.P.) Nova Scotia Chapter, and ±«Óãtv University researchers.ÌýTheÌýoverall objectiveÌýis to assess the usefulness and feasibility of implementing the ACT^TM. The team willÌýtrial the ACT^TMÌýin three Nova Scotian communities (ie., Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Victoria County, Richmond County)Ìýto answer the following researchÌýquestions:Ìý

1) What are the key concerns and desired resources of aging adults in these communities?

2) Does the ACT^TMÌýAssessment Tool and individualized report assist older adults to access resources and age well in their communities?

3) What information provided by the Community Profile Report is most useful to inform NSH wellness strategies and Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care Age-Friendly Communities initiative?

4) How feasible is it to sustainably integrate the ACT^TMÌýAssessment tools into existing processes?Ìý

TheÌýACTing CollectivelyÌýresearch project will create Community Profile Reports generated from 480 older adults to quantitatively describe the common concerns, frequently used resources of aging adults and gaps in resources in each community. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with older adults in each community who completed the ACT^TMÌýAssessment will explore whether the personalized reports assisted them to access resources and age well in their communities. Qualitative key informant interviews with stakeholders will identify what information in the Community Profile Reports is most useful to inform NSH wellness strategies and Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care Age-Friendly Communities Initiative and explore the usefulness and feasibility of implementing the ACT^TM.ÌýIn addition, process information will be gatheredÌýfrom each community to identifyÌýimplementation barriers that affect feasibility and sustainability of implementing theÌýACT^TM.

ÌýResultsÌýwill informÌýNSH wellness planning and programming and Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care Age-Friendly Communities initiative on what community resources are available and what resources need to be developed to help older adults age well in their communities.

The recruitment of seniors in Cape Breton will start in summer 2022. For general inquiries about the project, email us at actns@dal.ca.