ACTing Collectively
ACTing Collectively to map and address the needs of community-living older adults in Nova Scotia.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Tanya Packer (Professor, H漫画 University)
Dr. Grace Warner (NSH Affiliate Scientist; Professor at H漫画 University)
颁辞-听滨苍惫别蝉迟颈驳补迟辞谤蝉:
Beverley Lawson听(Capacity Development Officer, BRIC NS; Senior Research Associate, H漫画 University)
Dr. Susan Kirkland听(Professor, H漫画 University)
Dr. Elaine Moody听(NSH Affiliate Scientist; Assistant Professor, H漫画 University)
Dr. Sorayya Askari听(NSH Affiliate Scientist; Assistant Professor, H漫画 University)
Dr. Parisa Ghanouni听(Assistant Professor, H漫画 University)
Dr. Yu-Ting Chen听(Postdoctoral Fellow, H漫画 University)
Erin Christian听(Implementation Director, PHC-NSH)
Sarah Manley听(Operations Consultant,听PHC-NSH)
Jacqueline Campbell听(Community Development Officer, Home and Community Care, Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care)
Janet Simm听(President and CEO, Northwood Corporate)
Margaret Szabo听(Research Coordinator, H漫画 University; Citizen Partner)
Ron Swan听(Chair, C.A.R.P. Nova Scotia Chapter)
Wider Team:听Brianna Wolfe (Research Coordinator),听Bryah 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)听听
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. The听ACTing Collectively听research 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鈥檚 focus on aging well in communities addresses the Nova Scotia Health Research Fund priority of aging and continuing care, and supports Nova Scotia Health鈥檚 strategic vision of听Healthy people, healthy communities 鈥� for generations. This project also aligns with Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care鈥檚 Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, which aims to help Nova Scotians stay active, healthy, and engaged in communities.
Our Vision
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The evidence-based innovation is called Age Care Technology (ACTTM). The ACTTM听is 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鈥� wellbeing, independence, social connection and health in other locations. A unique aspect of this project will be the design and creation of听Community Profile Reports, intended to inform local policy makers and planners about the specific needs of their communities.
The听ACTing听Collectively research project is founded on a collaborative partnership between听Nova 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 H漫画 University researchers.听The听overall objective听is to assess the usefulness and feasibility of implementing the ACTTM. The team will听trial the ACTTM听in three Nova Scotian communities (ie., Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Victoria County, Richmond County)听to answer the following research听questions:听
1) What are the key concerns and desired resources of aging adults in these communities?
2) Does the ACTTM听Assessment 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 ACTTM听Assessment tools into existing processes?听
The听ACTing Collectively听research 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 ACTTM听Assessment 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 ACTTM.听In addition, process information will be gathered听from each community to identify听implementation barriers that affect feasibility and sustainability of implementing the听ACTTM.
听Results听will inform听NSH 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.