Coming of Age: Meeting the needs of our aging population

What does it mean to be a family caregiver in today’s world? In Ontario, more than 4 million individuals step into the role of caregiver, providing essential support to family members, partners, friends, or neighbours. Most caregivers are assisting older adults over 65 who face age-related needs including mobility issues, cognitive impairments like dementia, and cardiovascular concerns. As our population ages, these demands are rising, often placing incredible pressure on caregivers. In this episode, Donna Duncan sits down with two inspiring guests:Terrence Ho, a family caregiver for more than 30 yearsAmy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization Together, they explore the evolving role of caregivers, the growing trends in caregiving responsibilities, and the crucial supports needed to ensure caregivers are not overwhelmed and neglected. Whether you're a caregiver yourself or connected to someone who is, this conversation sheds light on the importance of caring for those who care for others. Resources:Visit the Ontario Caregiver Organization website for supports and tools for caregiversNeed assistance? Reach out to the caregiver helplineConnect with another caregiver through peer supportLearn about advance care planning with Advance Care Planning Canada This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Plan A powered by StaffStat.

How can we re-think how we build seniors’ communities? In Canada, innovative partnerships are leading the way in transforming how we think about aging and care. One such groundbreaking initiative is unfolding in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada where Trent University is building a seniors’ village on the university campus, and they are partnering with peopleCare Communities to build and operate a long-term care home. This visionary project brings students and seniors together in a shared space where learning, living, and care are interconnected. In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by two visionary leaders who are at the helm of this transformative project:Dr. Cathy Bruce, President and Vice-Chancellor, Trent UniversityMegan Allen-Lamb, President, peopleCare Communities Listen as they discuss how this collaboration is not just about providing care; it's about creating a space where students and seniors live, learn, and grow together. Resources:Trent Seniors VillagepeopleCare Limitless: A Visionary StrategypeopleCare’s DevelopmentsTrent Centre for Aging and SocietyTrent Intergenerational classroom This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, ARJO.

How do we build a better future for seniors? Seniors’ populations around the world are growing and innovative solutions are crucial to meet their evolving needs. In regions like Ontario, Canada, novel projects in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are showing us what the future can look like. In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by Roxana Sultan, Chief Data Officer and Vice President of Health at the Vector Institute, a globally renowned AI institute that is empowering researchers, businesses and governments to develop and adopt AI responsibly. Listen as Roxana shares insights from AI projects in hospital settings and what this could mean for adoption across broader health care systems, including seniors’ care and long-term care. Resources:AI trust and safety principles by the Vector InstituteHealth AI Implementation Toolkit by the Vector InstituteLearn about Canada’s University Health Network’s digital tool helping heart failure patients manage symptoms from homeLearn about GEMINI at Unity Health, Canada’s largest hospital data sharing network for research and analytics This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, PointClickCare.

How can we address the critical health workforce shortage and build a sustainable future for seniors' care? In Canada, and especially in Ontario, the demand for nurses and personal support workers continues to climb. Ontario alone needs tens of thousands of additional workers to meet the growing care needs and to support new long-term care spaces. This challenge is not unique to Ontario or Canada; it's a global issue affecting healthcare systems worldwide. In this episode, Donna Duncan is joined by two visionary leaders and discuss how to tackle these workforce challenges on a global scale:Mansur Dalal, Chairman of CommonAge, founder of the Association of Senior Living in India, and passionate about building sustainable seniors’ care systems and creating career pathways for young people in this field.Robyn Stone, Senior Vice President of Research at LeadingAge, Co-Director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center at UMass Boston, and who has extensive experience in long-term care policy, chronic care, and the aging services workforce. Listen as they share innovative ideas and discuss how regions around the world can collaborate to create opportunities for workers and ensure we all have the support we need as we age.Thanks for listening to Season 4! Join us next week for a new episode. Subscribe to Coming of Age to catch each new episode as soon as it’s released.This episode was generously sponsored by our Sector Champion, Plan A powered by StaffStat.