Continued advancements in technology have opened the doors for seniors to live more comfortably, even as they face health and wellness complications from aging. However, these technologies are often produced in larger urban centres located in southern Canada and the United States.
Through the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN) at UNBC, Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Shannon Freeman is seeking to connect seniors living in northern British Columbia with the technology they need to continue to live independently.
On Nov. 6, CTAAN will be hosting Let’s Talk Technology and Aging in the North, a public event for anyone interested in discovering more about some of the cutting-edge technology available today and learning about how these devices are being deployed in Northern British Columbia.
Among the participants at the forum are Mark Elias, co-founder and chief executive officer of Steadiwear Inc., the makers of the Steadi-One glove that assists people who have tremors. You can learn more about Steadiwear’s wearable technology by watching a demonstration on YouTube.
There will also be representatives from the Ottawa-based AGE-WELL innovation hub Sensors and Analytics for Monitoring Mobility and Memory (SAM3). Among the technology the centre is researching is a pressure-sensitive mat placed under a mattress to better understand how people get out of bed with the aim of reducing injuries related to falls. Researchers at SAM3 are also using sensors located around the home to study nighttime wandering for people with dementia and whether voice-message technology is useful in encouraging people to return to bed and/or alerting caregivers.
The Technology for Injury Prevention in Seniors (TIPS) at Simon Fraser University will also be represented.
CTAAN is a partnership between UNBC, the Impact Centre at the University of Toronto, Northern Health and the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence.
Let’s Talk Technology and Aging in the North: an open house to learn more about technological advancements that make it easier for seniors to live more comfortably.
WHEN: Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Charles J McCaffray Hall atrium at UNBC
In addition, representatives from Steadiwear Inc. and Sensors and Analytics for Monitoring Mobility and Memory (SAM3) will be available for media interviews on the morning of Nov. 6. They will be able to talk in more detail about their research and products.