Research Spotlight: McMaster Optimal Aging Portal

The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal provides older adults, service providers, health professionals, and policy-makers with easy access to vetted, evidence-based information on healthy aging. The portal includes blog posts written by trusted experts, plain language summaries of academic literature, web resource ratings, and videos and interactive lessons on healthy aging topics. The content covers a broad range of topics such as health and health care, supportive homes and communities, mobility and transportation, social connection, and financial wellness. Some components of the portal are available in both English and French.

Below are examples of recent content from the portal:

·        Blog post: Forging strong intergenerational bonds

·        Evidence summary: Horticultural therapy may improve physical and emotional health outcomes in older adults

·        Video: Exercise: Powerful Medicine for Health and Aging

New Research Reports on CORE

·        Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Indigenous Populations: Knowledge, Needs, and Gaps [Regine Halseth]

·        Aging in the right place: A report of promising practice shelter/ housing models for older people experiencing homelessness in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver [Sarah Canham, Joe Humphries, Tamara Sussman, & Christine Walsh]

New Journal Articles

Open Access Articles

Articles that are free and accessible to the general public.

Bae, S., & Choi, M. (2023). Age and Workplace Ageism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2022.2161685

A systematic literature review was conducted and 15 studies were identified that explored the relationship between ageist attitudes and chronological age. A meta-analysis was conducted (analysis that pools the results from multiple studies) and there was a significant negative association between age and ageist workplace attitudes (i.e., younger workers had more ageist attitudes towards other age groups). 

Holt-Lunstad J. (2022). Social Connection as a Public Health Issue: The Evidence and a Systemic Framework for Prioritizing the "Social" in Social Determinants of Health. Annual Review of Public Health, 43, 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-110732

This article by Holt-Lunstad summarizes the body of evidence supporting the prioritization of social connectedness as a key social determinant of health. The article summarizes research on the relationship between social connectedness and mortality and disease, and identifies the biological and behavioural pathways through which social connectedness may influence health. Holt-Lunstad also introduces the Systemic Framework of Cross-Sector Integration and Action Across the Life Span (SOCIAL).

Closed Access Articles

Articles that require a paid subscription. If you are a student or alumni of a college or university you may be able to access these through your institution’s library.

Kansanga, M. M., Batung, E., Mohammed, K., Sano, Y., Taabazuing, M. M., & Luginaah, I. (2023). Beyond Purchasing Power: The Association Between Sense of Community Belongingness and Food Insecurity Among Older Adults in Canada. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2023.2182082

Using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 24,546) Kansanga and colleagues examined the association between sense of community belongingness and food insecurity among older adults. The authors found older adults with a somewhat weak or very weak sense of community belongingness were significantly more likely to be food insecure.

Kokorelias, K., L Sheppard, C., & L Hitzig, S. (2023). The role of patient navigation in supporting low-income older adults in their housing needs during hospital to home transitions: A qualitative descriptive study from Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Care Coordination, 26(1), 26-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053434523115120

Kokorelias and colleagues report on key findings from interviews and focus groups with 109 hospital and community care workers on supporting the complex housing and health care needs of low-income older adults. Key findings include that low-income older adults require more housing supports, housing challenges can act as a barrier to hospital-to-home transitions, and the potential benefits for low-income older adults of the introduction of a patient navigator role.

Research Participation Opportunities

Survey: Behaviours in Dementia Guidelines

The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is creating new guidelines on the topic of behaviours in dementia. They are seeking input on the topics that should be included in this guideline. The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Click here for more information.

Calls for Abstracts for Upcoming Conferences

IFA Global Conference on Ageing

The 16th Global Conference on Ageing (June 27-30, 2023, Bangkok, Thailand) is set against the backdrop of important international agendas that align and intersect with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. The conference focuses on five themes – digital technologies, older women, maintaining and improving function, immunisation, and age-friendly environments which will be seen the lens of both the actions areas and enablers. The deadline for abstract submissions is April 28^th.