Coming of Age: Meeting the needs of our aging population

As Ontario’s population of seniors continues to grow over the coming years, we will need to reimagine the way we provide care and support. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with two experts in aging who are helping to drive this transformation forward through their work: Dr. John Muscedere, the CEO of the Canadian Frailty Network and a professor of critical care medicine at Queen’s University, and Dr. Alex Mihailidis, the CEO of AGE-WELL and a research chair in Rehabilitation Technology at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network. Together, Donna and her guests discuss strategies for reimagining seniors’ care, including the changes we still need to make as a society to provide a better foundation of support for everyone during the aging process.

Learn more about the Canadian Frailty Network: https://www.cfn-nce.ca/ 

Learn more about the AGE-WELL: https://agewell-nce.ca/

Exploring new innovations in seniors’ care from a global perspective can inspire us and lead to fresh ideas on how we can best support our seniors. In the first episode of Coming of Age’s second season, Donna sits down with Vincenzo Paolino, a specialist in geriatric care equipped with an entrepreneurial spirit. Vincenzo’s background includes a degree in psychology, time spent in psychiatric nursing with a specialty in seniors’ care, and experience as a nursing director in a hospice for people with AIDS as well as a long-term care home, where he and his staff successfully implemented major culture change. He is also the founder of queerAltern, a group that develops housing options for LGBTQI+ seniors. Since 2013, Vincenzo has been operating Almacasa, a collection of residential communities in Europe that take a unique approach to care. During the episode, he shares several inspiring insights and stories that could help us discover new possibilities for the future here in Ontario.

Learn more about Vincenzo Paolino: https://globalageing.org/staff/vincenzo-paolino/

In this special episode of Coming of Age, the script is flipped as Donna takes on the guest hot seat. Instead of asking the questions, this time, Donna provides answers to questions asked by health communications professional Max Stern. Along with his former colleagues at Crestview, Max supported the Ontario Long Term Care Association throughout the pandemic. Together, Donna and Max take the time to catch up and reflect on shared experiences of supporting long-term care over the last few years. They also share some behind-the-scenes stories of what it has been like during this challenging time, the important role of the media, and what changes are needed to care for our seniors now and in the future.

Learn more about Max Stern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-stern/

It’s no secret that society has changed, and we’re asking much more of our health professionals and at a greater speed than ever before. It’s important that we find ways to ensure that our family doctors and other healthcare providers are supported, healthy and not overburdened. In this episode, Donna sits down with Kim Moran, the CEO of the Ontario College of Physicians, to discuss strategies for making this vision a reality. An accountant by training, Kim is also the former CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario. Kim brings a unique perspective to thinking about public policy and healthcare, and she always comes to the table with solutions—not just challenges. During the episode, Kim shares examples of healthcare programs and solutions that are working well within their communities, and which areas are still in need of structural reform.  Donna and Kim’s discussion echoes many of the conversations that are happening today throughout the health system, and what we’ve been advocating for in long-term care for many years: a greater support system for healthcare workers to help them avoid burnout and provide high-quality care to patients. 

Learn more about Kim Moran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmoran/?originalSubdomain=ca

As Canada’s population of seniors continues to grow, the country’s healthcare landscape is also shifting. It’s a time of great challenge and opportunity as we continue to find new ways of working together and creating better outcomes for those in need. In this episode, Donna discusses this issue with guest Dr. Jane Philpott, the Dean of Medicine at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, a former federal cabinet minister, a family physician, and most importantly, someone who has devoted her life to improving public, community and family health. Dr. Philpott brings a variety of unique experiences to the table, including her response during the pandemic to the local community in need, helping those who couldn't help themselves, and always championing empathy, compassion and a bias towards action. She speaks about the new strategic plan at Queen's University, which is anchored in revolution, disruption, radical change and action, explaining the process she and her team followed to come up with the framework. Donna and Dr. Philpott also discuss some of the changes healthcare professionals will need to set in motion in order to create a better system for all.

Learn more about Dr. Jane Philpott: https://familymedicine.queensu.ca/familymedicine/faculty-staff/faculty/jane-philpott

The transition to a long-term care setting can bring up a range of emotions for both a new resident and their care partners. The transition can produce feelings of anxiety and fear in seniors and is often the source of tremendous guilt and uncertainty for family members. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Deborah Bakti, a seniors’ care consultant, speaker, coach, and trainer who helps build positive connections in seniors' homes. She worked in seniors’ care for 11 years prior to starting her own business, and she also lived through the transitions when her husband and parents moved into long-term care and retirement home settings. During the episode, Donna and Deborah discuss how her experiences have equipped her to and understand the process of transitioning into long-term care inside and out, and how families and care teams can build strong connections with each other during this significant life change.  

As the needs of seniors grow increasingly complex with time, technology will need to keep up the pace. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with William Charnetski, PointClickCare’s Executive Vice President of Health Systems Solutions and Government Affairs. During this episode, they discuss some of the current system challenges in seniors’ care as well as how better data and technology can help improve care and the care experience for seniors.

 

Learn more about William here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamcharnetski/?originalSubdomain=ca

As the number of seniors in Canada continues growing exponentially, the continuum of care will need to expand to keep up. Our healthcare infrastructure, policies and long-term care system will need to evolve in response to the rise in demand for services and quality care. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Dr. Nathan Stall, a geriatrician at Sinai Health System. Having completed his fellowship training in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto, Nathan is also a research fellow at Women‘s College Research Institute, and is currently working towards a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at U of T’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME). In his research, Nathan looks at the impacts of caregiving for those living with dementia and drug safety for older adults, while his clinical work is focused on acute care geriatrics. During the episode, Donna and Nathan discuss how the needs of seniors will continue to evolve in the future, and what we can all do to better support them.

Learn more about Dr. Nathan Stall: https://sinaigeriatrics.ca/our-team/

 By 2030, Canada will be home to 9.5 million seniors, making up 23 percent of all Canadians. With the baby boom generation aging, the challenge of providing adequate seniors’ care in the future looms. Are we ready? In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Laura Tamblyn Watts, the President and CEO of CanAge, Canada’s national advocacy organization for seniors. She shares her perspective on the impending upsurge of seniors in Canada, what we can do to prepare, and offers insight into what we can learn from the pandemic to build a better future for all of us as we age.

Learn more about Laura Tamblyn Watts: https://www.canage.ca/about/our-team/

More than two-thirds of the long-term care population in Canada is living with some form of dementia. Despite its prevalence, the disease still comes along with a strong stigma and many common misunderstandings. In this episode, Donna sits down with Dr. Rhonda Collins, the Chief Medical Officer at Revera, a company that owns and operates long-term care and retirement homes across North America and the U.K. As an advocate for those living with dementia and their loved ones, Dr. Collins sheds light on the common myths and misconceptions surrounding the condition, and the kinds of policy changes that are needed to provide better care. She and Donna also discuss the insights from a film produced by Revera called Unforgettable Ian: A long term care story, which seeks to demystify the experience of life in long-term care for Canadians.

Learn more about Dr. Rhonda Collins: 

https://reveraliving.com/en/about-us/our-leadership

Since the onset of the pandemic, the experience of the United Kingdom seniors’ care system paralleled Canada. In both countries, each challenge was met with new thinking – and solutions – to overcome them and protect our most vulnerable. So, what does that mean as we reimagine growing older, and the different types of supports required?

In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Vic Rayner OBE, the CEO of The National Care Forum, a not-for-profit focused on providing leading care for over 27 years. Vic has become a prominent voice in the sector.  They discuss what our ageing population needs in the immediate future, what role technology will play, and what resources are needed to get there as the population requiring support rapidly grows.

 

Learn more about Vic Rayner: https://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/ncf_team/vic-rayner/

Like Ontario, Australia has been grappling with long-standing systemic challenges in their seniors’ care system for decades. Australia is looking for innovative ways to reshape the system and improve care for its seniors, and there is much we can learn from each other as we work to make change on opposite ends of the world. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Marcus Riley, the Director of the Global Ageing Network and a member of the Steering Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP). They discuss the current seniors’ care system in Australia and the challenges they have faced over the years. Marcus sheds light on the main recommendations offered by the Commission, and new models of care Australia is exploring.

 

Learn more about the Global Ageing Network here: https://globalageing.org/

As our senior population increases, there are a lot of questions around how we’re going to provide the care that the baby boom generation will need. Join OLTCA’s Donna Duncan in conversation with Dr. Bob Bell, former Deputy Minister of Health for Ontario, as they discuss what strategies can help to keep more seniors at home as they age, and why increasing the number of long-term care beds is also necessary.

What can Canada learn about long-term care from other parts of the world? In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna sits down with Katie Smith Sloan, the Executive Director of The Global Ageing Network, an international network of leaders in seniors’ care. Donna and Katie discuss how other areas of the world have adapted to growing senior populations and explore how Canada can take action to create better supports for seniors.

 

Learn more about the Global Ageing Network here: https://globalageing.org/

Lisa Raitt is the former Canadian Minister of Labour, working under the Stephen Harper administration. After her husband was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, she made the decision to put him in a long-term care facility for the foreseeable future. In this episode of Coming of Age, Donna welcomes her to the show to discuss how she made her decision, the stigma around long-term care, how to reframe it, and the possibilities she sees for the future of long-term care occupations.

 

Learn more about the Ontario Long Term Care Association here: https://oltca.com/OLTCA/

Mental health and long-term care are deeply interwoven and during the COVID-19 pandemic, this has never been more evident. In our second episode, Donna interviews Adrienne Spafford, the former Senior Director, Strategy & Public Affairs at OLTCA. Adrienne is now CEO of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario, and on today's episode, the two discuss the intersection of mental health in long-term care homes, first by addressing the needs of seniors and reflecting on the challenges and solutions created over the past 14 months. They question how we can reimagine senior living to promote stronger mental health by removing the stigma around mental illness. They continue by discussing front line workers, exploring how as a system, we can better provide the necessary resources care staff need on a daily basis.

 

Learn more about Adrienne Spafford and her work at Addictions and Mental Health Ontario here: https://amho.ca/amho-announces-adrienne-spafford-as-new-ceo/

It’s time for real change in long-term care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the shortcomings that the system has felt for decades and now, the public is ready for change. In our first episode, Donna sits down with Moira Welsh to discuss the current state of Canadian long-term care and what can be done to create the best possible experience for seniors. They dive into the need for a human-first approach to senior living, the ways that the system will need to adapt to the ageing baby boom population, why freedom and growth are so important to resident lives, and what long term care homes can do to better support their existing staff. 

Moira Welsh is the author of Happily Ever Ageing and an investigative journalist for the Toronto Star. 

• Follow her on Twitter @MoiraWelsh or on LinkedIn
• Read her articles here: thestar.com/authors.welsh_moira.html
• Purchase Happily Ever Ageing at Indigo, Amazon, independent bookstores, as an e-book from Kindle and Kobo, or as an audiobook on Audible.