Our last Global Ageing interview as part of the Global Older People’s Care & Support Day 2024 is from Canada, with Alison Kernoghan, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging.

In her interview, Alison says that joining the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging just before the conference was a rewarding experience, leading to valuable connections and exciting future prospects. The Institute’s new 5-year plan focuses on co-design principles, actively involving older adults in research and programs. A co-design overview document was recently launched to guide these efforts. Moving forward, the Institute aims to expand expertise beyond the local Waterloo Region to include national and international perspectives, and welcomes collaborations with global leaders in the co-design space.

The interview highlights how attending the 2023 Global Ageing conference revitalised Rev Ngere’s ministry work with older persons. With over a decade of part-time consultancy, they gained valuable insights and connections.

Successes include engaging Kenya’s ministry for older persons, forming the SENIOR CITIZEN GROUP for psychosocial support, and delivering successful pre-retirement training.

Barriers involve diverse needs among older adults, tech adaptation challenges, and resource limitations.

Future plans focus on developing a tailored curriculum, advocating for revised retirement ages, and creating home-based care options.

The interview highlights the global challenges shared at GAN, with a focus on meaningful discussions and problem-solving. Key successes included fostering global connections and resource-sharing, as well as arranging a visit to a Scottish retirement community, which was highly valuable.

the interview, the Dr Dwight Tse expressed gratitude for the chance to share their work at GAN and engage in meaningful discussions. He also recently secured an international research grant for a three-year project examining the impact of extreme heat on older adults’ health, involving teams from Canada, Sweden, Israel, and Hong Kong.

Despite early successes, challenges include involving researchers from the Global South and increasing awareness about the vulnerability of older adults to extreme heat. Future plans focus on collecting first-hand data, engaging stakeholders, and comparing international policies to enhance the project’s impact.

The interview highlights the global challenge of limited healthcare access in remote areas, similar to issues faced in places like Scotland. Their solution, IH Health, provides virtual clinical services to older adults in isolated regions of Australia, including First Nations communities, significantly reducing hospital admissions.

Despite success, funding remains a key barrier, with a push for government support to sustain and expand the service. Future plans include international expansion, particularly in the Asia Pacific, though differing healthcare systems present challenges that require ongoing dialogue and cooperation.