Research alliance will improve dementia care

from a SSHRC media release and AHS backgrounder

New funding for a research initiative involving UWaterloo’s Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) will help to improve care for people with dementia.

The Partnerships in Dementia Care (PiDC) Alliance is co-led by Sherry Dupuis (right), a University of Waterloo recreation and leisure studies professor and director of MAREP, and Carrie McAiney, a professor in psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster University.

The project will include researchers from five universities and 50 partners from community, seniors’ care, and not-for-profit organizations from southern Ontario and across the country, including several branches of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, as well as colleges and long-term care settings from across Canada.

The goal is to encourage a “culture change” in long-term care to reflect a relationship-centred approach to care and support for people living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD).

The $1.8-million project is buoyed by close to $1 million over five years from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) in the form of a Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) grant, supplemented by about $800,000 in staff, cash and in-kind contributions from alliance partners.

The CURA, one of 20 large-scale research projects across Canada that will receive funding of up to $1 million each, was announced by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science and technology), at the Village of Winston Park seniors’ care facility in Kitchener on Thursday.

"Funding for this study appropriately comes from the Community-University Research Alliances grant because it will truly make a difference to the community as a whole," said George Dixon, Waterloo’s vice-president, university research. "Given the astounding number of Canadian families who will face some form of dementia in the coming years, helping to facilitate this type of culture change couldn't come at a more critical time. It's also what our researchers do best — they find the answers to some of society's most difficult questions."

Gathered at Winston Park on February 4, from left: George Dixon, vice-president, university research; Stephen Woodworth, M.P., Kitchener Centre; Harold Albrecht, M.P., Kitchener-Conestoga; Sherry Dupuis, director, MAREP; the Honourable Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science and technology); Carrie McAiney, assistant professor, psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University; Chad Gaffield, president, SSHRC; and Ron Schlegel, president, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging.)

Currently, more than half a million Canadians, one in 11 older adults, are living with ADRD. It's estimated that by 2034, over one million Canadians will have some form of dementia.

The dramatic jump in the number of persons with dementia will have significant implications for those diagnosed and for their family members. It will also create a range of additional challenges in providing care in community and long-term-care home settings. At the heart of the problem is a culture in long-term care that provides few opportunities for those directly involved in care to participate in decision-making.

Many have emphasized the need to move away from the top-down, provider-driven care approach to a more client-driven and relationship-centred approach. A shift is needed to a culture in new long-term care that is built on strong bi-directional relationships and ensures that all key stakeholders — clients, family members, and staff — are actively and meaningfully involved in planning and decision-making. This approach focuses on the experiences and needs of all involved and ensures that staff, too, are supported and well-equipped to translate research into practice.

More information about MAREP, the issues, and the research to be undertaken in the CURA can be found in an applied health sciences backgrounder.

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IWD dinner celebrates women volunteers

Kelley Teahen, CPA

Tickets go on sale today for the fifth annual International Women’s Day Dinner at Waterloo, which this year celebrates women’s volunteerism around the world.

“The theme is Women to Women: Making Global Connections,” says Christine Tauer-Martin, a counsellor with Waterloo’s Counselling Services. She and her volunteer committee organize the annual event, being held this year at the University Club on Thursday, March 4. Since its start in 2006, the dinner draws up to 100 staff, faculty, and students to celebrate women’s contributions and journeys.

The guest speaker this year is Professor Carin Holroyd (left) from the Department of Political Science, who is founder of the Vietnam Education Society, a charity to help with the educational needs of children in Vietnam. She is also associated with the Social Innovation Generation research group at Waterloo and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), where she is a Senior Fellow.

The emcee for the evening is Professor Gail Cuthbert Brandt, former principal of Renison University College, and former associate vice-president, international, at the University of Waterloo. She has returned to the university as a professor of history after a sabbatical in 2009 and is currently chair of the Advisory Board of the Confucius Institute, housed at Renison University College.

While in past years the speakers and musicians at the event have been women, this year’s guest musician is Peiyi Niu (PhD ’02), a Waterloo graduate in systems design engineering originally from China, who works as a research scientist in photodynamic therapy. He plays the erhu, a traditional two-stringed bowed musical instrument. Last year’s guest speaker, Yan Li, director of the Confucius Institute, joined the volunteer organizing committee this year and says that, in her home country of China, it has been a new trend for men to serve women on International Women’s Day.  

The Waterloo event begins at 4:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by a three-course dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. Previous attendees should note this is an earlier start time, responding to requests from past participants.

Tickets are $32, available at the Theatre Centre Box Office, 519-888-4908. The box office is open noon to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, for cash, Interac or credit card purchases, and the box office also accepts telephone orders (credit card only). When purchasing tickets, please choose either regular or vegetarian option for the dinner: full menus will posted shortly on the International Women’s Day website.

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Two elections begin, another ends

The Federation of Students reminds all full-time undergraduate students that voting begins tomorrow for the Federation of Students' council and executive as well as undergraduate student senators. All voting is to occur online and takes place between 10 a.m. February 9, and 10 p.m. February 11. For instructions, information on candidates, and audio recordings of campaign debates, visit www.vote.feds.ca.

Deep Saini will end his term as dean of the Faculty of Environment on June 30, a year ahead of schedule, to take up his appointment as vice-president and principal of the University of Toronto, Mississauga. Voting is to begin Thursday, February 11, as environment staff elect a representative on the Dean of Environment Nominating Committee. Campaign statements are available online for the candidates who are contesting the positions: Marion Brown (Environment, Enterprise and Development), Don Duff-McCracken (Mapping, Analysis and Design), and Anne Grant (Dean’s Office). All regular full-time and part-time staff of the Faculty of Environment are eligible to vote online. The election runs through February 17.

As noted on the Daily Bulletin of January 28, environment dean Deep Saini’s coming departure has left more than one gap at Waterloo. It was necessary to choose another environment faculty senator to sit on the Presidential Nomination Committee that’s been set up to help choose David Johnston’s successor. A call for nominations went out on January 28. Tracy Dietrich of the Secretariat reports that the call for nominations closed at 3 p.m. Friday, and that Bruce Mitchell, a professor in geography and environmental management (he is also associate provost, academic and student affairs) was “elected by acclamation to serve on this committee.”

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Black History Month; Waterloo at DECA; a memorial

February is Black History Month

"Black History Month is an opportunity to share the historical and present contributions of Black Canadians in our society," writes Johnny Trinh of the Student Life office. "Black History Month initially began in the United States in February 1926, through the work of African American scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson. His aim was to raise awareness and understanding of the national, social, scientific, and political contributions of black Americans. Since 1995, Black History Month has been officially recognized and observed across Canada.

"For 2010 the One Waterloo Diversity Campaign will be observing the month with several fun events. The theme for Black History Month 2010 is "Aspire to Inspire." We will be profiling exceptional UW alumni whose accomplishments and goals can be a source of inspiration for current students in the Black community at UW."

Events will include the Black History Month Expo tomorrow, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., in the Student Life Centre, Great Hall. A panel discussion, which starts at 4:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, will have "experts and notable UW students discussing discussing Black History Month as a whole, and its relevance in 2010. They will also be discussing challenges currently facing the black community. They will examine implications and portrayals of the black community in the media versus real life." The month will wind up on February 27, 8 - 11:30 p.m., with a gala at the Bomber, with musical performances, poetry, a fashion show, and more." There's a Facebook page here.

Waterloo sets business example for young entrepreneurs

University of Waterloo will have a strong presence at this year's provincial DECA competition, held February 8 and 9 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto.

DECA (Distributive Education Club of America) is an international association of high school students who are interested in marketing and entrepreneurship and tend to focus in the areas of business and finance. DECA held various regional competitions late last year in Toronto, Hamilton and Waterloo, with the participants who won those contests moving on to the provincials in Toronto.

All participating students in the DECA provincials will be asked to use their knowledge and skills to develop a solution for a business case of their choosing, with Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) providing an accounting-focused case.

Professor Grant Russell from SAF will be leading the judging team from Waterloo. Patty Mah and Richard Vollans, recruitment managers for SAF and the Faculty of Science respectively, will also be in attendance to represent and promote Waterloo.

Top competitors from the provincial competition who decide to attend Waterloo will be considered for special scholarships from the faculties of science and engineering.

Memorial for mechatronics student Jeffrey Aho

This just received: A secular memorial will be held for friends and family to honour the life of Jeffrey Aho, who died last Thursday. The ceremony takes place today starting at 7 p.m. in the Festival Room, South Campus Hall. "This is meant to be a celebration of his life, providing the opportunity for friends and family to reminisce and rejoice.  . . .  A memory box will be at the ceremony for loved ones to share stories, photos, and other memorabilia to later share with the Aho family. Jeff's fraternity brothers will take part in the White Rose ceremony in accordance with his wishes. A similar memorial service will be held in Jeff's hometown of Thunder Bay later this week." Obituary is online.

CPA staff

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