Medical Assistance in Dying: Updates, Evidence and Conversation

Listen to an overview of current legislation and upcoming changes that govern MAiD in Canada. Hear from experts and researchers who study MAiD from a variety of perspectives and help us to set future research priorities.

PANEL EXPERTS
Barbara Pesut, RN, PhD
• Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan
• Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care

Lori Verigin, RN, MSN, NP
• Nurse Practitioner, Interior Health Authority
• Principal Knowledge User

Caroline Variath, PhD
• Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Human Services, Vancouver Island University
• Researcher

Janine Brown, RN, PhD, CCNE
• Associate Dean, Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina
• Researcher

Laurel Plewes, RN, MScN
• Director, Vancouver Coastal Assisted Dying Program
• Knowledge User

MODERATOR
Sally Thorne, RN, PhD, CAHS, CM
• Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Vancouver

Cafe Scientifique
Supported by CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Co-hosted by School of Nursing, UBC Okanagan; and the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What’s Next?

Hear the results of several studies on the mental health of Canadian families and university students during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions about mental health going forward and discussing some practical communication tips for supporting others follows the presentation.

Presenter
Jessica P Lougheed, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Irving K Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University of British Columbia Okanagan

A Partnership in Research webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Aging and mental health: Starting a conversation with the Mental Health Continuum for Aging Canadians in care

Aging Canadians often experience mental health concerns related to ageism and negative attitudes about mental health. This increases barriers to accessing mental health support, care, and treatment. More conversations about mental health in community care settings could better address older adults’ mental wellbeing needs as we work to build a more resilient health system. The current co-design project is acting on aging and mental health research priorities identified by Canadians during the pandemic. In this presentation, Drs. Nelly Oelke and Justine Giosa share the findings of adapting a user-friendly tool, the Mental Health Continuum for Aging Canadians, and the next steps of co-designing mental health conversations between home and community care providers and older adults during routine care interactions in rural and urban settings across Canada.

Presenters
Nelly D. Oelke, RN, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan;
Scientific Director, Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia

Justine Giosa, PhD
Scientific Director, SE Research Centre, SE Health;
Assistant Professor (adjunct status), School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

A Research to Practice Webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Empowering rural older adults: promoting equitable digital engagement that sticks

Researchers from UBC have teamed up with Gluu Society, a Canadian non-profit dedicated to providing FREE digital training that ‘sticks’ (hence its name) for older adults. In this project, the UBC team has been working collaboratively with Gluu to evaluate and learn about their programming and delivery in rural and urban communities.

Presenters:
Cherisse Seaton, PhD, Research Coordinator, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Linda Fawcus, Founder and CEO, Gluu Society

Learn more about Gluu here  

A Research to Practice Webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Adapting Nav-CARE to support caregivers of people living with dementia: a pilot study

Nav-CARE is a program that utilizes trained volunteer navigators to support older adults living in the community with life limiting illnesses. An adaptation of Nav-CARE was developed through a modified e-Delphi method and pilot study. The adaptation focuses on supporting caregivers of people living with dementia. This webinar provides a discussion of the adaptation process, preliminary findings from the pilot study, and next steps for program implementation.

Presenter:
Madison Huggins, PhD Candidate
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Learn more about Nav-CARE HERE

A Partnership in Research Webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Stimulate your brain: motor imagery as a tool to enhance recovery after stroke

New approaches are needed to help people recover more quickly after a stroke. One approach with promising initial evidence is motor imagery which involves the mental rehearsal of a motor task, such as walking. In this presentation you will hear about research and how brain science and motor imagery may bring new hope to stroke survivors.

Presenter
Sarah Kraeutner, PhD
Assistant Professor, the Neuroplasticity, Imagery, and Motor Behaviour Laboratory (thenimbl.com)
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan & Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Learn more about NIMBL

A Partnership in Research Webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

The impact of COVID-19 on family time in Long-Term Care

In this presentation, findings from interviews with families who had loved ones in long-term care during the pandemic is shared. The impact of the pandemic on family visits and their recommendations for the future are discussed.

Presenters:
Evans Appiah-Kusi, BSN, MN, Thompson Rivers University
Jordan Bremner, 3rd year BA student, Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Tracy Christianson, Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Colin Reid, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan campus

A Partnership in Research Webinar sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan

Living your best atrial fibrillation life: the importance of self-care

Atrial fibrillation can be a complex and unpredictable chronic illness. Patients living with atrial fibrillation may feel out of control in their treatment journey, however, something in which all patients can actively participate in is self-care. Self-care is an essential aspect of managing atrial fibrillation but it has its challenges. While self-care is associated with improved symptom experience, reduced complications, and higher quality of life, patients require resources, support, and knowledge to build skills and confidence to engage actively in self-care.
Join us for a discussion with experts about the latest research, evidence, and experiences in atrial fibrillation self-care.

Panel Experts
Dr. Kevin Pistawka, MD Cardiologist, Medical Director
Central Okanagan Association for Cardiac Health
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Dr. Ryan Wilson, PhD, RN Assistant Professor of Teaching
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Dr. Peter Loewen, PharmD Associate Professor
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC Vancouver
Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, Vancouver, Canada;

Sheryl Sargent, Patient Perspective

MODERATOR
Kathy Rush, PhD, RN
Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan

A Café Scientifique supported by CIHR and Michael Smith Health Research BC

Medicinal Cannabis: unpacking the knowledge, perceptions, and stigmatism

Despite its legalization and the increasing use of medicinal cannabis among Canada’s aging adult population there remains many unasked and unanswered questions. In an open forum we aim to have a transparent conversation about the current level of knowledge and perceptions that the research shows to exist currently in society.  The goal is to unpack and clarify some of the confusion and work to decrease the stigmatism that still persists regarding the use of medicinal cannabis for healthy aging.

Hear from the panel experts about the latest research, evidence, and experiences in medicinal cannabis.

PANEL
Dr. Zachary Walsh, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology
University of British Columbia Okanagan

Dr. Janet Evans, MD
UBC Clinical Instructor, Medical Director CGB Medical;
Family Physician, University of British Columbia Okanagan Aging in Place Research Cluster Board Member

Jennifer Bolt, BSc. Pharm,  A.C.P.R., Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor (Partner), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia;
Research & Development Pharmacist, Interior Health

Jan Mills, Patient Perspective

MODERATORS

Paige Copeland, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia Okanagan
Eli Haynes, MSc, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Hosted by Aging in Place Research Cluster, University of British Columbia Okanagan

A Café Scientifique

Addressing the need for culturally safer care at the End of Life for Indigenous Peoples

This session discusses foundational principles within Indigenous worldviews regarding health and wellness and the cultural aspects of death and dying. It explores the challenges and barriers that limit appropriate healthcare for Indigenous Peoples. Lastly, it identifies ways healthcare providers can become allies to Indigenous Peoples in delivering culturally safer care.

Presenter:
Holly Prince, MSW, (PhD. Cand.)

A Research to Practice Webinar co-sponsored by the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan and North Okanagan Hospice Society