By: Peter Young, MSc student
To me, the heart of science doesn’t exist in a test tube, a spreadsheet, or in 11 pt. Times New Roman. I believe science exists between people as they share and awaken their passions and curiosities. Perhaps then, there was no better place to find gerontological science alive than in Regina for the Canadian Association on Gerontology’s 2022 conference. Here, I had the pleasure to check the pulse of the field and reflect on some popular themes that are garnering attention.
The first theme, and conference title, involved knowledge translation and “Closing the Research-Practice Gap”. Dr. Moriah Ellen, opened the conference on this note, acknowledging that we often have a surplus of knowledge but a lack of action. She continued by imploring that we must “get research into the hands of those that need it”. This sentiment echoed throughout the conference with presenters offering different approaches, strategies, and opportunities to make scientific findings more impactful in practice.
One strategy for closing the research-practice gap, and the second theme from the conference, was the utilization of technology. Technology can be an infinitely powerful tool in knowledge translation especially as it progressively integrates itself into day-to-day functions. Dr. Kim Delbaere’s keynote presentation introduced her application “StandingTall”, which can help assess the risk of falls and prescribe exercises to mitigate them. This project empathetically encapsulates the idea of bringing knowledge to the end beneficiary with the ease and efficiency of technology.
A third and final theme which resonated throughout the conference involved how to best understand and support the altruistic actions of caregivers. One study, presented by Jennifer Swindle, explored how family caregivers “build a new life” after their family member is admitted to LTC. This group further discussed that caregivers were facilitated in their new path by the support of others, inclusion in care decisions, and connecting with resources. One prevalent resource for such caregivers was “My Tools 4 Care - In Care”, an online interface with resources, suggestions, and important contact information for caregivers.
In sum, CAG 2022, and the wealth and diversity of knowledge that it featured, left me optimistic for the future of research in our field. I look forward to following the development of gerontology, and hopefully returning next year.