People
Director Dr Scott Hofer with student affiliate Raquel Graham
Self-management BC health coaches at a training workshop at the Victoria site
From right to left: Executive Director of Eldercare Foundation Lori McLeod, Valued Elder Recognition Award recipient Glennys Hughes, and Institute Director Dr Scott Hofer
Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Ladner site: Suite 210, 4907 Chisholm Street, Delta, BC V4K 2K6
IALH affiliates
The Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (
If you are interested in becoming an IALH affiliate, please contact Dr. Jo Ann Miller, Research Manager, at IALHResearch@uvic.ca
Faculty Affiliates
UVic faculty research affiliates specialize in research related to aging. They include experts in the fields of sociology, geography, psychology, economics, business, law, medical sciences, exercise science, philosophy, engineering, nursing, public health and social policy, child and youth care, social work, and public administration.
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Name |
Research interests |
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Health Information Science |
Aging and assistive technologies; patient safety and technology; virtual care technologies; data science; human factors |
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Brewster, Paul Psychology |
Digital cognitive assessment; early detection of Alzheimer's disease; life course socioeconomic influences on late life cognition;advanced psychometric methods |
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Division of Medical Sciences |
Brain plasticity; understanding vascular & immunological contributions to age & related cognitive decline |
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Division of Medical Sciences |
Effects of exercise on the human brain; effects of concussions on cognitive health later in life; use of video games to enhance cognitive health later in life |
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Department of Geography |
Health services research; healthy aging: healthy communities; social determinants of health; vulnerable populations (stroke-affected, dementia, end-of-life, immigrant older adults, socially isolated, residents of Long Term Care) |
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Nursing |
Primary care delievery models; nurses' roles in primary care; home care; social network models; health policy making; knowledge traslation |
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School of Health Information Science |
Community based health information technology to support older adults in co-managing their health; ethical use of health information technology; use of health information technology to support patients and family caregivers at end of life |
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Nursing |
Cardiovascular health; global health; quality improvement; knowledge translation; metal hypersensitivity |
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Department of Psychology |
Executive functioning; neuropsychological assessment; concussions; healthy aging |
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Department of Psychology |
Neuropsychology and neuroimaging; identification of biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders; healthy aging; intervention studies; challenges for individuals with cognitive decline and their caregivers |
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Psychology |
Impacts of climate change on, and by, older adults |
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Mechanical Engineering |
Musculoskeletal and orthopedic medical device design; patient assessment and rehabilitation; surgical planning; biomechanics; computational modeling; in vitro biomechanical experimentation; statistical morphological analysis |
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Nursing |
Health needs and experiences of middle-aged and older self-identifying gay men; curriculum development to support nursing care of middle-aged and older self-identifying gay men |
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Computer Science |
Agent-based modeling; predictive (crowd-aware) environment design; motion capture for biomechanical modeling; human-centred artificial intelligence in design and modeling; simulation for analytics and animation; representation in dynamic simulation, animation and graphics; artificial intelligence in diagnoses; serious games for rehabilitation; partiipatory design |
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Department of Psychology |
Cognitive health and dementia; digital health technology; longitudinal studies of aging, integrative data analysis |
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Computer Science |
Bioinformatics; medical informatics; transcriptomics; RNA structure-function prediction; RNA therapy; DNA methylation; mechanism of function prediction; artifical intelligence; high throughput sequence data analysis; aging |
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Sociology |
Visible minority; immigrant and refugee health; social isolation and loneliness; assistive technologies and intervention research; knowledge mobilization; implementation science; mental health |
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Nursing |
Patient-reported outcomes; hermeneutics;knowledge translation; care of older adults with comorbidities |
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Public Health and Social Policy |
LGBTQ2+ communities; sexual health across the lifespan; sexually transmitted infections; HIV/AIDs; community-based research; mixed and multi-method studies; prospective cohort design; health equity |
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Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education |
Chronic disease prevention and management; mHealth; web-based interventions; big data; data prediction |
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Department of Psychology |
Cognitive aging; early detection of cognitive impairment; lifestyle engagements for successful aging; aging in place; technology in the home; longitudinal data analysis; gait; functional biomarkers of cognitive function; variability |
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Nursing |
Applied health services research; research competencies; knowledge translation competencies; leadership in health care organizations; evidence-based practice and health policy; healthy aging; technology use in health; health informatics |
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Sociology |
Population aging, life course, social determinants of health, social policy |
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Public Health and Social Policy |
Interventions for individuals with chronic health conditions; implementation, spread and sustainability of interventions; effectiveness of various interventions with specific chronic conditions |
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Health Information Science |
eHealth/digital health literacy; consumer health informatics; human factors; human-computer interaction; information visualization |
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Anthropology |
Bone biology, skeletal plasticity to loading; bone hormones |
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Nursing |
Care of the older person with cancer; nursing ethics |
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Pyschology |
Cognitive and pyschosocial predictors of health behaviours; impact of technology on these behaviours; improved measurement and assessment tools for assessment of cognitive decline; development of interventions with possible impmact on rate of cognitive and/or functional decline; impacts of COVID-19 and pandemic on psychosocial and cognitive outcomes |
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Theatre |
advancing lifelong health and well-being through intergenerational applied theatre arts initiatives; how aging is portrayed in the media; aging over time; promoting holistic-person-and-capability-centred care for people with dementia; enhancing quality in residential care with older adults' family perspectives;policy development for psychosocial healthcare in long term care; reminiscence/life review therapeutic interventions for older adults; prevelance of arts in care facilities; supports, barriers in BC and nationally |
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Computer Science |
Visualization; human-computer interaction; health informatics; patient-generated data; quantified self; sports data visualization |
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Department of Psychology |
Trajectories of cognitive change in normal aging and neurodegenerative disorders; impact of physical health changes on these trajectories; longitudinal research; role of (un)diagnosed ADHD in late life cognitive performance level and change |
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School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education |
Behavioural medicine and behaviour change interventions; pyschology of physcial activity and sedentary behaviour; theories of motivation |
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Public Health and Social Policy
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Parkinson's disease; dementia; caregiving; functional ability; activities of daily living; long term care |
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Pyschology |
Intra-individual processes; well-being; longitudinal methodology and analyses |
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Nursing |
Healthy aging; technologies to support older adults; community-based interventions to support the independence of individuals with dementia; caregiver supports |
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Somanath, Sowmya Computer Science |
Human computer interaction; technology to support hands-on activities (e.g. building physical interactive artifacts); co-design; technology for health; assistive technologies; interaction design |
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Sociology |
Aging and social capital; role of organizational culture in efforts to reduce anti-pyschotic medication in long term care; choir singing for individuals with dementia and their caregivers |
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Nursing |
Chronic and life-limiting conditions; palliative and end-of-life care; vulnerable and marginalized populations; familiy caregiving; health services, systems and policies for an aging population |
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Biology
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Signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that coordinate an organism's nutrtional status with metabollic responses, reproduction and maintenance of cell and tissue integrity with age: age-related changes from the molecular and cellular levels to the whole organism |
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Mechanical Engineering/Division of Medical Sciences |
Neural tissue models of age related disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) |
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School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education |
Enhanced aging; interventions to improve balance and reduce falls |
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Gustavson School of Business |
How to deliver home care efficiently with a high level of continuity; how to organize adaptive service systems to support transistions through the aging process |
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Student Affiliates
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Name |
Research interests |
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Anthony Theodore Amato Social Dimensions of Health Nathan Lachowsky |
HIV Health promotion in Gay/Bi and other men who have sex with men (MSM); health equity across generations |
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Masako Anderson Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Kelli Stajduhar, Karen Kobayashi |
Death and dying; end of life care; advance care planning; older adult mental health; home care; older adult abuse/neglect/self-neglect; vulnerable adults, especially Japanese |
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Camille Angus Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Scott Hofer |
Healthy successful aging |
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Coady Babin Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Nathan Lachowsky |
Health equity – specifically related to LGBTQ community, including autonomy and independence, access, experiences with health care systems |
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Jessica Percy Campbell Political Science Supervisor: Colin Benett |
Aging and technology; marketing towards senniors; technological solutions |
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Matilde (Matty) Cervantes Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Debra Sheets |
Social and psychological health of dementia caregivers; community engagement and cognitive declien; health and friendly environments for older people |
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Simone Cormier Social Work
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Advocacy for self-determination; ageist stereotypes and stigmatization; impacts of stereotypes and stigmatization; impacts of COVID-19 on well-being; support for individuals with COVID-19 related mental health concerns |
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Erin Donald Nursing Supervisor: Kelli Stajduhar |
Pre-existing and mental illness and advancing life limiting conditions; health equality |
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Gillian Eades Telford Social Dimensions of Health Supervisors: Karen Courtney; Anastasia Mallidou |
Community dwelling centanarians’ perceptions of life long successful aging predictors; qualitative research |
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Psychology Supervisor: Collette Smart |
Psychiatric and neurological aspects of mild cognitive impairment and dementia; cognitive and attentional processes associated with subjective cognitive decline; interventions to prevent mild cognitive impairment |
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Sherin Jamal Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Kelli Stajduhar, Karen Kobayashi |
Immigrant and ethno-cultural minorities; access to care; health services research |
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Jamie Knight Psychology Supervisor: Andrea Piccinin |
Cognitive and olfaction, early diagnosis; neurodegenerative diseases |
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Colleen Lacey Psychology Supervisor: Jodie Gawryluk |
Using neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment measures to better understand healthy aging processes and neuropyschological conditions; investigating the use of non-pharmaceutical treatment (e.g. exercise) for neuropyschological conditions
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Nathan Lewis Psychology Supervisor: Scott Hofer |
Cognitive reserve & resilience to dementia; early detection of cognitive change; relationship between physiologicalhealth and cognitive functioning |
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Cindy McDowell Psychology Supervisor: Stuart MacDonald |
Individual differences and cognitive health in the aging population; biological predictors of cognitive decline; risk and preventative factors; dementia symptom reduction reduction and social cognitive lifestyle interventions |
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Ashley Mollison Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Kelli Stajduhar |
Palliative and end-of-life care; poverty and homelessness; equity-informed care; harm reduction |
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Jordan Monks Social Dimensions of Health Supervisors: Charlotte Loppie, Christopher Auld |
Healthy aging; sexual health; health economics; older adult sexual health; STI prevention and treatment in older women |
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Lisa Olhauser Psychology Supervisor: Jodie Gawryluk |
Neuropyscholgy; healthy aging;cognitive rehabilitation |
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Ashleigh Parker Psychology Supervisor: Jodie Gawryluk |
Neuropsychology; neuroimaging through MRI; Alzheimer’s disease; subjective cognitive decline |
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Aleah Ross Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education Supervisor: Ryan Rhodes |
Health psychology; physical activity and health behaviours; clinical populations |
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Nursing Supervisor: Bernie Pauly |
Trans, two spirit and gender diverse aging; resilience, intersectionality; narrative inquiry
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| Sanjit Roy Social Dimensions of Health Supervisor: Debra Sheets |
Healthy aging; quality of life for people living with Alzheimers and related dementias |
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Sebastian Santana Psychology Supervisor: Stuart MacDonald |
Health interventions; health policy; cognitive health in later life |
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Vanessa Scarapicchia Psychology Supervisor: Jodie Gawryluk |
Using neuroimaging technologyto better understand and prevent environmental and physiological factors that contribute to agerelated cognitive decline |
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Morgan Schaeffer Psychology Supervisor: Theone Paterson |
Determining psychological variables which may predict cognitive decline in older adults (e.g. personality traits; non-pharmalogical interventions for preventing/reversing cognitive decline such as psycho-education, mindfulness) |
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Kimberly Shapkin Nursing Supervisor: Esther Snagster-Gormely |
Decision making in older adults; living well with dementia |
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Audrey Tung Geography Supervisor: Denise Cloutier |
Homelessness in older women, social justice, social policy, human rights, social determinants of health |
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Rebecca Vendittelli Psychology Supervisor: Scott Hofer |
Use of a mobile-based assessment application to measure psychosocial and lifestyle variables as well as cognition |
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Mattie Walker Public Health and Social Policy Supervisor: Nathan Lachowsky |
Trans, Two Spirit and non-binary mental health; safety in the trauma support contexts for gender diverse populations; gender diverse young people; gender-based violence; community based trauma supports and violence response |
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Amanda Webber Pyschology Supervisors: Scott Hofer, Mauricio Garcia-Barrera |
Examining protective factors (e.g., concussion) that impact cognitive functioning within young adults and aging populations using computerized cognitive tests, behavioural measurement screeners and ecological momentary assesment |
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Alex Wells Public Health and Social Policy Supervisor: Nathan Lachowsky |
Role of LGBTQ2S recreational sports teams and leagues in supporting the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ2S individuals and communities; intergenerational nature of LGBTQ2S sports teams and leagues |
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Logan White Social Dimensions of Health Supervisors: Nathan Lachowsky, Katelin Albert |
Chronic health; mental health; lifelong health; global health; First Nations/Indigenous health; refugee health |
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Tomiko (Tiko) Yoneda Psychology Supervisor: Andrea Piccinin |
Early indicators for cognitive decline |
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Alison Ziesel Computer Science Supervisor: Alex Thomo & Hosna Jabbari |
Changes in gene expression over human aging; epigenetic changes in DNA and RNA over human againg |
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Sasha Zinovich Sociology Supervisor: Andre Smith |
Impact of social influences on healthcare decisions; inequalities in access to healthcare; social influences on moral regualtion and ethical behaviour |
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External Affiliates
Our 16 external affiliates reside in areas all across the world and conduct research in a variety of ways.
| Name | Organization |
| Antifeau, Elisabeth | Interior Health Authority |
| Aoun, Samar | Latrobe University |
| Asche, Carl | University of Illinois |
| Carson, Arlene | AJ Carson Consulting & Research |
| Corbett, Chris | CSCW |
| Dow, Elizabeth | Dow Consulting in Gerontology |
| Grande, Gunn | University of Manchester |
| Hainstock, Taylor | Island Health Authority |
| Hetherington, Arne | Independent researcher |
| Koehn, Sharon | Simon Fraser University & Sharon Koehn Research Consulting |
| Koval, Andriy | University of Central Florida |
| Sawatzky, Richard | |
| Scott, Vicky | University of British Columbia |
| Stanwick, Richard | Island Health Authority |
| Tamblyn Watts, Laura | CanAge |
| Wister, Andrew | Simon Fraser University |
| Zimmer, Zachary | Mount St. Vincent University |