AGE-WELL 2020-2021 Annual Report (EN)

Canada’s technology and aging network

20/21 ANNUAL REPORT

A CANADIAN NETWORK OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

DRIVING CANADA’S LEADERSHIP IN AGETECH

Canada’s technology and aging network

Corporate Profile

Our Values

AGE-WELL NCE Inc. (“AGE-WELL”) is a federally-funded Network of Centres of Excellence established in 2015 to support Canadian research and innovation in the area of technology and aging. AGE-WELL is dedicated to the development and delivery of technologies, services and policies/practices that benefit older adults and caregivers. Our aim is to help older Canadians maintain their independence, health and quality of life through technology-based solutions that increase their safety and security, support their independent living, and enhance their social participation.

EXCELLENCE

As Canada’s technology and aging network, AGE-WELL brings together more than 250 funded and affiliated researchers from 46 universities and research centres across Canada. More than 400 industry, government and non-profit partners work closely with us on solutions for healthy aging. AGE-WELL also trains the next generation of leaders in the field of technology and aging. We have supported over 1,000 trainees since our inception. Our research projects align with AGE-WELL’s eight Challenge Areas, which are designed to move the dial when it comes to supporting older adults and caregivers in Canada – and achieving social and economic impact.

Our Vision Canada’s leadership in technology and aging benefits the world.

Our Mission To develop a community of researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders that accelerates the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.

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Based on a strong and leading scientific research foundation

COLLABORATIVE IMPACT

Using a transdisciplinary approach, we share knowledge, ideas and resources across disciplines and stakeholder groups to generate better outcomes

CAPACITY - BUILDING

We train the best and brightest academic and industry talent

LEADERSHIP

We are recognized globally in the area of technology and aging

INNOVATION

We are engaged in a continuous process to create new ideas and solutions

INTEGRITY

We uphold the highest ethical and intellectual standards in our research and business activities

EQUITY

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our network

DRIVING CANADA’S LEADERSHIP IN AGETECH

20/21 ANNUAL REPORT

Table of Contents 4

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32

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43

44

46

48

Executive Messages

Knowledge Mobilization & Commercialization

AGE-WELL Challenge Areas

AGE-WELL by the Numbers

Training the Next Generation

Financial Statements

Solutions for Healthy Aging

Networking & Partnerships

Research Excellence

Looking to the Future

Network Community

Acknowledgements AGE-WELL gratefully acknowledges the support of its funder:

And the support of its host institution:

An initiative of Canada’s research granting agencies www.nce-rce.gc.ca

Contents may only be reproduced with written permission from AGE-WELL.

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EXECUTIVE MESSAGES

AGETECH TRANSFORMS LIVES A message from the Scientific Director and CEO Not long ago, AGE-WELL went out to Canadians to canvas their views on technology and aging. We consulted people through online meetings, virtual roadshows and a survey with 450 respondents. The message we heard was clear and consistent: there is strong support for Canada’s AgeTech sector, which provides technologybased solutions that support healthy aging and generates economic returns for Canadians.

For the last six years, AGE-WELL has served as a catalyst for technological innovation that empowers older adults to live healthy, independent and engaged lives, while driving forward Canada’s growing AgeTech sector.

AGE-WELL brings together more than 250 researchers from 46 Canadian universities and research institutes and over 400 industry, community, government and academic partners. Our network has supported more than 1,000 trainees, and counts 56 Canadian startups within our Startup Affiliate program. Crucially, approximately 5,000 older adults and caregivers are involved, ensuring that products are practical and user-friendly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the need for technologies and services that support older adults and those who care for them, now and in the future. These difficult times have also highlighted serious gaps in care and services for seniors. More than ever, technology is needed to enable aging in place, and to transform care and support across all settings.

AGE-WELL is accelerating the delivery of technologybased solutions. Almost 120 technologies, services, policies and practices are being developed across our network or are already on the market having an impact on people’s lives. In this report, you will find out about products like smart-home sensors, remote therapies, virtual exercise programs and systems that connect people. On page 18, we highlight innovations designed to improve safety and quality of life for people who live in long-term care, and to ease stresses on staff so they can devote more time to caring for residents.

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COVID ACTION

AGE-WELL’s response to the pandemic began early in 2020 with significant investments in entrepreneurial work. We embarked on a COVID-specific research funding investment program with our partner Mitacs, and tailored our Emerging Entrepreneur Awards at COVID-related challenges.

This past year saw the renewal of AGE-WELL, with almost $22-million in funding over three years through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program (NCE). We launched 22 new research projects that collectively address AGE-WELL’s eight Challenge Areas, which are designed to move the dial when it comes to supporting older adults and caregivers in Canada – and achieving social and economic impact (see page 44).

While some projects were delayed due to the pandemic, we are pleased with the way in which our teams have been able to pivot to address current needs while advancing our mission.

The AgeTech sector has enormous potential to enhance quality of life for older Canadians, and to create good jobs and spark economic growth. AGE-WELL is perfectly positioned to lead the response of Canada’s AgeTech sector during and after the pandemic. Together, we can chart a course for Canada to be a world leader in the development of technologies that transform lives.

A message from the Chair of the Board Innovation thrives on collaboration. AGE-WELL is engaging with an ever expanding number of partners and stakeholders as more organizations see the centrality of AgeTech to the future.

Our expertise is very much in demand – and we share it widely, whether through government submissions, published papers, expert panels, media interviews or opinion pieces.

This past year, we continued to increase our engagement with government to ensure that the right policies are in place to advance AgeTech. We were pleased by the announcement in June 2021 that technology to age in place is one of the top priorities of the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors. This is an important step and we look forward to advancing this common goal together.

And we need to move quickly. The timeline for implementing technology-based solutions has moved up dramatically. COVID has shown how much work there is

EXECUTIVE MESSAGES

Dr. Alex Mihailidis Scientific Director and CEO, AGE-WELL

to do if we are to get the necessary tools into people’s hands to live independently and healthily, and to support necessary shifts in health-care delivery.

We know that older adults are receptive to technology. In 2020, AGE-WELL commissioned an Environics Research poll of 2,026 older Canadians. It found that 7 in 10 people over the age of 65 feel confident about technology use and almost the same number (66 per cent) would pay out of pocket for technology that allows them to stay at home as they age. The poll showed that COVID has significantly increased their use of many technologies.

We also know that equitable access is vital. AGE-WELL is examining issues of access, equity and affordability.

For example, one of our teams, led by Drs. Rosalie Wang and Michael Wilson, recently created a website to enable Canadians to search for programs and assistive technology that helps with mobility, sensory, communication, cognitive and mental health concerns.

AGE-WELL has built a highly engaged community and can be counted on to lead the way forward, delivering technological solutions to people who need them.

A message from the Managing Director and COO AGE-WELL has grown exponentially and is now the most comprehensive AgeTech network in the world.

In this report, you will read about how our network has matured, fuelled by multi-faceted partnerships and dedicated network members who all share a common goal: to enhance lives through technology.

Despite pandemic-related challenges, AGE-WELL research has energetically moved forward, while pivoting to be COVID-responsive. We currently are funding projects across four multi-year programs, including $10-million invested in our core research program in 2020.

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Mimi Lowi-Young Chair, AGE-WELL Board of Directors

Bridgette Murphy Managing Director and COO, AGE-WELL

Anchoring our regional presence, we now have four AGE-WELL national innovation hubs. The newest, launched in Prince George, British Columbia (B.C.) in November 2020, supports aging in northern and rural communities by making technologies more available.

Our other hubs are in Surrey, B.C., Ottawa, Ontario and Fredericton, New Brunswick (see page 23).

In everything AGE-WELL does, it is essential to serve the needs of older adults and caregivers in all communities, including those that are traditionally underserved.

With leadership from our board, we have translated our learnings from a network audit into an EDI Action Plan in order to embed and operationalize equity, diversity and inclusion in our organization.

Many of you know that we typically hold a large and successful annual conference. We did not have an in-person conference in 2020 because of COVID. However, in 2021, we hosted a brand new virtual event called AgeTech Innovation Week. This free event featured carefully curated panels, dynamic workshops, networking opportunities and catalytic conversations designed to connect people and create change. The week included the popular AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge, one of the most exciting startup competitions in Canada. People around the world watched as finalists pitched their products, judges reacted and a winner was declared (see page 30).

AGE-WELL is proud to be driving forward Canada’s AgeTech sector. We are grateful to the many people and organizations who are such a critical part of our network.

We thank our funder, the Networks of Centres of Excellence, and our host institution, the University Health Network. We are also indebted to the AGE-WELL Board of Directors, committee members, researchers, trainees, staff members, partners, older adults and caregivers who work so tirelessly to help Canadians age well.

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+ 250 RESEARCHERS

AGE - WELL BY THE NUMBERS

AGE-WELL

BY THE NUMBERS

2,455

As of October 2021

TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS

51

AGE-WELL SOLUTIONS

Technologies

118

31

Policies/ Practices

SOLUTIONS

36

Services

110+

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS ACROSS COUNTRIES

28

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80 POLICY SUBMISSIONS

+ 400 PARTNERS • Industry • Non-profits • Government • Academia

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AGE-WELL-SUPPORTED STARTUPS

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HQP HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL includes active and alumni HQP

199

Doctoral Candidates

532

Professionals

includes research associates, technicians and summer students

1,082 HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

Master’s Candidates

NATIONAL INNOVATION HUBS

127

+ 4,900

46

224

Postdoctoral Fellows

MEMBER UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH CENTRES ACROSS 8 CANADIAN PROVINCES

263

INNOVATORS OF TOMORROW Certificates awarded

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ENGAGED OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS

197

RESEARCH PROJECTS

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SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING Staying connected A digital app that brings together browsing, reminiscing and organizing pictures. Users can easily locate images using key words, and show them to others. (PhotoFlow)

An easy-to-use communications system for older adults who have limited or no computer experience.

(FamliNet)

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Take a look at some AGE-WELL-supported products designed to benefit older adults and their caregivers:

SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

Aging in place A pressure-sensitive mat equipped with sensors to monitor health during sleep.

Other smart-home systems in development use lighting, voice-activated reminders and prompts. (SAM3 National Innovation Hub) Called ROSA, this robotic cart carries household items up and down stairs automatically. (Quantum Robotic Systems)

A remote-monitoring platform that uses sensors to detect potentially worrisome changes in daily living patterns.

(HomeEXCEPT)

Better health

A physical therapy app that provides older adults who have had knee replacement surgery with a full six-month evidence-based rehabilitation program that can be done in the comfort of one’s own home. (Curovate)

LiveWith Arthritis Plus is a smartphone app that helps people with arthritis discover how medications, diet and exercise affect their pain. Users can measure physical changes with their device’s camera, and health-care providers can remotely assess progress. (eTreatMD) AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

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SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

Autonomy & independence

Social robots will assist people with cognitive impairment by prompting them to do daily tasks such as preparing meals, and will make virtual medical visits possible. (SMART)

A service that gives those with mobility challenges more control over their environment and saves on attendant care time. Users can turn on lights, open doors, control beds and much more via voice or a switch. (Novalte)

This add-on system transforms any wheelchair into a “smart” wheelchair that can detect obstacles, offer feedback to the driver and help prevent collisions. (Braze Mobility)

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SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

Safety & infection control This compact device allows a single caregiver to transfer a person to and from a bed, without contact and without risking injury to either, in a dignified manner. (Able Innovations)

Monitio Intelligence is a multi-sensor platform that takes people’s temperatures and automates enforcement of mask-wearing policy.

(AIH Technology)

A wearable technology and data analytics platform designed to improve safety and quality of life for residents in seniors’ homes, and to assist with contact tracing.

(Tenera Care)

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SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

Quality of life A compact, battery-free glove that “intelligently” reduces hand tremors for people with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease. Steadi-Two uses a cutting-edge magnet-based system to stabilize the wrist and forearm.

(Steadiwear)

An app that uses artificial intelligence to turn smartphones into hearing-assistive devices. The HeardThat app delivers clear speech in noisy environments for those with hearing loss. (Singular Hearing)

A novel treatment that restores dignity and control to those with overactive bladder (OAB). It involves non-invasive self-administered electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve in the leg. (EBT Medical)

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SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AGING

Tools to detect & assess A medical smartwatch that can monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood oxygen levels. (VitalTracer)

An app to support pain assessment in people who have difficulty speaking due to severe dementia, and an online training program on pain assessment for rural and remote seniors’ facilities.

(PAIN-ASSESS)

A tablet-based assessment that analyzes speech to detect and monitor cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease, aphasia and Parkinson’s disease.

(Winterlight Labs)

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE “I think AGE-WELL is definitely changing the way we are conducting research in technology and aging.

We want to do things that matter – and this is at the core in terms of values of AGE-WELL.” Dr. Louise Demers, professor of rehabilitation, Université de Montréal

Turning great ideas into real-world solutions

is a hallmark of AGE-WELL research. Our research teams are producing practical products that make a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults and caregivers, while generating social and economic benefits for Canadians.

And the results speak for themselves. AGE-WELL projects have developed 118 products (technologies, services, policies and practices), with a further 40 products on the market from network startups.

Despite challenging conditions during COVID-19, we launched 22 new research projects in April 2020 as part of AGE-WELL’s renewed mandate through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program to the end of fiscal year 2022-23. These projects are our largest investment, worth more than $10-million over three years.

They span our eight Challenge Areas (see page 44), where technology can make a significant difference in seniors’ lives.

Older adults and caregivers play an active role in all aspects of our research – it’s the AGE-WELL way. This ensures products are practical and will actually be used.

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Our projects also bring together different disciplines and sectors – industry, government, academia and the community – to address complex problems. This kind of collaboration is crucial to delivering solutions that support aging in place and the care delivered in our homes, hospitals and long-term care settings.

Amazing partnerships, productivity and resourcefulness defined the year. Examples of inventiveness are everywhere. One team that is building a robotic stairclimbing assistant was unable to collaborate in person – so they shipped parts back and forth between each other’s homes. Another challenge was recruiting study participants during COVID-19 lockdown. One investigator working on smart-home technologies installed the sensors and platforms in his own home – and pressed on with the project.

COVID - 19 RELEVANCE

Our work is highly relevant, now and post pandemic.

Technology, for example, can help combat social isolation and loneliness, so starkly exposed during COVID. Communications platforms, virtual care options,

This robotic stair-climbing assistant (ROSA) can transport laundry, groceries and other household items. Quantum Robotic Systems (QRS), which created the robot, received AGE-WELL-Mitacs funding that supports industry-academic partnered R&D during COVID-19. Peter Naccarato (left) is QRS’s social media director and Dr. Frank Naccarato (right) is the company’s founder & president.

sensor systems that promote health and independence – these are just some of the products in development or already on the market.

Addressing pressing challenges

Our teams have been able to pivot and create COVID-19 add-ons. For example, a contact-tracing feature was added to Welbi, a platform used in seniors’ facilities to personalize recreation programs for residents. And an AGE-WELL team led by Dr. Lili Liu at the University of Waterloo launched two important new studies after hearing reports from first responders and community partners about an increase in the prevalence of people living with dementia going missing during COVID.

Our research investment portfolio balances discovery and application-based research across three main programs. In 2020-21, we funded 28 projects through three programs:

Core Research Program, the largest research funding program in our network

AGE-WELL also launched new funding partnerships specifically targeted at COVID-19-relevant research.

For instance, we teamed up with Mitacs to provide joint funding for an array of technological solutions that benefit seniors and caregivers in light of COVID-19.

As well, we identified new opportunities to fund “responsive” research including implementation trials of new technologies that enhance social connectedness and physical activity in long-term care settings.

Platform Project Program, which supports other initiatives across the network

Strategic Investment Program (SIP), which invests in post-discovery commercialization, business development and knowledge mobilization activities.

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

AGE-WELL supports research involving underserved populations. AGE-WELL also studies ethical, policy and regulatory issues associated with new technologies.

We continue to proudly support four AGE-WELL National Innovation Hubs. These hubs focus on policy (Fredericton, New Brunswick), sensors and analytics for memory and mobility (Ottawa, Ontario), digital health solutions (Surrey, British Columbia), and technology adoption in rural and remote settings (Prince George, B.C.). Read more on page 23.

Thanks to AGE-WELL research funding, a new startup called Press-IR Inc was launched in 2020 to commercialize pressuresensitive mats designed to monitor a person’s health during sleep. The mats can track, for instance, how much someone moves in bed, detect fluid build-up and monitor breathing patterns. Here, Dr. Helen Tang tries out an early version of the “smart” mat at a demo session.

The pandemic has underscored the need for an AGE-WELL research project that focuses on technologies for assessment and management of wayfinding risks for people living with dementia in their communities.

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Key Innovations The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how technology can support older adults and caregivers, now and in the future. Here are some of the AGE-WELL-supported products that are in development or already making a difference in people’s lives:

Medication and daily life management app and service for people living with dementia

DataDay is an app designed to help people with early dementia or mild cognitive impairment to manage daily activities and keep track of how they are doing.

Using audio, text or visual prompts, the app provides reminders to carry out tasks and activities.

Smart-home technology for aging in place (sensors, lighting, voice-activated reminders and prompts) Apps and remote therapies to help people manage their health at home, while staying connected to health professionals Non-intrusive health monitoring technology (no video or sound recording) Virtual exercise programs designed for older adults Digital games that connect, stimulate and encourage learning Socially assistive robots that prompt older adults with cognitive impairment to do daily tasks such as getting dressed, preparing meals and exercising.

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

AgeTech solutions for long-term care There is a much-needed national conversation underway about how to better support residents of long-term care and staff. While technology can never replace the human touch, it offers many possibilities to improve safety, connectedness and quality of life, while easing stresses on staff and allowing them to spend more time one-on-one with residents. Some examples of AGE-WELL-supported innovations:

A multimedia messaging platform called FamliNet that aims to prevent social isolation by offering older adults an easy way to connect with family and friends A dynamic “circadian” lighting solution by Nano-Lit that mimics natural sunlight and has potential benefits on sleep and well-being in care settings A compact device called the ALTA PlatformTM made

by Able Innovations that allows a single caregiver to transfer a person to and from a bed, without contact, in a safe and dignified manner A wearable device created by Tenera Care that pinpoints the location in real-time of residents, staff and visitors in seniors’ facilities, and alerts staff if a resident falls or goes into the wrong room; it can also be used for contact tracing An app to help staff record and monitor pain behaviours in residents with severe dementia who often cannot speak up when something is wrong A platform called Welbi that personalizes recreation programs for older adults, and includes a contacttracing feature “Serious games” developed by Centivizer Inc. that are designed to engage residents in physical and cognitive exercise Socially assistive robots that can be used for telecare as well as assistance with daily activities.

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AGE-WELL researchers are also studying ways that off-the-shelf technology can be customized to maintain the autonomy and independence of older adults living in long-term care.

Dr. Mark Chignell and Dr. Andrea Wilkinson with ABBY™, a wall-mounted system of interactive activities for people with dementia who live in long-term care.

ABBY was developed by industry partner Ambient Activity Technologies and evaluated by Drs. Chignell and Wilkinson.

2RaceWithMe is one of several technology-based games designed by Centivizer Inc. to engage older adults in physical and cognitive exercise. The games are being rolled out by organizations such as Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care and the Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

New national standards for long-term care Calls for national standards for long-term care in Canada have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had such devastating consequences in long-term care homes. AGE-WELL’s scientific director and CEO, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, is playing a leadership role in developing new national standards.

Dr. Mihailidis was appointed in early 2021 to lead the development work for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) of a national standard that will provide requirements for safe operating practices and for infection prevention and control in longterm care homes.

Topics including cleaning and disinfecting processes, waste removal, HVAC, plumbing, medical gas systems and use of technology will be referenced or inform the standard.

The CSA Group Technical Subcommittee on LongTerm Care, chaired by Dr. Mihailidis, is receiving advice from residents and caregivers/family members gathered together on the Working Group for Resident and Family Centred Care. Stakeholders across Canada have also given input during public consultations.

Dr. Mihailidis is working closely with Dr. Samir Sinha, who is leading a related initiative for the Health Standards Organization (HSO), which involves developing a national standard for long-term care services to ensure that long-term care residents receive the quality of care they deserve. A CSA Group/HSO Government Advisory Table is providing provincial, territorial and federal level officials an opportunity to get engaged throughout the process.

Draft standards will be published in early 2022 for public review.

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Impact Profile: Paul Lea How an app called MAX is making a difference At age 56, Paul Lea was working as a quality control auditor at Levi Strauss when he suffered a massive stroke in 2008 and was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

Lea was determined to continue living in his Toronto apartment. He set about renovating, wrote a book and became an advocate for people living with dementia.

“Since my diagnosis, I’ve had to learn my limits, but I’ve also accomplished things that no one would have expected,” Lea wrote in a blog for the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

For Lea, like many people living with dementia, one of the challenges is keeping track of medications. He needs to take seven medications throughout the day.

But these days, it’s a lot easier thanks to a new app that reminds people to take their medications or go to appointments. MAXminder™ is a personal aide, coming to market with support from AGE-WELL, for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, scheduling and reminding them and their caregivers about medications and daily activities.

MAX has been designed for and tested with people who will ultimately use it, and is now available in “beta mode” for anyone who wants to check it out.

Lea was introduced to the app in his role as an advisor for Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility, an AGE-WELL-supported startup that uses an inclusive approach where people with dementia and cognitive disabilities provide feedback on whether products and services are usable and practical.

As an advisor, Lea offered input on MAX that included suggesting a way for users to edit their entries. He loves the app, especially its pop-up reminders of the seven medications he needs to take daily.

The app’s simple menus are easier to navigate than a typical Google or Outlook calendar, says Lea. He plans to get MAX for his daughter, who lives an hour away, so that she can also keep track of his medications and activities.

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“Since my diagnosis, I’ve had to learn my limits, but I’ve also accomplished things that no one would have expected...”

MAX is personalized, requires little or no typing and is simpler to use than other calendar products on the market, says project lead Dr. Jeff Jutai, an AGE-WELL researcher and professor of health sciences at University of Ottawa. For example, its medication reminders include photo-realistic images of actual pills, showing their shapes and colours, to ensure people are alerted to take the right medication in the correct dose at the right time.

The technology also helps alleviate the stresses of people caring for older adults living with cognition and memory issues, he says, by providing timely information about how their loved one is doing, and involving them in scheduling and monitoring activities directly through the app.

Dr. Jutai says the project began six years ago as a way for people who “want independence and quality of life as they age, but face challenges with their memory,

dexterity, mobility and eyesight” to safely manage medications and keep track of appointments such as doctor’s appointments and meetings.

Funded through AGE-WELL’s Strategic Investment Program, Dr. Jutai says the project also represents “an especially strong and productive collaboration” with industry partner JLG Health Solutions of Ottawa.

The company’s CEO Dinis Cabral calls MAX “a gamechanger.” He points out that with the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults “are more isolated and require more support, but restrictions make providing that support harder and we need this technology to help us.”

Post pandemic, the app will continue to support older people to age in place, he says, while easing pressures on caregivers, including those who live far from their loved one.

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Dr. Jutai says having people like Lea involved “at every step of the process” has been critical to ensure future commercial success for MAX. The feedback has made the app more user-friendly, for example with larger icons and a more intuitive way of inputting information, adds Cabral.

MAXminder™ will be available in a few months’ time at a monthly or yearly cost through app stores. The app is provided through a secure cloud-hosted system, so information is not sitting on an actual device. It’s on both Apple and android platforms, and works on smartphones and tablets.

The app currently works in English and French, and an older adult and a caregiver can even use versions with different languages at the same time. Other languages should be easily added going forward, and there are plans to release the product in other countries.

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RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Stakeholder Profile: Chaitali Desai

“The more I read about the organization, the more I realized how much our views aligned,” she recalls. “And I wanted to get involved in the work they were doing.

It was a great fit for me, particularly with my career experience and journey as a caregiver.”

Desai joined AGE-WELL’s Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee. She was excited to see the number of people involved in co-creating innovations at AGE-WELL. The network is known for involving end-users in all stages of research and development.

For Desai, it felt important to have a voice as a caregiver.

“Caregivers do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of the care management for people with dementia,” she notes.

“We advocate for our family members. So it’s important for us to get involved and be part of the changes.”

Desai talks about caregiver burden and the physical and emotional struggles that come with it, from back strain caused by lifting her mother to feeling overwhelmed without adequate support. As her mother’s health declined, she juggled demands of daily life, including caring for her one-year-old daughter, working and taking classes, while serving as primary caregiver with assistance from her father and sister. Her mother passed away in 2019.

Connecting with others around a common cause Chaitali Desai was looking for ways to make her mother who was living with dementia more comfortable as her symptoms worsened. While searching for potential solutions, Desai came across an organization that intrigued her: AGE-WELL. “Throughout this journey, I wanted to meet other caregivers and share experiences and strategies to care for our loved ones,” says Desai, an engineer who works at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

“That’s where AGE-WELL came into the picture. I was able to connect with others who were going through the same thing and who wanted to get information on products, resources and services that were available to make things easier.”

With her background in engineering, Desai understood the potential role that technology can play in improving the lives of Canadians, especially as they age. That’s what AGE-WELL is all about – bringing technology-based solutions to older adults and caregivers.

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Desai’s attention has now shifted to helping her father as he lives independently and manages a number of ongoing health conditions. Desai is working, parenting and getting ready for the birth of her second child, while supporting her husband as he navigates the demands of being a front-line health-care worker during the pandemic.

Technology, she says, can play a role in reducing caregiver burden – and access to smart, intuitive tech is critical. “Apps, devices and such allow you to spend more quality time with your loved one instead of stressing about some task you need to do. Technology helps remove or minimize those tasks that don’t seem to add value.”

Desai believes technology will play an even larger role in making life easier for caregivers in the future. It’s one of the reasons she is such a strong proponent of AGE-WELL’s efforts to bring everyone together for a common purpose.

From presenting at webinars to contributing to publications, Desai is deeply involved with AGE-WELL. She brings her views as a caregiver to the AGE-WELL Industry Advisory Group on the Future of Aging in Place, which recently released a white paper on technology and aging at home.

“The work that AGE-WELL is doing is amazing,” says Desai. “I love being part of the process and I’m so proud to be involved.”

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

AGE-WELL National Innovation Hubs AGE-WELL hubs are a key part of

our strategy for local and national impact. These hubs are places where industry, community, government, researchers, end-users and others can interact and generate new ideas together. The aim is to foster more efficient development, testing and delivery to market of products and services that will benefit older people and caregivers across Canada. We have four national innovation hubs:

The Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN) Prince George, B.C.

CTAAN’s programs will streamline the process for the adoption of technology that enhances the lives of those aging in northern and rural communities in Canada.

CTAAN’s founding partners are AGE-WELL, the Northern Health Authority and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Launched in 2020, CTAAN has established a network of partners to allow for the testing and validating of technologies, such as those of partners Best Buy Health and Rakuten Kobo, in real-world settings. The CTAAN team is working with community partners to build a unique innovation ecosystem that supports aging.

Digital Health Circle (DHC) Surrey, B.C.

DHC supports the creation of new digital technologies that have a real-life impact on current and future generations of older adults. The hub is jointly championed by AGE-WELL and Simon Fraser University (SFU).

Since its establishment in 2019, DHC has secured $3.5-million in funding for its activities, which are modeled on the type of co-creation and work with older adults promoted by AGE-WELL. DHC has created economic benefits to its region by helping partners secure over $50-million in contracts and capital.

DHC was recently awarded the ISSIP Excellence in Service Innovation Award, which recognizes exemplary innovation in the design and deployment of services.

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Laura Ault, research coordinator at Bruyère Research Institute, demos a sensor that is part of a night-time wandering detection and diversion system for people with dementia developed by SAM3 and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network.

Sensors and Analytics for Monitoring Mobility and Memory (SAM3) Ottawa, ON.

SAM3 is driving the development of sensor-based smart technologies that monitor older people’s health and wellbeing to keep them healthy, safe and as independent as possible. The hub is a joint initiative of AGE-WELL, Bruyère Research Institute and Carleton University.

In the past year, SAM3 has built new projects with a range of partners from startups such as Able Innovations and AltumView to companies like Best Buy Health and TELUS Communications. The team has also formed a startup Press-IR Inc to commercialize its pressure-sensitive mat technology designed to monitor health during sleep.

Advancing Policies and Practices in Technology and Aging (APPTA) Fredericton, N.B.

APPTA supports governments in generating opportunities to address the policy and practice challenges of an aging population. This hub is a partnership between AGE-WELL and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF).

In 2020, APPTA launched a series of virtual engagement sessions to keep federal, provincial and territorial policy stakeholders involved in the hub’s work during the pandemic. Topics included models of home care delivery, integrating technology into long-term-care to support social connection, and supporting older workers.

The hub also launched a policy innovation lab to map the New Brunswick innovation ecosystems, the barriers facing innovators and ways to address them. APPTA maintains strong connections with federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada by providing continuous opportunities for knowledge exchange.

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KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION

KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION “As a first-time entrepreneur, it can be challenging to establish yourself and to get visibility. AGE-WELL was really critical in not only providing financial support, but also in offering mentorship, connections, as well as visibility through their events and workshops. Through all of these different resources, we were able to be very cost-efficient early on and actually get to market much faster than we otherwise would have.”

Dr. Pooja Viswanathan, co-founder and CEO, Braze Mobility

AGE-WELL is laser-focused

on getting products out there.

We now support 56 startups that are delivering needed products, creating jobs and making sales. By encouraging entrepreneurship and nurturing startups, AGE-WELL is driving Canada’s AgeTech sector.

This burgeoning sector is enhancing older adults’ lives through technology and generating economic benefits for Canadians.

Combating loneliness and social isolation: Charlene Nadalin, founder and CEO of Amintro, with Joe Raco, the company’s vice-president. The Amintro app helps adults aged 50+ to make friends.

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Startup solutions We are proud to support such an incredible roster of Canadian startups by providing programs, resources and market opportunities.

Combined, these companies have a total of 40 products on the market.

And they are having an impact.

Our innovations are reaching older adults, caregivers, policy-makers, health professionals and others who need them. Significantly, many startups in our network have produced technologies that are making a difference during COVID-19. Take these examples:

Tenera Care implemented a wearable device in long-term care settings in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to enable in-facility contact tracing and outbreak management.

Dr. Virginie Cobigo is executive director of Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility, an AGE-WELL-supported social enterprise startup launched in 2020. Open provides input from people with dementia and cognitive disabilities on whether products and services are usable and practical.

The company has offered employment to over 20 people with a range of cognitive abilities as advisors. Open has clients from government, industry and academia.

Steph Gagne and her 93-year-old father, Richard Ratcliffe, relied on a communication platform developed by FamliNet, an AGE-WELL startup, to stay connected when his long-term care home was in lockdown during the pandemic.

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Centivizer, another AGE-WELL startup, launched several “serious games” in senior-living facilities to enhance physical and cognitive stimulation for residents, and increase social connectedness.

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And how are startups in our network doing? We surveyed them, and learned from 38 respondents they have raised almost $49-million and created 260 jobs. More than 30,000 older Canadians and caregivers have already benefited from their products.

Mentorship services are one of the ways in which we assist startups in the AGE-WELL network.

AGE-WELL’s chief entrepreneur Michael Tamblyn, president and CEO of Rakuten Kobo Inc., generously shares advice with our startups and young entrepreneurs.

“When it comes to all aspects of starting a business from the ground up – the mentorship, financial support and the collaborative environment – AGE-WELL has helped us in every way to get where we are today.”

Mark Elias, co-founder and CEO, Steadiwear Inc.

We also offer crucial end-user input to startups. Older adults and caregivers regularly provide feedback through popular “insight sessions.” AGE-WELL has also partnered with Startup Canada to create an AgeTech Startup Community that allows for knowledge sharing, collaboration and greater exposure for Canadian AgeTech startups.

Every year, we host the AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge, which identifies promising solutions in Canada’s AgeTech sector. This annual competition has supported eight startups in AgeTech since its inception.

Over 100 startups have participated to date with significant support from our partners.

Congratulations to Rachel Bartholomew of Hyivy Health, winner of the 2021 AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge, and to the startups who won in 2020: Able Innovations, eNable Analytics, Novalte and Tochtech Technologies. We thank the finalists, judges and sponsors of these events. Key sponsors of the 2021 competition were the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), with Bereskin & Parr providing the intellectual property services prize. Sponsors of the previous year’s competition were: Aging2.0 Local I Halifax Chapter, BC Seniors Living Association, Bereskin & Parr LLP, CARP, IBM Canada Ltd., Impact Centre, Innovacorp, Innovation PEI, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Ontario Brain Institute, Spectrum Health Care and YouAreUNLTD.

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Rachel Bartholomew, founder and CEO of Hyivy Health, won the 2021 AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge for a connected smart rehabilitation device designed for women who have pelvic health complications.

The runner-up prize went to ImaginAble Solutions, led by Lianna Genovese, for a device called Guided Hands™, which assists people living with limited mobility to write, paint, draw and use a touch-screen device.

KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION

Ensuring forwardthinking policy that includes technology We continue to increase our engagement with government to ensure that technology is on the agenda and part of the solution to support older Canadians and caregivers. In 2020-21, AGE-WELL made 80 policy submissions to government on topics such as dealing with elder abuse and the role of technology in combating the effects of COVID-19. In June 2021, AGE-WELL cohosted a technology-themed event as part a Future of Aging in Canada stakeholder symposium. Technology to enhance aging in place was subsequently identified as one of the top priorities over the next three years for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors’ agenda.

We also work closely with our Advancing Policies and Practices in Technology and Aging (APPTA) National Innovation Hub and conduct regular meetings with provincial, territorial and federal government staff. In 2020, AGE-WELL and APPTA launched a policy rounds webinar series to share knowledge and discuss the policy implications of the latest research in technology and aging.

Key AGE-WELL influencers share knowledge and expertise through interviews with journalists, published opinion pieces and blogs. In the past year, we conducted a record number of media interviews on pressing topics in technology and aging. We also got into the publishing business (see page 42), with more books coming off the press in months ahead.

Focus on long-term care, dementia AGE-WELL is deeply involved in efforts to address challenges in long-term care that were laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our scientific director and CEO Dr. Alex Mihailidis is leading the development for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) of a national standard for long-term care homes. It will provide requirements for safe operating practices and for infection prevention and control in long-term care homes (see page 19).

On a national level, AGE-WELL also contributes regularly to the effort to enact recommendations in the National Dementia Strategy, launched in 2019.

In May 2021, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, scientific director and CEO of AGE-WELL, presented on The Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

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KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION

Funding for talented young entrepreneurs Nurturing young entrepreneurs is central to our mission. In May 2021, two exceptional individuals each received $30,000 through the 2021 AGE-WELL Emerging Entrepreneur Awards. The award supports the development of emerging entrepreneurs to create and grow an innovative startup with potential social and economic impact in Canada. The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) provided a cash top-up for both recipients. The award also provides mentorship and training.

DR. PATRICIA HEWSTON 2021 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient Dr. Patricia Hewston is an occupational therapist and postdoctoral fellow at the GERAS Centre for Aging Research, a Hamilton Health Sciences Centre affiliated with McMaster University. She is scientific curriculum lead for GERAS DANcing for Cognition & Exercise (DANCE), an evidence-based dance program for older adults looking to improve their mind-body health.

GERAS DANcing for Cognition & Exercise (DANCE)

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KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION BRYAN HONG 2021 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient

HippoCamera

Bryan Hong is a PhD candidate in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Toronto. He is one of the developers of HippoCamera, a validated, easy-to-use smartphone-based memory aid. HippoCamera allows users to create and play back personalized multimedia reminiscence cues for real-life events.

Also announced this past year were the 2020 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipients:

AZADEH DASTMALCHI

2020 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient Azadeh Dastmalchi is a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa and founder and CEO of VitalTracer. The company’s medical smartwatch can monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood oxygen levels. The watch can provide early detection of suspected COVID-19 symptomatic cases and thus reduce potential disease, according to the company.

Virtual Gym AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

DR. VICTOR FERNANDEZ 2020 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient

Dr. Fernandez is commercializing Virtual Gym, a serious game platform designed for older adults.

The system, which can be personalized to individual needs, guides people through customized fitness and rehabilitation moves and allows health-care professionals to monitor their activity and progress.

This product enables older adults, including those in long-term care, to stay active safely.

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AgeTech Innovation Week With more than 1,200 attendees and over 60 speakers from around the world,

AgeTech Innovation Week was an unprecedented opportunity to explore hot topics in technology and aging.

Hosted by AGE-WELL and held October 4–8, 2021, the free, new virtual event featured curated panel sessions, workshops and catalytic conversations designed to connect people and create change.

The event brought together stakeholders in industry, government, academia and community organizations, older adults, caregivers, future leaders and others committed to enhancing lives through technology.

Our goal at AGE-WELL is to continue these conversations and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults and caregivers, while generating social and economic benefits for Canadians.

AGE-WELL thanks the sponsors of AgeTech Innovation Week: MEDTEQ+, the Ontario Brain Institute, the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, Bereskin & Parr, and Panasonic.

To learn more about AgeTech Innovation Week, visit: www.agetechinnovationweek.com

Dr. Joseph Coughlin, director, MIT AgeLab (top right), moderated this session on COVID-19 and AgeTech. Panelists: Sara Aghvami, director, Best Buy Health (top left); Dr. Andrew Sixsmith, associate scientific director, AGE-WELL (bottom left); and Dr. Hannah Marston, research fellow, Open University (bottom right).

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KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION

Globe and Mail health columnist and author André Picard (bottom left) moderated a panel on Transforming Long-Term Care. Panelists: (top left to right): Stephanie Gagne, family caregiver; Dr. Alex Mihailidis, scientific director & CEO, AGE-WELL; Dr. San Ng, CEO, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care; and Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics, Sinai Health Systems & University Health Network (bottom right).

Author Olive Senior shared insights at a session on combating ageism. From creating accessible technologies to growing an AgeTech startup and Canada’s role in the emerging longevity economy, speakers and attendees dove deep into areas that matter to the future of aging.

Science broadcaster Jay Ingram (bottom right) moderated a panel on how technology can help people living with dementia. Panelists (top left to right): Caron Leid, vice-chair, Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee, AGE-WELL; Dr. Allison Sekuler, managing director, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation; Dr. Thomas Hadjistravropoulos, professor, University of Regina; and Dr. Frank Knoefel, physician, Bruyère Memory Program (bottom left).

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Self-described “AgeTech evangelist” Keren Etkin, creator of TheGerontechnologist.com, shared her observations about the growing AgeTech sector with veteran journalist Ron Charles.

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TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION “Moving across the world as a researcher was difficult but joining AGE-WELL’s network as a trainee really made me feel part of a community, one with a diverse set of researchers and resources. The training program is so well-designed.

I was introduced to many courses that helped me with my research, such as research methods, ethics and public speaking. It was really exciting to me as a newcomer and now as I continue to grow as a researcher.”

Mashrura Tasnim, doctoral candidate, University of Alberta, and AGE-WELL trainee

Launched in 2015, AGE-WELL’s

EPIC training program (Early Professionals, Inspired Careers) is a source of great pride. EPIC has supported over 1,000 highly qualified personnel (HQP) from more than 100 self-reported disciplines to gain the knowledge, and build the skills, required to succeed in academic and non-academic careers.

Our much-lauded program has developed a pipeline of emerging researchers and young professionals able to tackle real-world problems.

EPIC is as varied as our HQP, consisting of webinars, lectures, summer institutes, pitch competitions, experiential opportunities such as internships and exchanges, as well as access to funding and multi-sectoral mentorship.

EPIC is such a success that it’s become a model for other organizations.

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EPIC IN THE WORKFORCE

In 2020, we launched a new iteration of our Innovators of Tomorrow certificate program. It consists of four online courses that cover: the aging process, ethics, policy and AgeTech, and understanding innovation. The approach is informed by our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

AGE-WELL trainees are securing positions in industry, academic, government, health-care and community organizations, and launching startups of their own. They are playing an essential role in Canada’s growing AgeTech sector.

COVID - 19 SUPPORT

In 2020, in a departure from previous years, we targeted our Emerging Entrepreneur Award specifically at young entrepreneurs with COVID-19-related projects (see page 29).

We also launched an initiative with Mitacs to co-fund six special projects that support the development and delivery of technology-based approaches to mitigate the challenges faced by older adults and/or their caregivers in the context of COVID-19. The program helped Canadian small- and mediumsized businesses and not-for-profits, their post-secondary partners and six HQP to provide solutions for this population.

Over the years, more than 1,000 young researchers and professionals have taken part in EPIC.

It’s impressive that, in a time of disruption and stresses caused by the pandemic, AGE-WELL supported 721 HQP in 2020-21 across 73 institutions in 8 provinces and 7 countries including Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Awards are a vital way to seed the future. In the last fiscal, AGE-WELL supported, along with our partners, 21 HQP at 10 institutions across Canada through our Annual Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Awards. The award program provides partial funding to highly qualified master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows and gives them access to training and mentorship opportunities through our EPIC program. We will fund 23 students and postdoctoral fellows this year through our Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Awards and through our partnered award program.

SOME OF OUR AMAZING AWARD RECIPIENTS: 2021 Indigenous Graduate Student Award recipient Violet Ignace, Master’s student, University of British Columbia Project: Digital storytelling with Elders and Knowledge Keepers 2020 Indigenous Graduate Student Award recipient Kelly Davison, PhD student, University of Victoria Project: An Umbrella Review of the Effects of Virtual Care on Community-Dwelling Older Adults 2021 Michael F. Harcourt Policy Fellowship recipient Amélie Gauthier-Beaupré, PhD student, University of Ottawa Project: Conceptual Framework for Policymaking for Older Adults’ Self-Management of Disabilities with Information and Communication Technologies 2020 Michael F. Harcourt Policy Fellowship recipient Jessica Percy-Campbell, PhD student, University of Victoria Project: Aging in Place with Google and Amazon

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EPIC Conference Early in the pandemic, as in-person conferences were cancelled, we saw our trainees rally by organizing the inaugural EPIC Conference in June 2020. It was such a perfect example of the dynamism and drive of AGE-WELL’s trainee community.

The month-long virtual EPIC Conference attracted over 700 live attendees from 36 countries across 6 continents worldwide. It was so successful that we hosted a 2nd EPIC Conference in 2021, another extraordinary event that reached a global audience of over 900 attendees.

“The AGE-WELL EPIC Conference was one of the most successful virtual events I’ve participated in.

The structure and format ensured that HQP presentations had a truly global reach and the meaningful inclusion of older adults and caregivers really highlighted AGE-WELL’s commitment to co-creation.”

Dr. Vicki Komisar, assistant professor, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, and HQP alumna

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TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION

TRAINEE PROFILE

Mashrura Tasnim Trainee developing app to detect depression – through speech

When Mashrura Tasnim was growing up, she was fascinated by the technological advancements happening around her. When it came to choosing her career, she knew she wanted to be part of it. Math and science were Tasnim’s favourite subjects ever since her school days in Bangladesh. She had success competing in major national math competitions, winning her first in the eighth grade, and was fortunate to meet many famous mathematicians and scientists who inspired her.

Fast forward to today when Tasnim is applying her passion for math, science and technology as a PhD student in computing science at the University of Alberta, and an AGE-WELL trainee. She is currently working on a research project that uses artificial intelligence to detect depression.

Tasnim, alongside her supervisor Dr. Eleni Stroulia, is developing a machine-learning model that can monitor a person’s emotional state based on the sound of their voice. The goal of the project is to produce an app that could be used to track indicators of mood, like depression.

“We collected voice samples from depressed and non-depressed individuals. We looked at features like volume and tone, and analyzed them to predict indicators of depression,” Tasnim explains. “Once we have a model that is accurate enough, we can use it in an application that can continuously monitor someone’s emotional state.”

The app, which could be used on a smartphone, is intended for anyone interested in monitoring their psychological state, including those diagnosed with depression.

The idea to create a technology like this first came to Tasnim when she was working as a lecturer at Eastern University in Bangladesh. Her colleague, who was the school’s psycho-social counsellor, often expressed a need for a system that could help monitor how her patients were doing, especially those with depression.

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“The more I studied depression, the more I came to realize the millions of people that suffer from it. Students in particular have a lot of academic and mental stress, which can lead to depression or negative thoughts,” says Tasnim.

Depression can affect people at any age, but often goes unrecognized in older adults, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

“Being part of a project that can give back positively and even possibly save a life by detecting depression and urging people to get help – that I feel is really rewarding.”

Coming from Bangladesh to Canada, adapting and growing as a researcher was difficult at first for Tasnim.

Luckily, Dr. Stroulia, who was working on a project related to healthy aging, introduced her to the AGE-WELL network and encouraged her to get involved.

“Moving across the world as a researcher was difficult but joining AGE-WELL’s network as a trainee really made me feel part of a community, one with a diverse set of researchers and resources,” says Tasnim.

“The AGE-WELL trainee program is so well-designed. I was introduced to many courses that helped me with my research, such as research methods, ethics and public speaking. It was really exciting to me as a newcomer and now as I continue to grow as a researcher.”

As Tasnim continues her PhD studies and project, she is excited to start an internship at Winterlight Labs – an AGE-WELL-supported startup that has developed a tablet-based assessment to monitor cognitive impairment through speech.

“As we grow up, we see our parents and grandparents age and we want to help make the process of aging easier. Finding ways to use technology to support healthy aging is important. I’m passionate about technologies like this because they can make a difference.”

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TRAINEE PROFILE

Jesse Mastrangelo Prolific entrepreneur and advocate for positive change

Jesse Mastrangelo didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. For the longest time, he had medical school in mind – but things changed when he discovered “hackathons” as a third-year science student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

“On a whim, I started attending events run by Hacking Health, which connects people to solve health-care problems. We formed teams and had late nights eating food and building solutions. It was my first exposure to the startup side of the world,” he says.

One of their key learnings: “The people in the communities who brought a smile to everybody’s face were always the recreation coordinators. They are the ones who know everyone’s names, run all the activities, plan all the outings.” But the students noticed that recreation coordinators were typically overwhelmed with administrative tasks, taking time away from engaging with residents.

So Mastrangelo’s group went to work. They devised a web app to automate some of those administrative tasks. They also built an online booking system to make it easier for performers, art instructors and others in the community to come into long-term care to share their talents with residents.

One day while Mastrangelo was doing online research about aging and technology, the name AGE-WELL came up in one of his Google searches. Intrigued, he applied to join the network’s EPIC training program as an affiliate HQP (highly qualified personnel), or trainee.

“It was really beneficial,” he says. Mastrangelo was invited to attend AGE-WELL’s Summer Institute. An immersive week-long training program, participants are put in teams and work closely with mentors to define a problem and develop a solution. That year, they tackled the problem of social isolation.

“It was a great example of what can be accomplished in a very short week-long stand when you put your mind to it,” says Mastrangelo. Engaging with older adults and caregivers was crucial, he says, as was having an interdisciplinary team.

Team Echidna with their technology called Lighthouse. Shown here, from left to right: Susan Lee, Amna Liaqat, Iulia Niculescu, Jesse Mastrangelo, Dr. Mineko Wada (Missing: Karan Shastri), with Dr. Andrew Sixsmith, AGE-WELL associate scientific director.

Mastrangelo was hooked. He signed up for more hackathons. At one event, his team took first prize for creating a real-time system to help families navigate the application process for Ontario long-term care homes.

“My brain likes to be in ideation mode,” he says.

Instead of medical school, Mastrangelo enrolled in a Master of Management at Queen’s University. His focus: innovation and entrepreneurship in the aging space. For one course, Mastrangelo and several classmates visited over 40 retirement homes in an effort to understand residents’ needs and experiences. They joined in meals and spent the night at several facilities.

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Mastrangelo was on Team Echidna, which came up with a proposed technology called Lighthouse. It takes the form of personalized artwork for fostering longdistance social engagement between geographically separated families. The team has since developed several prototypes and was awarded Best Demo at the AGE-WELL annual conference in October 2019.

Mastrangelo got to attend that conference, held in Moncton, New Brunswick, and met numerous stakeholders in the technology and aging space.

“It’s super inspiring to see all these innovations coming out of the AGE-WELL network. And there are a lot of great supports for trainees,” says Mastrangelo, who served as vice president of AGE-WELL’s HQP Advisory Committee.

With his interest in health care, his entrepreneurial bent and passion for problem-solving, it wasn’t a surprise when Mastrangelo was hired in 2020 as project manager, commercialization at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), which is an AGE-WELL partner.

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION

What explains his drive to support older adults?

“It stems from my own experience with my grandparents. I saw the whole progression from home care services into seniors apartment-style living all the way to long-term care homes. I think everyone can relate to that,” he says. “In my undergrad, we talked a lot about what we are going to do over the next couple of decades as we have a large influx of older adults in the system. It seems like it’s going to be everyone working together.”

Mastrangelo is determined to do his part. “It all comes down to problem-solving and creating a positive impact.”

TRAINEE PROFILE

Karen Lok Yi Wong Technology access a human right for older adults

Karen Lok Yi Wong’s role as an AGE-WELL affiliate trainee was a dynamic two-way exchange.

While Wong brought the perspective of a social worker to the national AgeTech network, AGE-WELL exposed Wong to a more interdisciplinary team than she had ever worked with before.

“They encouraged me to contribute my voice as a social worker and frontline practitioner,” says Wong, a B.C. registered social worker and researcher.

“In social work, we talk a lot about access to, and fair distribution of, resources – and technology is very important. But interestingly, in social work we don’t have a lot of education on this perspective. That’s why I joined AGE-WELL…because I wanted to get something that I may not be able to get from my schooling.”

These learnings were put to timely use during 2020 – a transformative year for Wong. She launched, completed and published a research study related to aging and technology and graduated with a Master of Social Work from the University of British Columbia. She also completed AGE-WELL’s EPIC program before taking on a job as a social worker at a Vancouver hospital – all in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This intense period of work and discovery has spurred Wong to start a PhD in Social Work in the fall of 2021 while continuing her hospital job. “I want to dig deeper

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into the human rights and social justice perspectives of access to technology for the aging population,” Wong explains.

Access to and proficiency with digital products and technologies is a human right for older adults, who increasingly need technology to obtain information, referrals and resources so they can live healthy, independent lives, says Wong. That was one of several key findings from the study she conducted for her Master’s on behalf of 411 Seniors Centre Society in Vancouver. The study was done in partnership with the Simon Fraser University STAR Institute (Science and Technology for Aging Research), an AGE-WELL partner.

“Many older adults have no or limited access to the technology they need. Such a need can be interpreted as a human right,” says Wong. “In COVID-19, because seniors are the most vulnerable population, the need has become even more clear. Many just don’t have access to those resources.”

The study resulted in the publication of a report called In Community – Information and Referral Services for Seniors in British Columbia: Past Learnings and Learnings since COVID-19. The report was co-authored by Dr. Andrew Sixsmith, director of the STAR Institute and associate scientific director of AGE-WELL, and Leslie Remund, executive director of the 411 Seniors Centre Society and The 411 Foundation. The co-authors also used the study as the basis for a chapter of a social policy book being published by Bristol University Press.

As Wong looks toward her PhD work, she acknowledges that “we are not doing our best to address the hardships seniors face in accessing resources through technology.

The next step I would like to see is how I can advocate to protect access to technology as a human right through our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

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NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS

NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS “Implementing technology solutions that can effectively support people’s health and wellness calls for collaboration between researchers, health and AgeTech entities. AGE-WELL has created a platform for industry and researchers to bring their core competencies together and create technology and services destined to enrich the lives of older adults.”

Sara Aghvami, director, Best Buy Health, Best Buy Canada

At AGE-WELL, we do everything together. Our network has grown to

include more than 400 partners who come from industry, community, academic, government and other sectors. In the past year, we attracted high-profile partners like Medtronic, Deloitte, Canadian Red Cross, and Spectrum Health Care. We have strong engagement with the senior living sector, so important in getting technology into the hands of older adults.

AGE-WELL has remained strong and collaborative despite the challenges faced across sectors during the pandemic. We are bringing everybody together to make for a thriving AgeTech sector in Canada.

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NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS

Our collaborations come in so many shapes

and sizes. Individual AGE-WELL research projects are known for connecting widely and across multiple sectors. Consider one project that focuses on the development of smart homes for aging in place. It unites researchers, a telecommunications company, a software company and two foundations committed to seniors’ wellbeing. Another project that looks at advanced technologies for pain care in older adults with dementia involves a university, a health authority and a major hospital. All of this makes for dynamic collaborations that produce exceptional outcomes.

At the network level, we see increased engagement and contributions from partners looking to leverage AGE-WELL’s leadership and expertise in the AgeTech

Developing smart technologies to support aging in place is at the heart of a partnership between AGE-WELL, Bruyère Research Institute and Carleton University. The ground-breaking work at the AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub called SAM3 also involves Canadian startups, multinational companies and other partners, including Best Buy Canada.

sector. Partners regularly request the AGE-WELL Solutions Catalogue, which describes products created

by AGE-WELL-supported teams and startups. In the past year, this enabled pilot sales and partnership opportunities for a variety of AGE-WELL innovators and startup affiliates.

Partners share their perspectives and knowledge through network-wide initiatives, like AGE-WELL’s Industry Advisory Group, which published a white paper in 2021 on Technology and Aging at Home: The Future of Aging in Place. Another example is our work with CanAge to consult across and beyond our network to develop a prospectus for the AgeTech sector.

And our partners are front and centre supporting our trainees and startups. You will also see their names in lights at signature events such as the AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge.

We deeply appreciate the role that partners play in our network, and their shared commitment to advancing the AgeTech sector.

Pictured here is Dr. Bruce Wallace, executive director, SAM3, in the hub’s “apartment lab.”

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NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS

Involving older adults and caregivers AGE-WELL works hard to give older adults and those who care for them a meaningful voice so that our products respond to their needs. End-users take part in all aspects of AGE-WELL and contribute enormously to its success.

Older adults and caregivers work alongside researchers on specific projects, deliver presentations and contribute to manuscripts. These critical players also conduct relevancy reviews of research proposals, and meet with startups and entrepreneurs to provide feedback on their products.

We greatly value our Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee (OACAC), which reports directly to AGE-WELL’s scientific directors. In these challenging times, OACAC members have shared their experiences of the pandemic through presentations, webinars and co-authoring a special report called Living under COVID-19 restrictions, accompanied by a slide deck (see box to the right).

Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee (OACAC) leaders

Living through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Personas and Scenarios developed by Older Adults and Caregivers Created by AGE-WELL’s Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee, the Personas and Scenarios deck provides COVID-19-related scenarios with the goal of creating a solution. The deck can be used to spark conversation, educate and train, ideate new technology solutions, plan new programs, inform policy, and much more.

Dora

BACKGROUND Age: 77 Lives in: Condo in Vancouver, B.C. Marital Status: Separated Employment: Retired realtor - Owns a small dog - Has a stent due to recent minor heart attack “I’m so afraid of having another heart attack because of all this stress.”

SCENARIO Ron Beleno, co-chair

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Sherry Baker, co-chair

Caron Leid, vice-chair

- Under lockdown at home and daughters can’t visit due to physical distancing guidelines

“AGE-WELL makes a difference in many people’s lives – improving them by offering solutions, validation and policy changes.”

- Takes her dog for short walks but afraid of falling and fears having to give up her dog

Ron Beleno, co-chair, Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee, AGE-WELL

Overall Health

AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

- Concerned about memory loss

CURRENT SITUATION Mobility Technology Use Social Connectedness

NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP Canada is in a unique position

to establish itself as a global leader in AgeTech. AGE-WELL has the proven track record to place Canada firmly at the centre of the international stage of technological innovation.

John Kirkconnell of Guelph, Ontario, was the first person with Essential Tremor to try the Steadi-Two stabilizing glove. “It will make life so much easier for me,” says the retired paramedic.

The glove, developed by Steadiwear Inc., is now available for pre-orders in Canada and the U.S.

AGE-WELL continues to build and diversify its international partnership portfolio. We recently teamed up with the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSN), the key innovation arm of England’s National Health Service. Through a new AGE-WELL-AHSN Innovation Exchange, this collaboration is raising awareness of Canada’s AgeTech solutions globally.

Our network members are in big demand.

Forty-seven hold international leadership positions. AGE-WELL scientific director Dr. Alex Mihailidis serves as a vice president of the Active and Assisted Living Association in the EU. This gives AGE-WELL a voice in shaping calls for research and helping to influence international policy in the area of technology and aging.

Many AGE-WELL projects involve international collaborations. AGE-WELL is excited to be supporting a major international research project with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research through the Active and Assisted Living programme. The project, led out of Montreal, focuses on a technological platform to promote healthy aging at home.

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NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS - INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Products going global AGE-WELL-supported innovations are selling internationally.

Examples include a “smart” glove developed by Steadiwear Inc., and blind-spot sensors for wheelchairs made by Braze Mobility Inc. We’re always proud to see our startup affiliates recognized globally. Just one of many examples: AltumView was named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree in the Health & Wellness category for its Sentinare 2 smart activity sensor.

Dr. Pooja Viswanathan, founder and CEO of Braze Mobility Inc. The company has created the world’s first patent-pending blind spot sensors that can be added to any wheelchair, turning it into a “smart” wheelchair.

And something new and notable: AGE-WELL produced two books this past year. Knowledge, Innovation and Impact: A Guide for the Engaged Health Researcher, published by Springer International Publishing, provides researchers with a straightforward guide for carrying out research that will help them to combine good science with real-world impact.

AgeTech, Cognitive Health, and Dementia, published by Morgan and Claypool, explores the ways in which AgeTech can contribute to healthy cognitive aging and support the independence of people with dementia.

AGE-WELL’s international reach was also evident at our EPIC Conference and first-ever AgeTech Innovation Week, held virtually in October 2021. These events attracted hundreds of people from around the world who share an interest in enhancing lives through technology.

Sentinare 2 is a smart activity sensor for senior care, home health monitoring and telehealth. Developed by AltumView, it can show health trends and send alerts when emergencies are detected. For privacy, only stick figure data are transmitted.

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forward critical lessons for health and social services sectors working with older adults and caregivers. Changes are demonstrably needed in community care, home care, hospital care and long-term care for older adults. From virtual therapies to health-monitoring systems, technology will play an essential role. Moreover, it grants us an unprecedented opportunity to enable older adults to live longer in their own homes, while easing pressures on our health-care system.

The growing AgeTech sector is on track to be a multi-trillion dollar market globally. Canada’s strength in this field is now recognized around the world, with AGE-WELL as the backbone.

International companies are increasingly approaching us to access our diverse and active network of industry and community partners. As the steward of this vital sector in Canada, AGE-WELL will continue to work with key partners in industry, government and non-profit organizations to maximize the impact of homegrown innovations – ensuring products meet the needs of older adults and caregivers, and bring social and economic benefits to Canadians.

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AGE - WELL CHALLENGE AREAS

AGE-WELL CHALLENGE AREAS

Eight Challenge Areas drive AGE-WELL’s research and innovation in supporting older adults and caregivers.

Supportive Homes & Communities Aging in place is about being able to live independently in one’s own home and community through appropriate supports and services.

Example technologies: smart homes, sensors to monitor safety at home, online portals for community groups and programs

Autonomy & Independence Older people try to maintain their autonomy and independence, even in the face of impairment, disability or illness.

Example technologies: assistive technology, stick-on hip protectors, rehabilitation technologies, stabilizing glove

Mobility & Transportation Older adults look for inclusive transportation systems that make them feel comfortable, respected and safe. Increased mobility and confidence allow for more equitable access to environments.

Example technologies: smart wheelchairs, autonomous vehicles

Health Care & Health Service Delivery Older adults and caregivers face challenges like getting to doctor’s appointments, obtaining health records, navigating the system and affording new technologies that improve quality of care.

Example technologies: virtual doctor visits, digital health apps, continuous glucose monitors, bed transfer platform

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AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

AGE - WELL CHALLENGE AREAS

A Challenge Area is an important but difficult and complex problem area that demands innovative, real-world solutions.

Cognitive Health & Wellness Cognitive health issues impact older adults and caregivers, but there are proactive approaches to managing them.

Example technologies: medication reminders, digital cognitive assessment tools

Financial Wellness & Employment Many older Canadians experience financial vulnerability and workplace exclusion as they age.

Example technologies: employment portals tailored for older users and caregivers, financial apps

Staying Connected Staying connected is about strengthening the social networks of older adults and caregivers.

Example technologies: social platforms and apps, social and telepresence robots, hearing aids

Healthy Lifestyles & Wellness A healthy lifestyle is not just about making conscious choices about nutrition, exercise and self-management of mental and physical health.

It is also about the social, economic and contextual factors.

Example technologies: wearables, virtual access to exercise, fitness apps

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AGE-WELL NCE Inc. As at March 31

2021 2020 $ $

ASSETS Current

Cash and cash equivalents Due from University Health Network Unspent research grants held at participating institutions Accounts receivable Prepaid expenses

352,234 6,152,110 3,211,168 87,129 3,438

324,633 5,699,657 1,076,761 84,922 3,537

Total current assets

9,806,079 7,189,510

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Unearned revenue

260,851 44,835 - 9,274

Total current liabilities

260,851 54,109

Deferred contributions

9,150,941 6,766,688

Total liabilities 9,411,792 6,820,797

Net assets Unrestricted 394,287 368,713

Total net assets

9,806,079

7,189,510

On behalf of the Board:

Mimi Lowi-Young, Chair, Board of Directors Barbara Stymiest, Chair, F&A

Please refer to the audited financial statements on the AGE-WELL NCE website: www.agewell-nce.ca

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AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS AGE-WELL NCE Inc. Year ended March 31

2021 2020 $ $

REVENUE Networks of Centres of Excellence grant Grant from other partners / organizations Other sources of funds

5,461,360 - 36,131

8,310,913 28,163 108,011

5,497,491 8,447,087

EXPENSES Research and training Networking meetings and events Communications Professional fees Travel Administration

4,344,688 6,760,449 42,733 485,035 121,215 160,474 131,796 42,463 204 12,865 831,281 944,816

5,471,917 8,406,102

Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 25,574 40,985 Unrestricted net assets, beginning of year 368,713 327,728

Unrestricted net assets, end of year

394,287

368,713

Cash and in-kind contributions from partners held and spent at network member institutions are not included in these statements.

The Network follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions which include government and other grants.

Deferred contributions represent unspent resources externally restricted for program expenses in future years.

Changes in the deferred contributions balance are as follows:

Balance, beginning of year

Amounts received during the year – NCE Amounts received during the year – NCE COVID Supplement Amounts received during the year – Non-NCE Amounts recognized as revenue during the year – NCE Amounts recognized as revenue during the year – NCE COVID Supplement Amounts recognized as revenue during the year – Non-NCE

Balance, end of year

2021 2020 $ $ 6,766,688 9,504,514 6,675,000 5,575,000 1,170,613 - 26,250 (4,290,747) (8,310,913) (1,170,613) - (28,163) 9,150,941 6,766,688

Please refer to the audited financial statements on the AGE-WELL NCE website: www.agewell-nce.ca

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK COMMUNITY As of October 2021

MEMBER UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH CENTRES Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Bruyère Research Institute Carleton University Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM) Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute Collège Mérici Dalhousie University First Nations University of Canada George Brown College Health Sciences North Research Institute Laurentian University London Health Sciences Centre McGill University McMaster University Memorial University Montreal Heart Institute Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Ontario Tech University The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Ryerson University Simon Fraser University St. Thomas University Sunnybrook Research Institute TÉLUQ Trent University Trillium Health Partners Université de Montréal Université de Sherbrooke Université du Québec à Montréal University Health Network Université Laval University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of Guelph University of Manitoba University of New Brunswick University of Northern British Columbia University of Ottawa

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University of Regina University of Saskatchewan University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Waterloo Western University Wilfrid Laurier University

PARTNERS 6Harmonics AbbVie Access Community Therapists Limited Active and Assisted Living Programme (AAL) Active4Care Aditum Health ADL Smartcare AdvantAge Ontario Aerial Technologies Inc. Age Care Technologies Ltd Aging 2.0 Aix-Marseille University Alberta Association on Gerontology Alberta Health Continuing Care Alberta Health Services Alberta Innovates Alberta Seniors and Housing Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association Algonquin College AllerGen NCE Alzheimer Society of British Columbia Alzheimer Society of Calgary Alzheimer Society of Canada Alzheimer Society of Durham Region Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Alzheimer Society of Ontario Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan Ambient Activity Technologies Amylior Inc. Annapolis Valley Health Ashbourne Art4Life Inc. Association for Computing Machinery Association pour l’intégration sociale d’Ottawa (AISO) Autonomous_ID

AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Barrie and Community Family Health Team Baxter Corporation Baycrest Centre for Learning Research and Innovation Baycrest Health Sciences Bayshore Healthcare BC Care Providers Association BC Ministry of Health BC Hydro BC Seniors Living Association BC Silver Alert BC Support Unit BC Therapeutic Recreation Association Behavioural Supports Ontario Bell Canada Bereskin & Parr LLP Best Buy Canada Bigmotion Technologies Inc. BioCanRx NCE Blackberry Blue Tree Medical Inc. BOA Technology Bosch Engineering GmbH Boston Scientific Canada Bowmont Seniors Assistance Association Breton Ability Centre British Columbia Academic Health Sciences Network Bruyère Research Institute Burnaby Multicultural Society Burnaby North Secondary School Cambridge Brain Sciences Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) Canadian Assistive Devices Association (CADA) Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Canadian Association on Gerontology Canadian Centre for Elder Law Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Canadian Fall Prevention Curriculum Canadian Frailty Network NCE Canadian Homecare Association

NETWORK COMMUNITY

Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex Canadian Mountain Network NCE Canadian Red Cross Canadian Respiratory Research Network Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) CanAge CanAssist Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada - CANet CareBand Inc. Caregiver Omnimedia Inc. Caregivers Alberta Carers Canada Cariboo Friendship Society CARP Carya Society of Calgary CBDS Health Inc. CBI Health Group Inc. Cedarhurst Dementia Care Home Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau Centre de réadaptation Constance Lethbridge Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) Centre de recherche de l’institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM) Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement (CdRV) Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Montagne (CSS-DLM) Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Montagne (CSSS-DE) de l’Énergie Centre facilitant la recherche et l’innovation dans les organisations (CEFRIO) Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, University of Sheffield Centre for Digital Media Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health, Lakehead University Centre for Hip Health and Mobility Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE) AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services (CRECS) Centre for Social Enterprise Development Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Laval (CISSS-Laval) Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale- Nationale, CIRRIS and IRDPQ (CIUSSS-CN) Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre Ouest de-l’Île-de-Montréal, CRCL (CIUSSS-CO) Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-CS CRLB) Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-CS IRGLM) Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS­-CS IURDPM) Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS) Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba Centre Universitaire Jean-Francois Champlain Community Care Access Centre Chartwell Retirement Residences Choices in Community Living Christie Gardens Apartments and Care CICan Career Launcher CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) Circle of Care City of Toronto, Long Term Care Homes & Services Clinisys EMR Inc. Coast Capital Savings Innovation Centre, University of Victoria Cobourg Police Comdel Innovations Communitech ComSanté, Université de Québec à Montréal

Concordia University CONNECT for Mental Health Inc. Consequential Robotics Cortex Design Covenant Health CrossWing Inc. Data Performers Databrary Deliberatus Design Deloitte LLP Delta View Care Centre Dementia Connections Design Enjeu Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) DJP Designs Durham Regional Police Services Elder Technology Assistance Group (ETAG) Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital Emmetros Limited Employers for Carers UK Employment and Social Development Canada Engage Biomechanics Entrepreneurship Hub, University of Ottawa Eos Analytics Extendicare Fasken File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council First Nations Health Authority Flemingdon Health Fondation Berthiaume-Du Tremblay Fondation Luc Maurice Fonds de recherche du Québec -Santé Fraser Health Authority Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House G. F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre gDial Inc. GeronTech LTD Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, McMaster University Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Global Affairs Canada GlycoNet NCE Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) Government of Alberta Government of Yukon Department of Health and Social Services

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK COMMUNITY As of October 2021

PARTNERS continued GPS Canada Inc. Granville Gardens Greater Fredericton Social Innovation (GFSI) Groupe Convex Guanghua International Education Association Hacking Health HealthTech Connex Heuristext Inc. Hexyoo Scientific Inc. Hôpital juif de réadaptation Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, University of British Columbia HotPathz, Inc. Humber River Hospital IBM Canada Ltd IDFusion Software i-Edit i-H.I.V.E Consulting Associates IMAGINE Citizens Indes Inertia Engineering Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) Innovacorp Innovation Factory Innovation PEI Institut de réadaptation Gingras Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) Institut sur le vieillissement et la participation sociale des aînés, Université Laval Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, University of Victoria Interaxon Interior Health Authority JDQ Systems Inc. Johnson & Johnson Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society Keebee

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Kids Brain Health Network NCE Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Kingston General Hospital Kinova Inc. Kintec Footwear and Orthotics Korah Limited Laboratoire d’innovations par et pour les aînés (LIPPA) Lakeside Long Term Care Centre, UHN Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Les jardins de la côte Lesya Dyk O.T. Services Inc. Lifestyle Options Retirement Communities Lillooet Friendship Centre Society Locate Motion London and Middlesex Housing Corporation Ludoscience MAC H2OPE Clinic MacKenzie Healthcare Technologies Making the Shift NCE March of Dimes Canada Mavencare McMaster Institute for Research on Aging McMaster Optimal Aging Portal Medic Alert Medtech Canada MEDTEQ Medtronic Memory and Company MEOPAR NCE MERGE-3D Merz Pharma Canada Metis Community Services Society of BC Microsoft Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Mindful Garden Digital Health Inc. Mindful Scientific l’Innovation - Québec Minoru Pace Activity Centre Mircom Mitacs Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Morning Star Lodge

AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Mowat Centre Mozilla Inc. MultiMension Inc Myant N’Mninoeyaa Indigenous Health Access Centre Nak’albun School Nak’azdli Elders Nak’azdli Health Centre Nak’azdli Whut’en Nanomedicines Innovation Network National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) National Institute on Ageing Neighbourlink North York New Brunswick Health Research Foundation New Brunswick Innovation Fund New Vista Society North Hamilton Community Health Centre North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society Northern Health Authority Northwood Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, Mount Saint Vincent University Nursing Home Association of Nova Scotia Office municipal d’habitation de la Côte-de-Beaupré Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO) Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) Ontario Centres of Excellence Ontario Dementia Advisory Group (ODAG) Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine (OIRM) Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Ontario Peer Development Initiative

NETWORK COMMUNITY

Ontario Retirement Communities Association Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) Open Roboethics Institute Oregon Center for Aging & Technology (ORCATECH) Orthofab Inc. Otsuka Americas Pharmaceutical Ottawa Police Service Palmerston Bay Inc. Parachute Parkinson Quebec Parkinson’s Clinic of Eastern Toronto and Movement Disorders Centre Partners Advancing Transitions in HealthCare Patterson Medical Philips Healthcare PhysioAtlas Port Moody Heritage Society PRAXIS Holistic Health Prism Medical Pronura Diagnostics Corp.

Providence Care Public Health Agency of Canada Quanser Consulting Inc. Quebec Network for Research on Aging Queen’s Family Health Team Rakuten Kobo RBC Regina Qu’Appelle Health Authority Regroupement des aidantes et aidants naturel(le)s de Montréal (RAANM) Regroupement stratégique INTER Réseau provincial de recherche en adaptation-rédaptation (REPAR) Revera Inc. Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) Riverview Health Centre Rogers Communications Inc. Royal Ottawa Rx-V Ryerson Venture Zone (Brampton) SafeTracks Samsung Electronics Samsung Research America Saskatchewan Health Authority Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation

AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Saskatchewan Ministry of Health SATech Schlegel Villages SE Health Secours.io SeeLogics Inc. Seniors Care Network Seniors Health Knowledge Network Sermax Shannex Sharbot Lake Family Health Team Sheridan College Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre Silvermark Inc. Simon Fraser University, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Smart Computing for Innovation (SOCIP) Smart Environments Research Group, Ulster University SMARTONE Solutions Inc. Social Enterprise Institute Société Inclusive Société pour l’apprentissage à vie (SAVIE) Socio-Digital Research (SDR) Inc. Southern Medical Program, University of British Columbia Spectrum Health Care Startup Canada Statistics Canada STF Technologies Sun Life Financial Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, St. John’s Rehab Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Veterans Hospital Tactica Interactive Inc. TAGlab Tapestry Retirement Living Technicalities Plus Inc TelASK Technologies Inc. TELUS Health TELUS Ventures Temi Canada TENA The Ashbourne The Caregiver Network / HUDDOL The Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, University of Ottawa The Chang School, Ryerson University

The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre The Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging (RIA) The UK Sustainable Care Project The Vanier Institute of the Family The Ville Cooperative Think Research Thornebridge Gardens Thrive Group Trillium Health Partners UK Science and Innovation Network, British Consulate-General Toronto United Way of the Lower Mainland University of Amsterdam University of Bari University of Dundee University of Massachusetts Lowell University of Minnesota University of North Dakota University of Sheffield University of Swansea University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering University of Toronto, Translational Research Program University of Utrecht Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Vancouver Public Library Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence VentureLab VHA Home HealthCare Victoria Hospice Vidéotron Ltée Vigilent Telesystems Waterloo-Wellington LHIN West End Seniors Network Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre Wing Kei Care Association Women’s Brain Health Initiative Woodstock and Area Community Health Centre Wordpower Communications World Universities Network (WUN) WorkSafeBC X-L-Ent Care Sensory One Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care Yet Keen Seniors Day Centre YouAreUNLTD Zhejiang University

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK COMMUNITY As of October 2021

AGE-WELL NATIONAL INNOVATION HUBS Advancing Policies and Practices in Technology and Aging (APPTA), Fredericton, NB Daniel Dutton, Scientific Director Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN), Prince George, BC Shannon Freeman, Academic Director Richard McAloney, Director Digital Health Circle (DHC), Surrey, BC Sylvain Moreno, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director Tom Philpott, Chief Operating Officer Sensors and Analytics for Monitoring Mobility and Memory (SAM3), Ottawa, ON Bruce Wallace, Executive Director

STARTUP AFFILIATES Able Innovations AceAge Adrenalease AIH Technology AltumView Amintro ArcTag Bisep Blue Pier Braze Mobility Centivizer Community ASAP Curovate Domilia Easa Therapeutics Inc. EBT Medical eNable Analytics eTreatMD Famli.net Hexoskin HippoCamera HomeEXCEPT Hyivy Health ImaginAble Solutions JLG Health Solutions Lighthouse Lisnen Marlena Books

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AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Medtech-Motion Mobisafe System MouvMat/CatalystX MyMatchWork Nano-Lit Nightingale.ai Novalte Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility PhysioBiometrics Press-IR Project Whitecard Digital Qoltom Quantum Robotic Systems Singular Hearing Social Robots Stabilo Steadiwear TAGlab Tenera TherAppX TochTech TrakTab uCarenet Technologies Virtual Gym VitalTracer Welbi WeTraq Winterlight Labs

NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK INVESTIGATORS Directly funded by AGE-WELL Arlene Astell, The KITE Research Institute University Health Network (UHN) Claudine Auger, Université de Montréal Ron Baecker, University of Toronto Clive Baldwin, St. Thomas University Morgan Barense, University of Toronto Marla Beauchamp, McMaster University Beno Benhabib, University of Toronto Colin Bennett, University of Victoria Krista Best, Université Laval Nathalie Bier, Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal Ryan Billinger, George Brown College Jennifer Boger, University of Waterloo Mélanie Bourassa Forcier, Université de Sherbrooke Jennifer Campos, KITE – UHN Mark Chignell, University of Toronto Virginie Cobigo, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Theodore Cosco, Simon Fraser University Karen Courtney, University of Victoria Hilmi Dajani, University of Ottawa Charles-Étienne Daniel, Université de Sherbrooke Albert Danison, George Brown College Daniel Dutton, University of New Brunswick Qiyin Fang, McMaster University Janet Fast, University of Alberta Joseph Ferenbok, University of Toronto Geoff Fernie, KITE – UHN Alex Ferworn, Ryerson University Shannon Freeman, University of Northern British Columbia Sylvain Giroux, Université de Sherbrooke Cynthia Goh, University of Toronto Rafik Goubran, Carleton University Geoffrey Gregson, University of Alberta Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, University of Regina Jesse Hoey, University of Waterloo Thomas Hoshizaki, University of Ottawa Andrea Iaboni, KITE – UHN Jennifer Jakobi, University of British Columbia Charlotte Jones, University of British Columbia Jeffrey Jutai, University of Ottawa Dahlia Kairy, Université de Montréal Monika Kastner, University of Toronto Shehroz Khan, KITE – UHN Nazir Kherani, University of Toronto Susan Kirkland, Dalhousie University Frank Knoefel, Bruyère Research Institute Pia Kontos, KITE – UHN Victor Kuperman, McMaster University Donna Kurtz, University of British Columbia Isabelle Lacroix, Université de Sherbrooke

AGE - WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

Andrew Laing, University of Waterloo John Lavis, McMaster University Ofer Levi, University of Toronto Jonathan Little, University of British Columbia Lili Liu, University of Waterloo Aaron Liu-Rosenbaum, Université Laval Richard McAloney, University of Northern British Columbia Rose McCloskey, University of New Brunswick Joanna McGrenere, University of British Columbia James McIntyre, George Brown College Ali McManus, University of British Columbia Josephine McMurray, Wilfrid Laurier University François Michaud, Université de Sherbrooke Antonio Miguel-Cruz, University of Alberta Alex Mihailidis, KITE – UHN Karyn Moffatt, McGill University Sylvain Moreno, Simon Fraser University Cosmin Munteanu, University of Toronto Hani Naguib, University of Toronto Goldie Nejat, University of Toronto Megan O’Connell, University of Saskatchewan Alexandra Papaioannou, McMaster University Tejal Patel, University of Waterloo Kara Patterson, KITE – UHN Ito Peng, University of Toronto Andrea Piccinin, University of Victoria Milos Popovic, KITE – UHN William Randall, St. Thomas University Robert Reid, Trillium Health Partners Soham Rej, McGill University Steven Reynolds, Simon Fraser University Adriana Rios-Rincon, University of Alberta Julie Robillard, University of British Columbia Stephen Robinovitch, Simon Fraser University Atena Roshan Fekr, KITE – UHN François Routhier, Université Laval Kathryn Sibley, University of Manitoba Andrew Sixsmith, Simon Fraser University Eleni Stroulia, University of Alberta Babak Taati, KITE – UHN Ada Tang, McMaster University Neil Thomas, Bruyère Research Institute Khai Truong, University of Toronto James Tung, University of Waterloo Alvaro Joffre Uribe Quevedo, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Jennifer Walker, McMaster University Cari Whyne, University of Toronto Michael Wilson, McMaster University W. M. Wonham, University of Toronto Euson Yeung, University of Toronto

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK COMMUNITY As of October 2021

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mimi Lowi-Young, (Chair) Health Care Executive and Health Systems Advisor Barbara Stymiest, (Vice-Chair) Corporate Director Eric Bosco, Chief Business Development and Partnerships Officer, Mitacs Jim Brookes, Retired Telecom Executive Andrew Downes, Retired Physician Executive Susan Kirkland, Professor, Dalhousie University Anne Martin-Matthews, Associate Vice-President, Health, University of British Columbia Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Rebecca Repa, Executive Vice President, Clinical Support & Performance, Corporate Director, UHN Robyn Tamblyn, Professor, McGill University Bridgette Murphy, (Observer) Managing Director, AGE-WELL

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Robyn Tamblyn, (Chair) Professor, McGill University Anthea Tinker, (Vice-Chair) Professor, King’s College London, UK James Barlow, Professor, Imperial College Business School, UK Yeh-Liang Hsu, Professor, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan Lawrence Normie, Principal Consultant, Lawrence Normie Consulting, Israel Jon Sanford, Professor, Georgia Tech, United States G. Burn Evans, (Observer) AGE-WELL Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee Alex Mihailidis, (Observer) Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Bridgette Murphy, (Observer) Managing Director, AGE-WELL Andrew Sixsmith, (Observer) Associate Scientific Director, AGE-WELL

RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Alex Mihailidis, (Chair) Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Susan Jaglal, Professor, University of Toronto Jeffrey Jutai, Professor, University of Ottawa Karen Kobayashi, Professor, University of Victoria Jim Mann, Community Member and Alzheimer’s Advocate Rich McAloney, Director, CTAAN, University of Northern British Columbia Sandra McKay, Vice President, Research and Innovation, VHA Home HealthCare Cosmin Munteanu, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto Andrew Sixsmith, Associate Scientific Director, AGE-WELL David Wright, Founder and Partner, YouAreUNLTD Bridgette Murphy, (Observer) Managing Director, AGE-WELL

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

OLDER ADULT AND CAREGIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Ron Beleno, (Co-Chair) Ontario Region Representative Sherry Baker, (Co-Chair), Pacific Region Representative Caron Leid, (Vice-Chair), Ontario Region Representative Phil Davis, Ontario Region Representative Doug Gayton, Pacific Region Representative Marjorie Moulton, Pacific Region Representative G. Burn Evans, West-Central Region Representative Lisa Poole, West-Central Region Representative Chaitali Desai, Ontario Region Representative Olive Bryanton, Atlantic Region Representative Roger Marple, Member-at-Large, Alberta Amanda Jenkins, (Observer) Community Engagement Manager, AGE-WELL Susan Kirkland, (Observer) Professor, Dalhousie University Bridgette Murphy, (Observer) Managing Director, AGE-WELL Andrew Sixsmith, (Observer) Associate Scientific Director, AGE-WELL

HQP ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hector Perez, (President) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Waterloo Isabelle Rash, (Vice-President) Graduate Student - Doctoral, University of British Columbia Adebusola Adekoya, Graduate Student - Doctoral, University of Waterloo Aderonke Agboji, Graduate Student - Doctoral, University of Northern British Columbia Louise Castillo, Graduate Student - Master’s, University of Regina Erica Dove, Graduate Student - Doctoral, University of Toronto / KITE – UHN Karam Elabd, Graduate Student - Master’s, Simon Fraser University Jon Lai, Graduate Student - Master’s, University of Alberta Jamie MacDonald, Graduate Student - Master’s, University of Alberta Adina Panchea, Postdoctoral Fellow, Université de Sherbrooke Amel Yaddaden, Graduate Student - Doctoral, Université de Montréal Samantha Sandassie, (Observer) Senior Education and Training Manager, AGE-WELL Alison Schneider, (Observer) Education and Training Coordinator, AGE-WELL

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NETWORK COMMUNITY

NETWORK COMMUNITY As of October 2021

CHALLENGE AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Jeffrey Jutai, (Chair) University of Ottawa Janet Fast, University of Alberta Rafik Goubran, Carleton University Don Juzwishin, University of Victoria Frank Knoefel, Bruyère Research Institute Lili Liu, University of Waterloo Bill Miller, University of British Columbia Andrew Sixsmith, Simon Fraser University; Associate Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Michael Chrostowski, (Observer) Business Development and Industry Relations Manager, AGE-WELL Alex Mihailidis, (Observer) Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Bridgette Murphy, (Observer) Managing Director, AGE-WELL Samantha Sandassie, (Observer) Senior Education and Training Program Manager, AGE-WELL Dorina Simeonov, (Observer) Policy and Knowledge Mobilization Manager, AGE-WELL

INDUSTRY ADVISORY GROUP Sara Aghvami, Director, Best Buy Health Rei Ahn, Program Research & Experience Lead, Best Buy Health Michael Chrostowski, Business Development and Industry Relations Manager, AGE-WELL Chaitali Desai, Member, AGE-WELL Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee John Hamblin, Consultant, Smart Technology Nicki Islic, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, CSA Group Lindsay Jolivet, Project & Content Manager, Lumino Health Melicent Lavers-Sailly, Director, Communications, Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement, Medtronic Sandra McKay, Vice President, Research & Innovation, VHA Home HealthCare Nish Sampath, National Ecosystems & Alliances, Senior Manager, Deloitte Canada Dorina Simeonov, Policy and Knowledge Mobilization Manager, AGE-WELL

AGE-WELL ADMINISTRATION Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sixsmith, Associate Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Bridgette Murphy, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Michael Chrostowski, Business Development and Industry Relations Manager Karolina Jalowska, Digital Media Coordinator Amanda Jenkins, Community Engagement Manager Margaret Polanyi, Senior Communications Manager Samantha Sandassie, Senior Education and Training Program Manager Alison Schneider, Education and Training Coordinator Shalini Sethi, Finance Officer Dorina Simeonov, Policy and Knowledge Mobilization Manager Nicole Voisin, Administration and Operations Coordinator

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Annual Report Production Editor: Margaret Polanyi Designer: Tim Gottschick, www.bay6creative.com Photography: Gagan Banga, Samuel Cheng, Hamilton Health Sciences, John Hryniuk Photography, U of T News, University Health Network, Warren Toda, YouAreUNLTD

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Canada’s technology and aging network

20/21 ANNUAL REPORT

AGE-WELL NCE Inc.

Toronto Rehab – UHN 550 University Avenue, 13th Floor Toronto, Ontario M5G 2A2 CANADA T / 416 597 3422, ext. 7778 E / info@agewell-nce.ca www.agewell-nce.ca

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