2020 Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging COVID-19 Grants On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. People with underlying health conditions or older adults are twice as likely to experience negative outcomes. Social isolation can be challenging for older adults, and there is a concern that older adults are also more likely to experience negative outcomes related to the physical distancing guidelines recommended for preventing community spread of COVID-19. In April 2020, MIRA introduced the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging COVID-19 Grant to investigate the promotion of healthy aging through the lens of mobility within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In early June 2020, three awards of $25,000 were distributed. In September, all three projects were featured in the Hamilton Spectator newspaper: Iqbal M. (2020 Sept 17).
“Our MIRA/Labarge funding will provide unique insights into how older adults have been coping with social distancing measures across time. The survey results will inform recommendations on how older adults can stay healthy and mobile in their home and community in these types of circumstances where social distancing remains an ongoing challenge. Information gleaned from this study will also be critical for informing other ongoing major research initiatives in aging, in which understanding the impact of the pandemic on the mobility of older adults will be invaluable for guiding changes to study designs and protocols in order to account for these effects.� Marla Beauchamp
PART 1: Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA)
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