Introduction

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) brings diverse groups of people together behind a common and focussed goal; a future in which interdisciplinary research supports and enables people of all ages to live longer, healthier lives. MIRA strives to advance and connect to this vision through all elements of operation, including leading-edge research, education and stakeholder collaborations.

Just over five years ago, MIRA formed to address the complex issues that face aging populations through organized, interdisciplinary research that integrates older adults, families, health-care providers and other key stakeholders in every stage of addressing complex issues. The Institute has been extremely successful in obtaining input from many perspectives and areas of expertise to ensure that research outputs are, from the outset, optimized to create useable, practical, older adult-centred solutions that promote aging in place.

The Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA), MIRA’s first focused research centre, launched in 2016 to facilitate and amplify research initiatives that mitigate the risk and consequences of declining mobility with age. Mobility is critical to healthy aging and can affect social and economic independence, along with physical and mental health. The LCMA, which was built on the groundwork of the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative and the Labarge Foundation, fosters the same interdisciplinary research approach as MIRA. In 2021 the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre was launched to extend the reach of MIRA and the Optimal Aging Portal, while focusing on the people for whom mobility work can have positive outcomes.

MIRA has continued to grow a network of researchers, stakeholders and partners that share the Institute’s vision and goal of developing the next generation of researchers who consider aging an overarching component of human health and well-being. MIRA has continued to support this entire network, including older adults, throughout the pandemic with a variety of initiatives and online services.

The 2021 Annual Report highlights MIRA’s current work in aging research, education and community-based projects that support the health and well-being of older adults. Through the development of novel training programs and community and knowledge translation activities, MIRA’s research is resulting in outcomes that have a real impact and influence on the wellbeing of older adults locally and globally.

This work could not have been possible without the support of McMaster University and the generous donations of its former chancellor, Suzanne Labarge.