carly wang
April 29th, 2023: IDEA Lab In-Person Social
April 29th, 2023: IDEA Lab In-Person Social IDEA Lab hosted a lab-wide social on April 29th. We are so grateful for each of our lab members that make our research in innovation and promotion of the health of peoples living with dementia possible. We also had so much fun among the beautiful cherry blossom trees! […]
Hannah Fong
Hannah Fong Hannah is a student in the nursing program at the University of Alberta. She is passionate about health promotion and disease prevention. Hannah is interested in innovative ways technology can improve healthcare for the aging population. In her spare time, Hannah can be found watching nature documentaries, spending time with friends and family, […]
Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association: 2023
Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association: 2023 IDEA Lab takes on the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association at Niagara Falls, ON! Here are some of our photos and a video presentation from our lab members below! Watch a snipper of the presentation by Erica and Sophie on the Tochie app!
Peter Yong Zhao
Peter Yong Zhao I am currently a graduate student in the MHLP-SC program. Before that, I have been a physician majoring in infectious diseases with career development in Beijing, China. Besides my clinical practices, I participated in some clinical and basic laboratory research. The increasing aging population has become a global issue and more attention […]
CGNA-Perspectives Publication: The Story of Elder Alex, A Reflection on Gerontological Nursing Competency Standards
CGNA-Perspectives Publication: The Story of Elder Alex, a Reflection on Gerontological Nursing Competency Standards
Telerobot visits their research site – March 9th
Telerobot visits their research site – March 9th On March the 9th, our Telerobot team visited their research site again to visit. Read below to see some of their highlights! The team interviewed a resident whose daughter enjoys using the telerobot to talk to her father across Canada. Last visit, the team gave the resident […]
Albin Soni
Albin Soni Hello! I’m currently a second year Biomedical Engineering student here at UBC. At IDEA Lab I hope to pursue my interests in healthcare accessibility and innovation, while at the same time helping those with dementia and related conditions. As a seasoned long term care home volunteer, I’ve become familiar with some of the […]
Jason Fu
Jason Fu I am a third year Biomedical Engineering student studying at UBC with a focus on Biomechanics and Biomaterials. As a robotics research assistant at the IDEA lab, I will be involved in various projects that utilize robotics to improve the lives of individuals with dementia and age-related conditions. My goal is to collaborate […]
Telerobot Research Site Visit
From January the 20th to February the 17th, the Telerobot Team visited one of their research sites to interview new residents and their families! They also took the time to hand out keychains to residents, staff members supporting the telerobot implementation, and the staff champions.
Virtual Reality Team’s Staff Huddle
IDEA Lab’s Virtual Reality Team visited a long-term care site on February 16th for a brief team huddle and training session with the resident care assistants. Here’s a photo of the staff working with our VR team!
TV Study Presentation at AbSPORU Journal Club
TV Study Presentation at AbSPORU Journal Club On February 15th, 2023, Carly and Lily Wong, our family partner, presented a UBC IDEA Lab TV Study paper “Cultural Adaptation in Television Technology for Older Adults with Dementia in Care Settings.” AbSPORU is an organization supporting patient-orientated research in Alberta. Their journal club kindly hosted TV Study […]
Ian Chan
Ian Chan I am a full-time student of MHLP Seniors Care of UBC. My background is being a geriatrician from Hong Kong, focused on innovative community geriatric care, inpatient service reengineering and quality improvement initiatives. As a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), I work voluntarily for the College Clinical Medicine journal as […]
Huini Ge
Huini Ge My name is Huini. I completed my Bachelor of Human Nutrition in Montreal and moved to Vancouver in 2014. Compared to the frequent blizzards on the East Coast, I am content with the rain here. For the past eight years, I have worked in management in food services and support services in acute […]
Learning Health Systems
Learning Health Systems: Exploring Together What an Evolving and Collaborative Healthcare System Can Look Like How Will This Be Achieved? The IDEA Lab is teaming up with Vancouver Coastal Health’s Vancouver Community Health Services (Vancouver Community), with support from the Michael Smith Health Research BC C2 grant, to explore the why, what, and how Learning Health Systems […]
Colin and Mary Leigh
Colin and Mary Leigh During the last year and more, Colin and Mary have benefitted from the professional support of caregivers in community health organizations and community service agencies. This network of caregivers, friends and support groups have inspired and encouraged Colin and Mary. Knowing that Colin’s interactions with all the agencies, friends and volunteers have […]
CALM Robot
CALM Robot Anxiety is a prevalent mental health condition that is caused by various psychological stressors. Deep breathing is identified as an effective practice for stress management. Practicing diaphragmatic breathing can help manage chronic pain, decrease muscle tension, and reduce stress and anxiety. CALM Robot is a project that is involving a co-design of a […]
Abdolhossein Mousavinejad
Abdolhossein Mousavinejad I am an engineer and have managed multidisciplinary projects. I became interested in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease after my mother and father-in-law were diagnosed with dementia. I found it very difficult when I observed how their daily lives became affected since then. Thus, I started to learn more about these chronic conditions to […]
Ruth Khong
Ruth Khong Hi, I am Ruth. A little about myself, I grew up in Malaysia and speak four languages (English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay). I am an introverted extrovert, I enjoy being around people, and that is why I love being a Registered nurse, and the ability to form relationships with my residents/patients; but I also […]
Sandy Chau
Sandy Chau Sandy Chau is a nursing student at UBC. She is passionate in advocating for health equity for patients from the elderly population and marginalized groups. Sandy has always had a keen interest in translational research. She is excited to explore on how integrating technology in long-term care homes can benefit and improve the […]
Lester and Cindy Gierach
Lester and Cindy Gierach Lester and Cindy have enjoyed making many new friends by becoming involved in dementia support groups and UBC research after Lester was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, on Valentine’s Day, in 2019. They feel that one of the best things is that they can be a support and encouragement to others on the […]
How virtual reality technology is being used to combat loneliness among long term care home residents
See our project: Virtual Reality Program in Long Term Care on Global News (December 19th, 2022)!
Happy Holidays! – From everyone at the IDEA Lab :)
2022 has been an incredible and memorable year with the lab team. We grew and learned so much and could not have done it without your hard work, dedication, and support. We wish you and your families a safe and restful holiday season, as well as ongoing health and happiness. We look forward to seeing what the new year has to offer. Here’s to an exciting 2023! Best Wishes, IDEA Lab
Intergenerational Collaboration Course With Community Living People Who Are Living With Dementia
A fantastic opportunity provided by Dr. Canning, Art students can partner with community living people who are living with dementia 3 – 4 times as a course. Please email shelley.canning@ufv.ca if interested!
Joelle Rivera
Joelle Rivera Hi! My name is Joelle Rivera, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Occupational Therapy at The University of British Columbia. I have a passion for accessibility and the exploration of creative avenues that can improve the quality of life for different populations. Through the IDEA lab I hope to learn more […]
Hadil Alfares
Hadil Alfares My name is Hadil Alfares. I am a fourth year science student at UBC, majoring in Integrated Sciences. Through my studies, I hope to further my knowledge on the effects of exercise and nutrition on human physiology for disease prevention and treatment. My ultimate goal is to attend medical school and follow my […]
Arisa Kinugawa
Arisa Kinugawa I am a 3rd year student studying Psychology at UBC, aspiring to pursue further studies in Nursing. Joining IDEA Lab, I was driven to share the same simple but powerful values of improving the quality of life of those who suffer from dementia. I am hoping to apply my experiences at IDEA Lab […]
Katrina Yuen
Katrina Yuen Hi! My name is Katrina and I am entering my third year, studying Integrated Sciences with a focus on Neuroscience and Immunology. I am interested in the study of neurodegenerative diseases and abnormal psychology. I am excited to see how new technologies can be applied to existing obstacles, and especially excited to be […]
Caitlin Lee
Caitlin Lee Caitlin is a new graduate from Western University and holds an Honours B.M.Sc. She has experience volunteering with the Alzheimer Society, working in labs, and is deeply involved in the philanthropy community. Caitlin is extremely passionate about making positive changes within and beyond the field of healthcare. She is excited to join the […]
Lauren Lee
Lauren Lee Lauren Lee is an undergraduate student studying at the University of Western Ontario pursuing her studies in Health Sciences. Through research projects and volunteering, Lauren has found a great interest in the interconnectedness of healthcare and well-being. Eager to explore her passions in geriatric care, she is committed to learning from her fellow […]
Lily Haopu Ren
Lily Haopu Ren Knowledge Translation (KT) Lead I graduated from Master of Health Leadership and Policy (MHLP) in Seniors Care at UBC and Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (Honours) at London School of Economics and Political Science. I have multiple years of professional experiences in business, interpersonal communication and event planning. After graduation […]
IDEA Lab Monthly Newsletter: March 2022
Our second monthly newsletter for March 2022 🙂
Christine Wallsworth
Christine Wallsworth I’ve volunteered in the health care system since 2012 as a Patient & Family Partner (PFP) with both VCH/UBC and Providence through both the Patient Voices Network (PVN) and Community Engagement Advisory Committee (CEAN). I joined these volunteer opportunities to give a voice to patients and families within the B.C. health care system. […]
IDEA Lab Monthly Newsletter: February 2022
Our February 2022 newsletter 🙂
Paulina Santaella
Paulina Santaella Mexican physician with a Specialization in Pharmaceutical Medicine and a Master’s in Social Responsibility. Mother of 2 lovely children, happy wife, caring daughter and currently a full-time student at UBC (MHLP SC). Since the beginning of my professional career, I have worked in pharmacovigilance research. Subsequently, I worked in the field of neurology […]
Diane Pan
Diane Pan Diane is currently in second year studying Behavioural Neuroscience. She is passionate about sustainability, health, and wellness and she is excited to be involved in improving long-term care through technology. She loves to help design graphics and posters for the Idea Lab. In her free time, she loves to go hiking with friends, […]
Grace Hu
Grace Hu Hi! My name is Grace and I am a fourth-year UBC student majoring in Physiology and Immunology and minoring in Health and Society. My interest in geriatric care first stemmed from volunteering at local retirement homes! Through playing the piano for seniors and keeping them company, I learned of the ways in which […]