Projects
Current Project Highlights
- Aether Robot
Aether Robot: A Collaborative Service Robot, Supporting Independence, Safety, Privacy and Happiness Aether is a collaborative service robot, designed for staff and residents working and living in care homes to support independence, safety, privacy and happiness. This project will build on previous work accomplished by JDQ Systems Inc. and the Developmental… Read more: Aether Robot - 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… Read more: CALM Robot - Co-Create Virtual Reality in Long Term Care
Co-create Virtual Reality in Long Term Care What is the purpose of this study? To collaboratively develop a Virtual Reality Immersive Program in partnership with older adults, individuals who are living with dementia, their care partners, staff, and decision-makers in long-term care. What is Virtual Reality (VR)?… Read more: Co-Create Virtual Reality in Long Term Care - Co-Create Virtual Reality/Learning Innovation System (LIS)
Co-Create Virtual Reality/Learning Innovation System (LIS) The hospital environment for older adults living with dementia can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Further, hospitalized patients experience digital inequity. They lack access to technology for non-pharmacological psychosocial interventions. This project aims to establish a novel model-Learning Innovation System (LIS)- in a hospital… Read more: Co-Create Virtual Reality/Learning Innovation System (LIS) - Cycling Game: Exploring the Acceptability and Use of Gamified Rehabilitation Exercise for Older Adults in Long-Term Care
Cycling Game: Exploring the Acceptability and Use of Gamified Rehabilitation Exercise for Older Adults in Long-Term Care Gamified Rehabilitation exercises contribute to supporting older adults who experience functional and cognitive impairments in Long Term Care (LTC) homes through a more motivating and entertaining way. The gamified rehabilitation… Read more: Cycling Game: Exploring the Acceptability and Use of Gamified Rehabilitation Exercise for Older Adults in Long-Term Care - 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… Read more: Learning Health Systems - Lovot Robot
Lovot Robot: A New Mobile Social Robot to Improve the Quality of Life for Persons With Dementia Approximately 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Social robots have been developed and tested to determine whether they improve the quality of life for persons with dementia. A… Read more: Lovot Robot - PHAC: Dementia-Friendly Environment Project
Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, this project aims to improve how people living with dementia, and their care partners, access their communities. DemSCAPE (Dementia-inclusive Streets and Community Access, Participation and Engagement) is a three-phase project. - Silent Disco Headphones
Music is so widely available and inexpensive in the modern world; it is a common option for stress reduction, comfort and enjoyment. Silent disco headphones are used among young people; however, no study has yet investigated whether it is feasible to use these headphones to support mental health and well-being among older people with dementia in long term care homes. - Sleepsense: Implementing SleepSense Technology for Hospitalized Older Adults
Sleepsense: Implementing SleepSense Technology for Hospitalized Older Adults The team aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of SleepSense® technology in an in-patient subacute geriatric and psychiatric setting. SleepSense® is a non-wearable, unobtrusive sleep monitoring sensor, different from the currently in place visual checks and nursing documentation,… Read more: Sleepsense: Implementing SleepSense Technology for Hospitalized Older Adults - Students and AI in Academia: Exploring Students’ Perspectives on the Use of AI-Enabled Services, such as ChatGPT, in Academia
Students and AI in Academia: Exploring Students’ Perspectives on the Use of AI-Enabled Services, such as ChatGPT, in Academia As AI services grow increasingly popular, AI may provide opportunities to both enhance learning and introduce risks to the learning process. One of the most popular AI-enabled tools… Read more: Students and AI in Academia: Exploring Students’ Perspectives on the Use of AI-Enabled Services, such as ChatGPT, in Academia - Team-Based Virtual Care
Team-Based Virtual Care: Striving for Seamless Inclusive Care Virtual care facilitates patients’ and families’ inclusiveness in care planning, which improves the transition experience. This Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded program adopts a Patient-Oriented Research (POR) and Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach via the diverse engagement of… Read more: Team-Based Virtual Care - Telepresence Robot Project
Social isolation is a significant issue in aged care settings such as long-term care (LTC) and hospitals and is associated with adverse outcomes such as reduced well-being and loneliness. Mobile Telepresence Robots such as the Double 3 robot, may help address social isolation and loneliness among older adults in LTC homes. - Tochie – A Smart Audio Device
Tochie is a smart audio device that assists family members and caregivers with reminding seniors and helping with certain activities. Our research aims to find out seniors’ and family members’ user experiences towards the device. - Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults The project, titled “Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults,” is a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Vancouver campus for older… Read more: Towards an Age-Friendly University: Insights from Culturally Diverse Community-Dwelling Older Adults - TV Study: TV Programs Tailored to People Living With Dementia
TV Study: TV Programs Tailored to People Living With Dementia This project explores the use of a TV program that consists of videos tailored to people living with dementia’s needs and interests. This project investigates how this program may be used as a resource improving the quality… Read more: TV Study: TV Programs Tailored to People Living With Dementia - Virtual Reality Program in Long Term Care
Virtual Reality Program in Long Term Care Poster Youtube Links Our Team Principal Investigator: Dr. Lillian Hung Lab members: Jim Mann, Mona Upreti, Alisha Tumar, Winnie Kan and David So Project Co-leads: Sonia Hardern (Regional Practice Lead, Research and Knowledge Translation) & Joey Wong. Questions? Email Joey… Read more: Virtual Reality Program in Long Term Care
Past Projects
- Happy2Eat
Food is more than nutrition; it brings comfort. For residents in long-term care facilities, food is vital to health, well-being, and quality of life. Our research aims to focus on supporting both resident and staff needs during mealtimes. - Online Chair Yoga for People with Dementia
Online Chair Yoga Project: Helping Peoples with Dementia with Stress, Pain and Flexibility Can an online chair yoga program help people with dementia to reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve… Read more: Online Chair Yoga for People with Dementia - Overcoming Loneliness
This research investigated the state of loneliness of residents and the staff living and working in LTC homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to identify non-pharmacological ways to decrease loneliness and to work with stakeholders to co-develop policies. This research will be useful in improving the quality of life for residents in LTC homes. - Paro: A Social Robot
Interaction with PARO, a robotic pet seal, can have positive psychological, physiological, and social effects on users. Our research aims to investigate how PARO can be used meaningfully and effectively in hospitals for patients with dementia and delirium. - The iPad Project
For individuals with dementia, staying in long term care (LTC) can be quite a stressful experience due to an unfamiliar care environment. This research project aims to address this issue by introducing a new behavioral intervention, allowing family members of residents to pre-record videos to reassure them.