Discover e-Biking

Do you want to learn about e-bikes and try one on for size? Elevation Outdoors and CRIS Adaptive Adventures have an array of types and sizes of bikes, trikes and adaptive cycles to help everyone feel the wind in their hair.

Kelowna Bike Rentals is a socially responsible bike rental provider that supports two local non-profit organizations, CRIS Adaptive (Community Recreational Initiatives Society), and Elevation Outdoors. Our goal is to help residents and visitors alike discover the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Okanagan region. By choosing to rent a bike from us, you can enjoy the stunning trails, pathways, and parks of Kelowna while also making a positive impact on the community.

Take advantage of a 20% discount on any bike rentals from now until Thanksgiving, October, 2023. Use Discount Code EmbraceAging2023 when you book a bike.

Aging and mental health: Starting a conversation with the Mental Health Continuum for Aging Canadians in care

Aging Canadians often experience mental health concerns related to ageism and negative attitudes about mental health. This increases barriers to accessing mental health support, care, and treatment. More conversations about mental health in community care settings could better address older adults’ mental wellbeing needs as we work to build a more resilient health system. The current co-design project is acting on aging and mental health research priorities identified by Canadians during the pandemic. In this presentation, Drs. Nelly Oelke and Justine Giosa share the findings of adapting a user-friendly tool, the Mental Health Continuum for Aging Canadians, and the next steps of co-designing mental health conversations between home and community care providers and older adults during routine care interactions in rural and urban settings across Canada.

Presenters
Nelly D. Oelke, RN, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan;
Scientific Director, Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia

Justine Giosa, PhD
Scientific Director, SE Research Centre, SE Health;
Assistant Professor (adjunct status), School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Empowering rural older adults: promoting equitable digital engagement that sticks

Researchers from UBC have teamed up with Gluu Society, a Canadian non-profit dedicated to providing FREE digital training that ‘sticks’ (hence its name) for older adults. In this project, the UBC team has been working collaboratively with Gluu to evaluate and learn about their programming and delivery in rural and urban communities.

Presenters:
Cherisse Seaton, PhD, Research Coordinator, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Linda Fawcus, Founder and CEO, Gluu Society

Learn more about Gluu here  

Top 10 Estate Planning Tips – Things to plan for

Interior Savings Credit Union is excited to invite you to a virtual event on Estate Planning. After years of working closely with our communities attending to their Estates, our goal is to share what we have learned along the way. You’ll gain knowledge on the importance of planning ahead when it comes to your Estate, and the tools you need to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are carried out.

Presenter
Doug McMechan, Business Succession & Estate Planning Specialist of Interior Savings Estate Planning Inc.
Moderator
Ken Wingrove, Senior Manager, Wealth Management at Interior Savings Credit Union

Adapting to a new knee: What matters to patients undergoing total knee replacement?

Satisfaction rates with total knee replacement, while high, are not high enough, and it is not entirely clear why. This qualitative study interviewed patients three years following knee replacement surgery. They told us that what mattered to them was the ease of adapting to their new knee, and ultimately if the knee felt and worked the way they’d expected it would as they went into surgery.

Presenters
Ellen Randall, PhD Candidate
School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia Vancouver

Charlyn Black, MD, ScD
Professor, School of Population and Public Health
University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Embrace technology for a physically active lifestyle… anywhere !

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the increase in exercise technology available, like smart watches? Not sure where to start?
Smart watches aren’t just for the young and active, they can be used to help ANYONE achieve their exercise goals from ANYWHERE! This presentation will provides you with the tools and MOTIVATION to understand how technology can help you (or your patients) to get moving to improve metabolic health!

Presenter:
Jonathan Low, PhD Student
School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia, Okanagan

The Future of British Columbia Seniors

As BC Seniors Advocate, Isobel Mackenzie has been to listening to concerns from seniors throughout B.C. Based on the latest information gathered about what is working and what is not, Isobel discusses how BC seniors can embrace the challenges and opportunities of aging the 21st century.

Presenter:
Isobel Mackenzie, Seniors Advocate
Office of the Seniors Advocate, Province of BC

Learn more here      

Celebrating Older Adults of the Okanagan

The rich life stories are shared by older adults (80+) in our community, as well as some advice they have for the younger generation for living well into the golden years.

Presenters
Emma Oddy, 4th year student
School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Rebecca Frechette, BSc, MKin, Clinical Exercise Physiologist
School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan

7 Splendid Services for Older Adults – Okanagan Regional Library

Join us to discover and learn of seven splendid services available to older adults at the Okanagan Regional Library. We cover services from accessibility, electronic books, events, to Makerspaces (psst – all of them are free!).

Presenters:
Tara Thompson, Community Engagement Coordinator
Kara Desimone, Community Learning and Assessment Coordinator

Learn more here   

Virtual Reality for Older Adults’ Health and Wellbeing

We present Interior Health’s ongoing adaptation of technology as a response to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on older adults living in long term care, their families and staff. A virtual demonstration of the Rendever virtual reality platform and programming, an immersive technology designed for older adults in health care settings to support quality of life through social connection, meaningful experiences, family engagement and more.
Relive, Reinspire, Reconnect: Rendever’s mission is to overcome social isolation through the power of positive shared experiences.

Presenters
Joanna Harrison, Executive Director,
Seniors Specialize Care Transformation, Interior Health

Karen Littleton, Director,
Clinical Services, Pandemic Response, Interior Health

Paula Morrison, Research Coordinator,
Research and Quality, Long Term Care and Seniors Care, Interior Health

Jake Pechauer, Growth Manager, Rendever

Michelle Smith, Regional Practice Lead,
Research and Quality, Long Term Care and Seniors Care, Interior Health

Putting the PIECES together: Supporting Older Adults living with complexity

This presentation explores the journey of implementing a best practice initiative (PIECES™) within Interior Health (IH). PIECES is a team-based practice approach which supports older adults living with complexity. The aim of applying PIECES™ in clinical practice, is to put the person and family at the center of care.

Presenter:
Shannon Paul-Jost, BSN, RN, GNC (C), MScN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Gerontology
Seniors Specialized Care Transformation
Interior Health

Discover birdwatching

Presenters:
Jim and Melanie Fenton

Embrace Aging through dance

Presenter:
Erin Delfs, MA Candidate, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Advance Care Planning – Who will speak for you?

“Who will speak for you when the time comes where you cannot speak for yourself?”

Advance Care Planning is important for every adult to consider and an important part of overall life planning. In this session, Central Okanagan Hospice Association’s specially trained hospice palliative care volunteers and staff present information to help participants understand what Advance Care Planning is, and why it’s important to reflect on and speak about values, beliefs and wishes with family and friends, regarding future health care decisions.

COHA invites you to be brave and join us to begin a conversation that matters!

Presenters
Natasha Girard, Executive Director, Central Okanagan Hospice Association

Patty Walker, Volunteer, Central Okanagan Hospice Association; End-of-Life Doula, Member of the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada; BC Center for Palliative Care – Advance Care Planning Facilitator Training

Learn more here: Central Okanagan Hospice Association COHA

Adapting Nav-CARE to support caregivers of people living with dementia: a pilot study

Nav-CARE is a program that utilizes trained volunteer navigators to support older adults living in the community with life limiting illnesses. An adaptation of Nav-CARE was developed through a modified e-Delphi method and pilot study. The adaptation focuses on supporting caregivers of people living with dementia. This webinar provides a discussion of the adaptation process, preliminary findings from the pilot study, and next steps for program implementation.

Presenter:
Madison Huggins, PhD Candidate
School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Learn more about Nav-CARE HERE

Reducing isolation: the Aging Well Penticton experience

In this presentation you will hear how the power of community engagement can be used reduce isolation among older adults. Utilizing a Collective Impact Model, OneSky Community Resources, the lead organization of Aging Well Penticton, brought together community partners from all aspects of community. Over the past four years, this group has identified and broken down many barriers and increased support for older adults. We highlight a few of the different programs that have contributed to our success and speak to the importance of the process. Aging Well Penticton was supported with a New Horizons Grant.

Presenters
Patricia Tribe, Project Coordinator – Aging Well Penticton, OneSky Community
Tanya Osborne, Community Health Facilitator, Interior Health

Stimulate your brain: motor imagery as a tool to enhance recovery after stroke

New approaches are needed to help people recover more quickly after a stroke. One approach with promising initial evidence is motor imagery which involves the mental rehearsal of a motor task, such as walking. In this presentation you will hear about research and how brain science and motor imagery may bring new hope to stroke survivors.

Presenter
Sarah Kraeutner, PhD
Assistant Professor, the Neuroplasticity, Imagery, and Motor Behaviour Laboratory (thenimbl.com)
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Okanagan & Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Learn more about NIMBL

10 Secrets to Healthy Aging

Do you wonder about successful aging and what keys to healthy aging and aging in place might be? What changes can you make in your lifestyle to stay healthy as you age?
This presentation will empower you with tips and information for a healthy transition to embrace your journey of aging joyfully.

Presenter
Ranjit Uppal, MN

Chair yoga with Paula

A Chair Yoga workshop to experience and enjoy the benefits of yoga. Gain confidence with your body through mobility and strength movements, while also relaxing and having fun. 

Presenter
Paula Morrison, Certified Yoga Teacher

The impact of COVID-19 on family time in Long-Term Care

In this presentation, findings from interviews with families who had loved ones in long-term care during the pandemic is shared. The impact of the pandemic on family visits and their recommendations for the future are also discussed.

Presenters:
Evans Appiah-Kusi, BSN, MN, Thompson Rivers University
Jordan Bremner, 3rd year BA student, Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Tracy Christianson, Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Colin Reid, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan campus

Stigma, dementia, and COVID-19: insights from social media and lived experience

Stigma of dementia is one of the greatest barriers for people living with dementia and their care partners. Studies show that stigma can lead to social isolation, low self-esteem, and depression. However, a paucity of research examines stigma of dementia during the pandemic. In this presentation, Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, Myrna Norman, and Wayne Hykaway explore stigma of dementia in the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing insights from Twitter research and lived experience. They also identify strategies for moving forward to address stigma of dementia in the pandemic.

Presenters
Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Nursing and Population Health; Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University

Advocates for People with Dementia and Caregivers
Myrna Norman, Patient Perspective
Wayne Hykaway, Caregiver Perspective

Living your best atrial fibrillation life: the importance of self-care

Atrial fibrillation can be a complex and unpredictable chronic illness. Patients living with atrial fibrillation may feel out of control in their treatment journey, however, something in which all patients can actively participate in is self-care. Self-care is an essential aspect of managing atrial fibrillation but it has its challenges. While self-care is associated with improved symptom experience, reduced complications, and higher quality of life, patients require resources, support, and knowledge to build skills and confidence to engage actively in self-care.
Join us for a discussion with experts about the latest research, evidence, and experiences in atrial fibrillation self-care.

Panel Experts
Dr. Kevin Pistawka, MD Cardiologist, Medical Director
Central Okanagan Association for Cardiac Health
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Dr. Ryan Wilson, PhD, RN Assistant Professor of Teaching
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Dr. Peter Loewen, PharmD Associate Professor
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC Vancouver
Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, Vancouver, Canada;

Sheryl Sargent, Patient Perspective

MODERATOR
Kathy Rush, PhD, RN
Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan

Embrace Reflexology

Discover the benefits of Reflexology with Maralee & Kim.
Different reflexology techniques for your hands, face, and feet, and simple DIY treatment to help clear your sinuses.

Presenters:
Maralee Webber, RCRT/LCRT. (Licensed Canadian Reflexology Teacher)
Kim Richards, RCRT. (Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist)

MyHealthPortal – Electronic health records and you

MyHealthPortal provides patients with 24 hour access to their health information via their phone, tablet or computer through a secure portal from the Interior Health website. Features include the ability to view Interior Health lab results, diagnostic imaging reports (such as X-ray, CT and ultrasound), certain upcoming appointments, recent hospital visit history, and the opportunity to update address and phone number information.

Want to help your community? Volunteer in health research studies through REACH BC

REACH BC connects British Columbians with researchers for opportunities to participate in both online and in-person health studies.
Watch this session to learn more about how you can help shape the future of health.

Presenters:
Stefanie Cheah, Manager, REACH BC
Aisling Quigley, Marketing & Communications, REACH BC

Intergenerational Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

Medicinal Cannabis: unpacking the knowledge, perceptions, and stigmatism

Despite its legalization and the increasing use of medicinal cannabis among Canada’s aging adult population there remains many unasked and unanswered questions. In an open forum we aim to have a transparent conversation about the current level of knowledge and perceptions that the research shows to exist currently in society.  The goal is to unpack and clarify some of the confusion and work to decrease the stigmatism that still persists regarding the use of medicinal cannabis for healthy aging.

Hear from the panel experts about the latest research, evidence, and experiences in medicinal cannabis.

PANEL
Dr. Zachary Walsh, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology
University of British Columbia Okanagan

Dr. Janet Evans, MD
UBC Clinical Instructor, Medical Director CGB Medical;
Family Physician, University of British Columbia Okanagan Aging in Place Research Cluster Board Member

Jennifer Bolt, BSc. Pharm,  A.C.P.R., Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor (Partner), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia;
Research & Development Pharmacist, Interior Health

Jan Mills, Patient Perspective

MODERATORS

Paige Copeland, PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia Okanagan
Eli Haynes, MSc, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Hosted by Aging in Place Research Cluster, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Rethink Aging: a bold new path to life at any age

Join international speaker and elder care expert, Dan Levitt, on a journey to transform the way we think about aging. This exciting webinar is an invitation to explore new opportunities, challenge ageism, and discover a bold new path to living our best lives. Dan shares his insights and expertise on how to create a more enriching and fulfilling future for older adults. You’ll learn about how we can adapt public policies, our institutions, and infrastructure to support the well-being of older adults. You’ll also be inspired by real-life examples of age re-imagined from around the world.
This is not just a webinar about adding years to our lives, it’s about living life to the fullest. Join this chance to be a part of this transformative movement.

Presenter
Dan Levitt, MSc., CHE
CEO, Kin Village

Community Powered Care – bringing people together through smart technology for better Aging in Place

Tuktu Care – a digital platform that matches older adults and their loved ones with safe and empathetic community members who can provide support for tiring and demanding everyday tasks and companionship for enjoying hobbies and interests. Learn how Tuktu uses advanced innovative technology for matchmaking based on language, cultural and personality traits to ensure personalized, safe, and happy experiences.

Presenter:
Komal Makkad, Co-founder, Tuktu Care