What life experiences do you think have shaped your contributions at the McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging most, and what impact do you think this has had?

Aging, of course, is one. As we get older, things change, and that shapes our perspectives.  

My university studies also played a role—I went back to school as a mature student and studied social work, gerontology, which I loved, and religious studies. Gerontology really stood out to me – I really loved it.  

During my placements, I worked at Macassa Lodge and then at the Chedoke Continuing Care Centre, which was in its final year before closure. I loved working at Macassa Lodge, which really sparked my passion for working in the gerontological field.  

My experience working at the Chedoke Continuing Care Centre was more challenging although very enlightening. The facility, originally an old sanitarium tucked away from the main urban areas, had become a long-term care home with a mixed-age population. This was during a time when younger people were moving into long-term care alongside those much older. It was a hard transition for them but may have made things easier in the long-term — because whether you were 40 years old or 90 years old, residents had to navigate coexisting and building a shared community despite their differing needs and life stages. 

I met many wonderful people during my placements and often wonder what became of them. While I enjoyed many aspects of the work and learned a lot, those experiences left a lasting impression on me and made me want to make things better for older people.   

What does “quality of life” mean to you as an older adult?

Quality of life, to me, is about being able to do things for yourself and maintaining your health within your means. It’s about having control over your day-to-day life and doing the things that bring you happiness–without too much difficulty. Unfortunately, there can be many barriers that can often get in the way, making it harder for people to achieve that level of independence and fulfillment. 

What is the biggest change you have seen in how health and aging research has progressed by engaging with older adults in research?

There has been a shift from a purely medical model—where “doctors knew best” and were seen as the sole authority—to a more social model that values the voices of older adults. Now, researchers and healthcare providers are listening to what patients are saying and incorporating their perspectives. In research, I’ve seen how the inclusion of older adults as partners transforms the process.  

When I was studying gerontology, in the 1990s, the landscape of research was quite different from what it is today—it was primarily researchers doing research. As a social scientist, I was drawn to qualitative research, which prioritized people’s voices and experiences. For my master’s thesis (on accessible transportation), it wasn’t just about the data; it was about understanding how people felt. In my research, I interviewed people and interjected their thoughts and words into my work.   

Today, I see how research has evolved. There is more in how research is conducted and how we, as older adults and individuals, can be a part of the research itself, making it more credible and impactful because it reflects real voices and experiences. People with lived and living experiences now have more influence in deciding what questions are asked, how the research is conducted, and how findings are shared.   

What advice would you give to researchers interested in partnering with older adults? 

Be patient and genuinely listen. Older adults have so much to contribute. Working in the field of accessibility advocacy, my husband, Tim, and I once developed the “S.T.A.R.” principle: Stop, Think, Ask, and Respond – which I think can be applied here too. It encourages researchers to be intentional and thoughtful in their engagement.   

What three words would you use to describe your experience within the Collaborative?

Innovative. Inclusive. Problem-solving.