McMaster University gets nearly $1M in federal funds to research Hamilton’s older adults
Published March 8, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Hamilton’s McMaster University received $983,565 in federal government funds for its “Embolden” project that focuses on the health of older adults.
The project explores the social determinants of health and barriers faced by older adults to improve their access to health services in Hamilton.
The funds were announced Tuesday (Mar. 9) as part of the Government of Canada’s investment of more than $2.2 million to support healthy living behaviours in older adults.
“We know that community programs can be very effective in helping older adults stay mobile, maintain their health, and participate socially,” said Rebecca Ganann, study lead and assistant professor at McMaster University’s School of Nursing. “Furthermore, we also know that those benefits are only possible when programs are built to address the real barriers that people may experience when accessing and using these programs.”
In communities that face greater health inequalities, Embolden project participants will learn and apply practical strategies related to healthier eating and physical activity. They will also be coached to better navigate health and social services in Hamilton.
“In Hamilton, Ontario, more than 167,000 people – almost one-third of our population – are 55-plus and 12,000 seniors are considered isolated,” said Lisa Hepfner, Hamilton Mountain MP. “This investment in the health and well-being of older Canadians from the MultiSectoral Partnership (MSP) Fund will be transformational for each of these projects as well as for the seniors they serve.”
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The Sinai Health System – Health Commons Solution Lab in Toronto and Vancouver’s Cowichan Green Community Society were the other recipients of the funding.
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