March 2025

The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging's Aging Matters newsletter features University of Calgary aging-related research, education, and community initiatives. We hope you find this newsletter informative and engaging.

Announcement

We Are Back at Foothills Campus!


The Centre on Aging is excited to be back at UCalgary's Foothills Campus. We are now located in the Cal Wenzel Precision Health Building in GD01, sharing space with the W21C Research and Innovation Centre. 

This relocation will enhance our efforts in advancing research and educational initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of older adults. 


Our team looks forward to continuing our work in collaboration with the wider community to create a positive impact on the lives of older adults.  

Research Spotlight

Simulation Framework for Modeling COVID-19 Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities

Dr. Svetlana Yanushkevich and Philip Ciunkiewicz (PhD Student) are leading a research project to develop advanced computational models for simulating the spread of infectious diseases in localized environments like long-term care facilities.


A flexible agent-based simulation framework was created to better understand and mitigate disease transmission, accounting for factors such as:

  • facility layout and size;
  • number and type of occupants;
  • daily schedules and movement patterns; and
  • disease characteristics (e.g., infectiousness, incubation period).


The model's ability to simulate outbreaks and evaluate intervention impacts was tested. Simulations revealed that measures like mask-wearing and vaccination significantly reduces infection risk.


A decision-support system was then developed to help administrators interpret simulation results.

Pictured above is an example frame visualization from a scenario simulation. Viral particle concentration is shown as a transparent red overlay. Agents numbered 1-8 are seated as they would in a lab environment.

UCalgary in the News

January 14, 2025

Summer research opportunity gives mature student experience needed to pursue medical school dreams

Read more

December 10, 2024

Pets bring benefits and challenges for seniors, study shows

Read more

Research Participation Opportunities

Canadian platform for research online to investigate health, quality of life, cognition, behaviour, function and caregiving in aging 

Learn more

Exploring the lived experiences of Muslim senior citizen refugees aged 60+ 

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Internet delivered psychotherapy for older adults 

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MisterFit – Recruiting men 60+ at risk of fracture for an exercise and nutrition intervention 

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Nature connections – A dementia friendly park visit program 

Learn more

Visit the UCalgary database for more research participation opportunities:

Research database

Events

Women's Health Symposium

March 8, 2025 | Calgary, AB

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Cree Grandmothers' Tea Ceremony

March 19, 2025 | Calgary, AB

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Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke

April 7, 2025 | Calgary, AB

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Seniors' Expo 2025

April 26, 2025 | Calgary, AB

Learn more

National, Provincial, and Local News

Montreal West Island women's hockey team is putting age on ice, winning gold

February 22, 2025

View here

Seniors' home uses AirTages to give residents more independence

January 5, 2025

View here

'Cycling Without Age' program getting seniors out in the community

January 3, 2025

View here

Saskatoon senior pitches walking soccer

January 2, 2025

View here

I went back to school at 42 to finish my degree

December 10, 2024

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Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging

O'Brien Institute for Public Health I Cumming School of Medicine I University of Calgary

Email: aging@ucalgary.ca I Phone: (403) 210-7208 I Website: https://obrieniph.ucalgary.ca/aging

The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging is a cross-faculty aging hub whose mission is to create an ecosystem for innovation in age-inclusive environments, practices, and policies. We are focused on catalyzing networks and leading collaborative innovations centered on older adults through education, research, and community engagement. Our vision is to achieve optimal health and well-being for older adults driven by evidence and in an inclusive manner.


The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).