Isabel Sadowski was recently awarded funding to attend the 2023 CIHR Institute of Aging - Summer Program in Aging (SPA), after successfully competing in a competitive funding competition. It was held in Nova Scotia from June 5-9.
What is the Summer Program in Aging?
Globally we are seeing increases in life expectancy across all regions. For most countries this is resulting in a greater number of older adults living into their 80s, 90s and even older. In Canada, the number of older adults who are 80+ years of age is projected to increase by 300-400 percent from 1.6 million in 2018 to between 4.7- 6.3 million by 2068 (Statistics Canada, 2019). While this demographic trend is a success story in terms of medical and social advancements, the correlation of advanced age with increased co-morbidity and, in particular, dementia will contribute to increased challenges for health services and social supports. SPA 2023 will shine a light on the experiences, realities, needs and challenges of this growing population living into advanced age. The program will provide trainees with a holistic understanding of this segment of our older population with considerations across the aging spectrum from biology, frailty and function, to levels of dependency and solutions for complex challenges facing our health and social systems.
(Content from SPA2023.ca)