Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange Recap
by Family Councils Ontario
- By Samantha Peck, FCO Director of Communications & Education
Last week I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at the Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange (ANKE) at Hart House in Toronto. NICE, the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly, is “an international network of researchers, practitioners and students dedicated to improving the care of older adults, both in Canada and abroad” (http://www.nicenet.ca/). ANKE is an annual knowledge mobilization event that brings “together over 250 researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, students, community members, and others in a day of interactive sessions and discussions to better understand and improve the response to peaking populations and social citizenship among older adults in Canada and abroad” (http://www.nicenet.ca/anke-2017). At this year’s event, FCO spoke during the Technology Theme Team.
During the Technology Theme Team session, I talked about FCO’s Digital Library project and other ways that caregivers and Family Councils use technology to increase their reach and impact. I had a lively discussion with the attendees about the creative ways that caregivers use technology, from eReaders and Skype to apps and robotics. We discussed the challenges and opportunities that technology presents, from encouraging older adults to adopt new technologies to ways that technology can connect people living half a world apart. The prevailing thought was that there is much potential in the use of technology by and in caring for older adults.
I also had the opportunity to connect with people working in the field of aging and discuss the event’s theme: “positive aspects of Canada’s aged and aging people.” I attended sessions on “Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): From Debate to Implementation” and “Talking about Senior Sex.” These are both relevant issues in Long-Term Care that are now coming to the forefront of discussion. These sessions provided rich discussions on changes that are impacting and will continue to impact older adults and their caregivers.
ANKE was a full day of learning, networking, and sharing. Everyone who attended was passionate about working with and caring for older adults in Canada. FCO appreciated the warm welcome and opportunity to speak at the Knowledge Exchange and look forward to next year’s event!
For more information on NICE, visit their website: http://www.nicenet.ca