Description:
Join the Waterloo Age-Friendly Network and guest speakers from AGE-WELL, Canada’s aging and technology network, to learn about how supportive homes and communities can improve the lives of older adults and caregivers. We will first look at the automation of housework as we reimagine the home of tomorrow. Then, we will discuss solutions designed to assess and mitigate the risks of individuals—especially those living with dementia—going missing, ensuring greater security both at home and in the community.
Presentation 1: Smart Homes, Aging, and the Future of Housework of Older Adults in Canada
Imagine a future where your home adapts to you—taking care of routine chores and helping you live independently. This talk explores research on automation of housework, including the one that predicts nearly 40% of everyday housework and care tasks could soon be automated. Drawing on insights from various studies, the talk will discuss how the blend of technology and human insight shapes these predictions—and what that means for all of us in Canada, especially older adults. The talk invites the audience to reimagine the home of tomorrow, where technology redefines work and transforms the way people live, age, and connect with one another.
Presentation 2: Keeping Older Adults at Risk of Going Missing Safe and Connected in the Community
This presentation will focus on the need for community alert systems for vulnerable older adults that help keep them connected and safe, such as Silver Alert notifications. Specifically, the talk will look at technologies that assess and manage the risks of going missing in persons living with dementia. Additionally, the talk will touch upon policy and the real-world implementation of community alert systems at local, municipal, and provincial or national levels in Canada, Scotland, and the United States.
Speakers:
Dr. Mila Kolpashnikova (she/they) is an Assistant Professor and the Principal Investigator of the HEFT lab at Western University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of British Columbia. Her primary research interests include time use, the gendered division of housework, and fear of falling among older adults. In 2023, Dr. Kolpashnikova was awarded a SSHRC Insight Grant for her work on the division of unpaid work among retired older adults. They are AGE-WELL HQP Alumni.
Adebusola (Busola) Adekoya (she/her) is a registered nurse, AGE-WELL HQP, and PhD Candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Busola is passionate about the rights of older adults to receive quality care and maintain optimal quality of life. Her thesis examines the process of policy development and implementation of community alert systems for locating missing persons with dementia at local, municipal, and provincial or national levels in Canada, Scotland, and the United States.