The Age-Friendly BC initiative was initiated in 2007 to make communities (e.g., cities and towns) better for older adults. Improvements in programs and environments for older adults has been a major part of this effort. Surveys are a valuable tool for assessing the well-being of older adults in these communities. However, people from different backgrounds (e.g., gender, culture, age) might understand and answer survey questions differently. This project aims to understand differences in how people interpret survey questions and explore ways to adjust survey scores for these differences, with the objective of providing an accurate picture of older adults’ well-being. Communities can be designed to be fair to everyone if we acknowledge different ways in which people think about their well-being. We will work with older adults and policymakers from the beginning to the end of the project. They will help us create an analysis plan and understand findings. We will also work with them to figure out the best way to share what we find.
Research Location: Trinity Western University
Responding to the truth and reconciliation calls to action in healthcare through the arts as a way of knowing, disrupting and healing
The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for Indigenous knowledge and practices to be included in healthcare. But as can be seen in recent, troubling news stories and reports, Indigenous peoples often face racism and barriers to care. People are becoming interested in using storytelling and the arts to listen to Indigenous peoples’ views so we can change healthcare to better meet their needs and priorities.
The purpose of these studies is to work together with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to create more meaningful paths towards reconciliation and equitable healthcare through the arts. First, I, together with a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners, will look at the research using storytelling in Indigenous health research. Then, I will lead three studies to investigate arts-based strategies to support healthcare students in responding to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report; explore First Nations peoples’ cancer experiences using digital storytelling; and develop arts-based programs to support Indigenous patients facing illness. The findings will help us to include Indigenous perspectives and practices in healthcare to move towards reconciliation and address differences in health.