Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Social participation, which involves activities that meet fundamental needs for interactions and self-actualization, is seriously challenged in aging and a major intervention target. Although included in health orientations, few social participation interventions are implemented in Canada. Our recent research demonstrated the feasibility and positive impact of clinical interventions in increasing seniors' functional autonomy, social participation and quality of life. However, to reach a substantial number of seniors, population interventions are also needed. Over the next five years, we will continue to develop, implement and evaluate clinical and population interventions targeting the social participation of older adults. Specifically, we will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of two clinical interventions with older adults from pilot communities: the Personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC; Obj.1) and the Lifestyle Redesign® (Obj.2), in helping community organizations and clinicians target social participation. In parallel, one population intervention, the Index of Social Participation Potential (IPPS), will be developed, implemented and evaluated (Obj.3) to guide municipal stakeholders in identifying policies, services and structures that best foster social participation among seniors. Development of the IPPS will be enriched by exploring how age-friendly key components foster positive health, social participation and health equity of aging adults across Canada (Obj.4). These innovations, i.e. APIC, Lifestyle Redesign® and IPPS, will be optimized and integrated in one multicomponent intervention, implemented and evaluated in other communities (Obj.5). Our preliminary results suggest that this multicomponent intervention will foster social participation in aging. Since most chronic diseases can be prevented or delayed by an active lifestyle, our results point to one of the most promising avenues to live longer and better.