Grant: Summer Program in Aging - Planning Grant

We are in the midst of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) and the world's aging population is growing. By 2023, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 2 people are ageist against older adults. Ageism is associated with earlier death by 7.5 years, poorer physical and mental health, cognitive decline, and slower recovery from disability in older adults. Given the significant impact of ageism on the health and wellbeing of older adults, it is a global priority to understand it better and to combat it. Thus, we propose to deliver a 5-day summer training program on ageism, health, and older adults for Canadian graduate students. The program will focus on ageism and its impact on health research, health delivery, and health outcomes in older adults. During this 5-day program, graduate students will learn from global leaders in ageism and health while advancing their research and career skills. In addition, there will be ample opportunities for graduate students to establish new and enrich existing interdisciplinary networks of research collaborators. Hosted at the University of British Columbia by the Centre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health, the proposed 2024 Summer Program in Aging: Ageism in Health Research, Delivery, and Outcomes in Older adults will serve as a catalyst to building research capacity in ageism and older adults - a critical area of aging research.