Transforming Seniors’ Care through Research

What do a smartphone and playing cards have to do with better health outcomes? You might be surprised to learn that researchers at North York General are using them in studies to benefit seniors. As NYGH embarks on a multi-year transformation that will reimagine what care looks like, our applied Research & Innovation program will play a key role by developing innovative solutions to some of the most urgent and complex health care issues. As we celebrate Seniors’ Month this June, we would like to highlight a few of our exciting research projects focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults:

Transforming Seniors’ Care through Research

What do a smartphone and playing cards have to do with better outcomes in seniors’ care? You might be surprised to learn that researchers at North York General are using them in studies to benefit seniors. As NYGH embarks on a multi-year transformation that will reimagine what care looks like, our applied Research & Innovation program will play a key role by developing innovative solutions to some of the most urgent and complex health care issues. As we celebrate Seniors’ Month in June, we would like to highlight a few of our exciting research projects focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults:

Tailored Advice to Manage Health Conditions

If you’re someone who has been diagnosed with multiple chronic health conditions, it can be confusing to know how to manage your health effectively. That’s why Dr. Monika Kastner, Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Implementation, and her team have developed an online tool called KeepWell. The tool provides older adults with tailored lifestyle advice for any combination of common chronic health conditions they may have (e.g., diabetes and osteoporosis). It has already been tested with approximately 400 older adults across Canada, with positive results. Ultimately, the aim is to have primary care physicians prescribe KeepWell as a self-management strategy alongside clinical care and to encourage older adults to take an active role in managing their health conditions.

Using Smartphones to Help Prevent Falls

Older individuals (and their loved ones) often worry about falls – and for good reason. A fall can result in a broken hip or leg, an unplanned trip to the hospital and a long road to recovery. Dr. Ervin Sejdić, Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Health Outcomes, and his team are developing an application to identify individuals who are at risk of falling. The application draws on the built-in technology in a smartphone and uses advanced machine learning algorithms to predict if a patient will fall within the next three months. When the application is ready, individuals and families will have insight into this vital information, so they can access essential supports such as a walker, to prevent future falls.

Identifying Swallowing Difficulties

Did you know the average person swallows 1,000 times a day? It seems automatic, but older people can have trouble swallowing, which can lead to complications. For example, food or water could enter the lungs, resulting in serious health risks like pneumonia. To address this critical issue, Dr. Sejdić and his team wanted to find a way to effectively identify swallowing difficulties early. He and his team developed a small wearable device to record vibrations and sounds during swallowing. The data is transmitted to machine learning models and analyzed to determine whether a patient is swallowing safely. Once the research is complete, this technology could help identify the issue faster and provide seniors with timely treatments, such as appropriate meal planning and swallowing rehabilitation.

Keeping Dementia Patients Calm in the Emergency Department

Imagine you need to take your loved one with dementia to the Emergency Department (ED). The unfamiliar environment leaves them confused and overwhelmed. Then to your dismay, they try to climb out of their stretcher. To minimize this heartbreaking and potentially dangerous situation, Diana Adams, a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Nurse Specialist at NYGH, conducted a research study using a simple yet powerful Montessori method to calm and support patients with dementia and keep them safe. The study involved engaging patients in hands-on activities such as organizing a deck of playing cards, or clipping clothespins to the same-coloured buckets. The results were remarkable: 80% of patients responded well to the activities, calming down and remaining in their stretchers. Even more encouraging, staff now gives these items to patient with dementia in the ED, helping to comfort and calm them.

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