Baycrest

6 • BrainMatters • Fall/Winter 2021 INNOVATIVE CO - DESIGN LE ADS TO EMPOWERED AGING There is a wealth of age-related technology ("agetech" for short) all around us. However, the best products are designed with the needs and values of older adults and their caregivers in mind. Without the input of older adults, even the most creative ideas can miss the mark when it comes to successfully meeting the needs of potential users. It can be challenging for innovators to access the opinions of their target audience. To bridge this gap, the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, is bringing innovators and older adults together to co-design technology and practical solutions that aim to improve quality of life for older adults, people living with dementia, and their caregivers. Helping to drive this mission forward is CABHI's Seniors Advisory Panel (SAP), a community of older adults and caregivers that provide advice and support to inform the development of CABHI-funded aging and brain health innovations. Dr. Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg, a scientist at University Health Network OpenLab, worked with the SAP while developing a virtual community care hub to support seniors aging at home. The SAP helped Dr. Hahn-Goldberg understand older adults' perspectives on public and private spaces, social connectedness, and remote healthcare resources. Technology is transforming our everyday lives. We can travel to another country in a matter of hours, pay for an item with the touch of a button, and access a world of information without lifting a finger. It's even enhancing the way we age. Thanks to innovations like medication reminder apps and virtual fall detection systems, older adults can age confidently and fearlessly in the setting best suited for them.

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