Laurier expert alert: National Seniors Day

Sept. 28, 2020
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Oct. 1 is National Seniors Day. Wilfrid Laurier University has several experts available to speak about topics related to aging, including health and wellness, seniors in the workforce, changing identities and the role of music in improving quality of life for older people.

Cheryl-Anne Cait, associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on community-based approaches to hospice and palliative care, specifically volunteer recruitment, rural issues and diversity, as well as death, dying and bereavement. Through her research, she studies grief as an evolving process and its impacts on personal identity. Contact: ccait@wlu.ca

Paula Fletcher, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, is an expert in the area of chronic illness/disability and caregiving. Fletcher's research explores the lived experiences of individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities from the point of view of the individual, their family members and health care professionals. Contact: pfletcher@wlu.ca

Dawn Guthrie is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education and the Department of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the needs and abilities of older adults with disabilities, palliative care, adults with sensory impairments and caregivers. Her research has been used to assist health professionals, decision-makers and caregivers better meet the needs of older adults and to evaluate the quality of care being provided. Contact: dguthrie@wlu.ca

Josephine McMurray, associate professor in the Business Technology Management and Health Studies programs, is an expert on healthcare technology for an aging workforce and innovation in the healthcare system. She is currently studying ways to build a supportive and sustainable work ecosystem for aging workforces, as well as the use of location-tracking technology in long-term care. She has also studied electronic health information systems and how their adoption impacts at-risk populations. Contact: jmcmurray@wlu.ca or 519.242.7477 (mobile)

Nicola Newton, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Psychology, is an expert on adult development and aging and how gender, social roles, health and well-being are associated with personality development, particularly in later life. She is currently studying personal identity revision in older adults as they face transitions such as retirement and widowhood and deal with on-going age-related change (physical, psychological and social). She’s also collaborating on research examining stress, relationship quality and health among older couples.

Dana Sawchuk is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology. Her research focuses on aging, the print media, and religion (especially Roman Catholicism). She is particularly interested in how older adults are represented in various popular and religious magazines and newspapers, and she is currently conducting research on how older women read and use women's magazines in everyday life. Contact: dsawchuk@wlu.ca

Lee Willingham is a professor in the Faculty of Music, the director of the Laurier Centre for Music in the Community and the coordinator of the Master of Arts in Community Music program. His research has focused on the impacts of music on wellbeing and social connection. Through The Circle of Music intergenerational choir, he has studied the impacts of singing in a choir on people living with dementia, their caregivers and volunteers. He is currently working on an interdisciplinary research project exploring the ways in which music and creative technologies can encourage learning and creativity and improve quality of life for older people. Contact: lwillingham@wlu.ca