CBU awarded $12.4 million for research on aging in Nova Scotia
From CBU, Research NS and the Springboard Content Lab
Springboard member Cape Breton University has received a research grant for $12.4 million, the largest in the university’s 50-year history. Led by Dr. Alison Grittner, this research will address the needs of aging Nova Scotians who live in rural areas.
Research Nova Scotia presented Dr. Grittner, Assistant Professor of the CBU Social Work program, with the award through its Focused Research Investment program. The research will develop and pilot support for rural Nova Scotians to age in the right place.
Research will help Nova Scotian seniors age independently
The seven-year project, titled Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotia, will introduce aging-related programs in selected communities in Nova Scotia’s eastern zone. It will design and test the impact of healthcare and social supports and those to address sustainable housing challenges.
In 2024, 22% of Nova Scotia’s population was 65 or older, surpassing the national average of 19%. People in this age demographic are more at risk of frailty, living in inappropriate housing, and social isolation. As people age, their chance of needing long-term care increases.
However, most aging Nova Scotians want to live at home and be independent for as long as they choose. Nova Scotia needs innovative strategies that re-envision healthy aging and allow people to age in the right place for them.
Driven by the expertise of an interdisciplinary team across the fields of social work, architecture, medicine, economics, occupational therapy, and gerontology, the research will collaborate with Nova Scotia seniors to support aging in the right place, a concept focused on empowering older adults to age in the location of their choice. The project will also engage world-renowned geriatrician, Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, to apply best practices around frailty.
Research will also target retirement communities
Target communities will be those meeting the criteria of naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). Dr. Grittner explains that NORCs are areas with high concentrations of older adults that developed organically over time.
“These communities were not specifically designed for aging populations, instead, they emerge as residents progress through life stages and remain in their family homes, younger individuals move away, or older adults relocate to these neighbourhoods. We’ve heard from rural NORC residents that many want to age in their chosen communities, but supports are often limited, forcing tough decisions when aging-related challenges emerge, like changes in mobility or increased healthcare needs.”
Dr. Alison Grittner, CBU Assistant Professor of Social Work
Dr. Grittner will lead a diverse research team of community, academic, industry, and research experts who will work in partnership with aging rural Nova Scotia across the Eastern Health zone to address three main areas:
- Enhancing housing to allow aging Nova Scotians to remain in their homes longer. This includes a community handyperson initiative that will facilitate repairs, adaptations, and maintenance required for aging in place.
- Enhancing healthcare services, research, education, and resources. This includes implementing a surgical transition and prehabilitation program involving virtual care and a mobile research van, which will decentralize access and bring elements of this work directly to communities.
- Enhancing social supports. This includes a Community Navigator program which will connect ARNS to community resources to improve health outcomes, provide systems navigation support, and co-create opportunities that enhance social connection.
The funds will also support the purchase of a mobile research van and creation of a virtual care remote automated monitoring clinic, as well funding to pilot a service model for home modifications and repairs required for safe and healthy aging.
“The first phase of the project will include GIS mapping to identify areas with a high density of people 60 years and older and to engage in community consultations,” says Dr. Grittner. “Together, we will work with communities to determine what aging-related resources and programs are already available and which communities wish to partner for the duration of the project.”
Goal is to reduce demand for long-term care by creating more supportive living environments
The first years of the project will be spent building the project framework alongside partner-NORC communities, testing the programs in one NORC, then refining the details before adding the additional project sites. The results are expected to help create a model that can be applied to other communities across rural Nova Scotia and beyond.
CBU President and Vice-Chancellor, David C. Dingwall, says this monumental project is another example of CBU’s support for the communities it serves.
“CBU is proud to be recognized as a leader in community-engaged research with this significant vote of confidence from the province of Nova Scotia. We look forward to the impact of Dr. Grittner’s work and applaud her success.”
CBU President and Vice-Chancellor, David C. Dingwall
CBU’s commitment to invest in healthy and prosperous communities continues to be realized in this and other projects, including its new Social Work degree, the Centre of Excellence for Healthy Aging, the Communities and Healthy Aging in-community programs, and the new Cape Breton Medical Campus.