Forum focuses on aging rural, northern seniors

The Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research and the Rural Ontario Institute will co-host a day-long rural forum on Nov. 28 to explore the challenges of supporting aging rural and northern seniors.

A number of experts will highlight the emerging research and programs that help rural northern seniors. Information collected from discussions that will follow the presentations will be compiled into a report to be shared with municipal, provincial and federal policy makers, as well as the public.

“There are unique challenges when looking at health care and healthy aging for seniors in the North. Our speakers bring expertise in health systems, clinical practice, health policy, education, and Aboriginal and First Nations health in urban, rural and remote contexts,” said Dr. Wayne Warry, director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, in a press release.

“With the desire to keep seniors independent and at home longer, we need great minds to come together to brainstorm creative solutions to make sure our seniors are well taken care of and are safe and healthy.”

The Sudbury forum will feature special guest speaker Dr. Samir Sinha, director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and the provincial lead of Ontario’s Seniors Strategy Living Longer, Living Well.

The event will take place at the Rural Ontario Institute from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are required to pre-register at http://bit.ly/healthyagingnorth.