We are currently leading or partnering on the following research projects:
Understanding the Barriers and Facilitators to Shared Decision-Making and Goal-Setting for Persons with Dementia in Specialized Geriatric Services
RECRUITMENT OPEN
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About The Study: The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges and supports to decision-making and goal-setting with persons with dementia in
specialized geriatric services (SGS), from the perspectives of the different individuals involved.
The researchers are recruiting individuals who are:
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living with dementia and/or a care partner supporting a person with dementia who has experience with care provided by specialized geriatric services; or
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clinicians (i.e. a member of a regulated health profession working in specialized geriatric services)
Examples of specialized geriatric services include:
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Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Nurse Programs in emergency departments
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Geriatric Outreach Teams (e.g. GAIN Teams, GAOT Teams)
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Behavioural Support Ontario (BSO)
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Memory Clinics
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Hospital based geriatric acute care, rehabilitation, and behavioural units (e.g. ACE, GATU, GMU, and etc.)
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Community Paramedicine
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Nurse-Led Outreach Teams (e.g. NLOT, NPSTAT)
Participants will be asked to answer some demographic questions and participate in a research interview by phone or videoconference with a member of the research team about their experiences. Interviews will be 30-45 minutes in length (persons with dementia and/or care partners), or 45-90 minutes (clinicians).
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For more information on how to participate in this research study, please click the image of the recruitment posters.
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PhD Student Investigator:
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Stacey A. Hawkins, PhD Student, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University;
Director of Research and Evaluation, Seniors Care Network; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University; Interdisciplinary Fellow, Canadian Frailty Network
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Principal Investigator (PI): ​
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Dr. Winnie Sun, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University
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External Funder/Sponsor:
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The researcher is funded by the Canadian Frailty Network (Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network), which is supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program.
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This study has been reviewed by the Ontario Tech University Research Ethics Board (#18560) on April 25, 2025.
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A Training Needs Assessment (TNA) of Specialized Geriatric Service (SGS) Clinicians
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About The Study: We are looking for clinicians/healthcare providers who work with seniors to participate in a provincial training needs assessment via an online survey. This includes clinicians/healthcare professionals who work in specialized geriatric services (SGS), and healthcare providers who work with seniors (but not in SGS). Non-regulated health professions/providers are eligible to complete the surveys.
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Principal Investigator (PI):
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Stacey A. Hawkins, Director of Research and Evaluation, Seniors Care Network; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University; Interdisciplinary Fellow, Canadian Frailty Network
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External Funder/Sponsor:
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The researcher is funded by the Canadian Frailty Network (Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network), which is supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program.
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This study has been reviewed by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Ontario Tech University) Research Ethics Board (#16336) on July 19, 2021.
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