Evidence has shown that technology can play a meaningful role in helping older adults remain safe, independent, and connected to their communities. With the decreasing ratio of caregivers, and care spaces to care recipients in supporting older adults, aging at home is a priority for all entities involved.

Hosted by Health Cities, Best Buy Canada, and the Brenda Strafford Foundation, key stakeholders participated in a Helpful Home Virtual Roundtable discussion to help develop a framework that can be used as a model for a helpful home in Alberta. Representatives from various sectors that have an interest in seniors and aging in place participated, including government, industry, service providers and patient groups. Outcomes of the session included identified barriers, required partners, and actions to support aging at home with technology.

The report from the session is available below.

Date: October 14, 2021

Roundtable Participants:

Rei Ahn – Program Research and Experience Lead, Best Buy Health (Best Buy Canada) 

Sarah Aghvami– Director, Best Buy Health (Best Buy Canada) 

Bindi Ferguson – Director – Commercialization (Health), Alberta Innovates 

Brad Shopland – Manager, Financial Analytics and Reporting, DynaLIFE 

Evan Romanow – Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Service Delivery, Alberta Health 

Feisal Keshavjee – Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Transformation, CBI Health 

Jaret Groux – Housing Manager, Mustard Seed Calgary 

Jason Pincock – CEO, DynaLIFE 

Jonathan Uruthiran – Senior Manager, Ernst & Young (EY) 

Kesa Shikaze – Executive Director, Senior Strategic Planning Branch, Ministry of Seniors and Housing 

Marlene Raasok – Innovation Consultant 

Mei Fang – Senior Research Scholar, Science and Technology Aging Research Institute, Simon Fraser University 

Joanna Pollock – Director General, Business, Innovation, and Community Development, PrairiesCan 

Karen McDonald – Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association 

Lana Solberg – Health Care Solutions & Partnerships, Western Canada, Boehringer-Ingelheim  

Steve Hughes – Representative on behalf of Jasper Place Wellness Centre 

Steve Kovacic – Vice President of IT, Market Housing, Growth and Innovation, The Good Samaritan Society 

Oba Harding – Senior Business Officer, PrairiesCan 

Tracie Risling – Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary 

Navjot Virk – Research and Innovation Practice Manager, The Brenda Strafford Foundation 

Mike Conroy – CEO (former), The Brenda Strafford Foundation 

Reg Joseph – CEO, Health Cities 

Chris Carvalho – Consultant, Health Cities