iNice: The Aging App

Help Improve the Experience of Aging

by Christine Stoesser

If you’ve visited the ROM lately, you may have seen the ’House Calls with my Camera: Social Documentary Portraits by Dr. Mark Nowaczynski’, a photography exhibition that has been promoting awareness of the plight of the vulnerable elderly population.

The displayed photographs of Dr. Nowaczynski were taken while making house calls to his own patients—John L., Barbara B., Joseph L. and Joyce A. The photographs are as human as they are haunting, for every human ages but no one hopes to grow old like this. The images may shock some audiences, for their subjects are lonesome and their quality of life unacceptable.

One subject, John L., a 75 year-old Korean War veteran, was living alone in squalor and suffering from post-traumatic stress, dementia and heart disease. Joyce A. was alone, not eating, suffering many illnesses and unable to pay her bills—if her neighbour hadn’t noticed, who knows how her last days might have played out.

“If we didn’t go to these individuals, they wouldn’t get any health care because they can’t come to us. They would fall through the cracks. These are hidden worlds, people who cease to exist who have no voice. One day this will be you and I. You are not looking at an exotic species in another world – you are looking at your future,” said Dr. Mark Nowaczynski.

His photographs represent a problem that is only beginning to be addressed.
On May 19, 2011, the ’ National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE)’ is holding a Knowledge Exchange at Hart House at University of Toronto. The featured topics are not the easiest to swallow: elder abuse and senior suicides.

These information-sharing sessions will also address dementia, financial literacy and end-of-life issues. It also marks the launching of ‘The Aging Application’. The first of its kind, the online social platform has been designed to streamline geriatric care by providing 24/7 access to leading experts, knowledge and care management solutions. The event features Dr. Carole Estabrooks as keynote speaker on the importance sharing knowledge on this topic at a global level, and Dr. Marnin Heisel, a leading expert in suicide statistics among the elderly, will talk about prevention and awareness.

Dr. Lynn McDonald, founder and scientific director of NICE and recipient of the Governor General’s Golden Jubilee Medal, says, “Enhancing and supporting networking and collaboration, as well as putting reputable research into practice, are essential in adapting to the unprecedented global aging trend, particularly with baby boomers now starting to reach 65.”

NICE’s work in providing reliable aging information is at the forefront of a shift in the geriatrics community—in the last 18 months NICE has responded to over 300,000 requests for their invaluable information on managing aging issues like poverty, depression and the quality of life and death in a nursing home.

You can help:

• Learn about and Register for the Knowledge Exchange Online at: http://www.niceke.ca/ or call 416-978-0545

• Follow the Event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Initiative-for-the-Care-of-the-Elderly-NICE/276356887489

• Follow the Event on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Nicenetca

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