The COVID-19 global crisis appeared in numerous countries, spreading rapidly with multiple waves of infection, and has resulted in unprecedented social change and challenges in terms of public health, health and continuing care systems, economies, communities, and families. Although there have been numerous other pandemics in recent history (e.g., HIV/AIDS, H1N1, SARS, MERS, etc.), COVID-19 has developed into one of the most serious pandemics for almost a century, since the occurrence of the Spanish flu. Furthermore, COVID-19 has been conceptualized as a ‘gero-pandemic,’ defined as a disease that has spread globally with heightened significance and deleterious consequences for older people. With the appearance of this crisis, the Gerontology Research Centre pivoted to address the structural, system-level contexts of COVID-19, and individual-level risks, experiences and responses. Below are a list of recent grants, publications and media stoies that the GRC has spearheaded.
Grants
- Cosco, T. D. (Co-Is: Wister, A. et al.). COVID-19: mental health needs and technological interventions for social connectedness amongst older older adults. SSHRC: Partnership Engage Grant. Total: $25,000.
- DeMarco, M. L. (Co-Is: Best, J. R. et al.). Quantitative isotype profiling and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infections: next-generation serology. MSFHR: Covid-19 Research Response Fund. Total: $124,000.
- O’Connell, M. E. & Haase, K. (Co-Is: Cosco, T. D. et al.) Socialization intervention and mental health monitoring for older adults in the era of physical distancing due to COVID-19. CIHR: Operating Grant: COVID-19 Mental Health & Substance Use Service Needs and Delivery. Total: $199,577.
- Wister, A. (SFU PI/Lead, National PIs: Raina, P., Kirkland, S. & Wolfson C.). CLSA COVID-19 studies: 1) COVID-19 telephone/online longitudinal study; 2) Sero-prevalence COVID-19 study. Total: $6,035,000 includes CIHR CLSA: Core Funding; McMaster Institute for Research on Aging: Juravinsky Fund: $800,000; Nova Scotia Health Research Coalition: $35,000; PHAC: $1,200,000; PHAC: Immunity Task Force: $4,000,000 ask.
- Wister, A. COVID-19 community wellbeing and socioeconomic deprivation in BC: environmental scan toward neighbourhood social capital. SSHRC: Partnership Engage Grant: Special Initiative COVID-19. Total: $24, 850.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cosco, T. D., Best, J. R., Davis, D., Bryden, D., Arkill, S., van Oppen, J., ... & Conroy, S. What is the relationship between validated frailty scores and mortality for adults with COVID-19 in acute hospital care? A systematic review. Age and Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afab008
- Klasa, K., Galaitsi, S., Wister, A., & Linkov, I. (2021). System models for resilience in gerontology: application to the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01965-2
- Wister, A. & Speechley, M. (2020). COVID-19: Pandemic risk, resilience and possibilities for aging research. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 39(3), 344-347. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0714980820000215
Reports
- Gutman, G., de Vries, B., Beringer, R., Dault, H., & Gill, P. (2021). COVID-19 and Advance Care Planning (ACP): influence of age group, gender and sexual orientation. iCAN-ACP. https://www.sfu.ca/lgbteol
- Gutman, G. (2020). Elder abuse and COVID-19 in Canada: expect an increase in all types of abuse. BCCRN. https://bccrns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BC-CRN-article-on-Elder-abuse-and-COVID-19_Reformat_200524.pdf
- Wister, A. & Wagner, K. R. (Eds.) (2020). COVID-19 special issue: risk, response and resilience in a COVID-19 world. Gerontology Research Centre. https://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/grc/stories/grc-news/GRC-News-Summer-2020.pdf
Book Chapters
- Wister, A. (In Press). Health promotion and aging during a pandemic: risk, resilience and COVID-19. In I. Rootman, P. Edwards, M. Levasseur & F. Grunberg (Eds.), Health of older adults: The Canadian experience. Canadian Scholars Press Inc.
- Wister, A. (Forth.). Precarious aging: COVID-19 risk, resilience and response. In B. Trump & I. Linkov (Eds.), COVID: Risk and resilience. Springer.
Media
- Cosco, T. D. (2020, November 5) Loneliness and loss: Burnaby seniors not alone in COVID's isolation crisis. Burnaby now. https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/loneliness-and-loss-burnaby-seniors-not-alone-in-covids-isolation-crisis-3141316
- Gutman, G. (2020, June 5) Senior abuse and the pandemic. The Squamish Chief. https://www.squamishchief.com/news/local-news/senior-abuse-and-the-pandemic-1.24147760
- Gutman, G. (2020, November 2) BC sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, but no new rules yet. The Tyee. https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/11/02/BC-COVID-Spike-No-New-Rules-Yet/
- Gutman, G. (2021, February 1) Canadians aged 55 to 64 experienced more negative effects from the pandemic than those over 65: Survey. Vancouver Sun. https://vancouversun.com/news/canadians-aged-55-to-64-experienced-more-negative-effects-from-the-pandemic-than-those-over-65-survey
- Wister, A. (2020, March 26) Physical distancing does not mean isolation: keeping elders safe while combating loneliness during COVID-19. SFU News. https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2020/03/physical-distancing-does-not-mean-isolation-keeping-elders-safe.html
- Wister, A. (2020, March 24) COVID-19: So can I date? What’s the best way to socially distance ourselves? The Vancouver Sun. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/covid-19-so-can-i-date-whats-the-best-way-to-socially-distance-ourselves
- Wister, A. (2020, April 29) Ageism in the COVID-19 Crisis. The Vancouver Sun. https://vancouversun.com/opinion/andrew-wister-ageism-in-the-covid-19-crisis
Presentations
- Cosco, T. D. (2020, November 24). Addressing stigma: aging and older adults [Webinar]. United Way of the Lower Mainland. https://healthyagingcore.ca/resources/recorded-webinar-addressing-stigma-aging-and-older-adults
- Gutman, G. (2020, May 11). Using technology to assist older adults in coping with COVID-19 [Webinar]. International Society of Gerontechnology. https://youtu.be/-prwnswY19A
- Gutman, G.: Webinar presenter (2020, May 19). Elder abuse and natural disasters. Lessons learned that could apply to COVID-19 [Webinar]. BC Association of Community Response Networks. https://bccrns.ca/event/provincial-learning-event-elder-abuse-and-natural-disasters-lessons-learned-that-could-apply-to-covid-19/
- Gutman, G. (2020, June 10). Elder abuse and COVID-19: risk and protective factors [Webinar]. Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario & Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse, https://cnpea.ca/en/about-cnpea/cnpea-webinars/1129-elder-abuse-covid-19-risks-protective-factors
- Wister, A. (2020, May 21) How is grandma really doing? Caring for seniors in the community during COVID-19 [Webinar]. SFU Public Square. https://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/upcoming-events/distant-not-disengaged/how-is-grandma-really-doing-caring-for-elders-in-our-community.html