Applying Technology to Improve Quality of Life for Persons Living with Dementia

Join us for the following sMAP CREATE webinar and forward to colleagues who may be interested:

The sMAP CREATE program webinar series invites scientists from different disciplines whose commitment and research relates to mobility in aging populations.

The July 2021 webinar series presents Mary Burnett who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton, with more than 30 years of senior management experience in government, health care, social services and education accompanied by Dr. Nafia Al-Mutawaly speaking about their collaboration in applying technology to improve quality of life for persons living with dementia.

All are welcome https://mcmaster.zoom.us/j/95623094245 . For more information, email smap.create@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

This presentation will provide students with a brief overview of dementia and the innovative use of technology to improve the quality of life of persons living with this progressive illness. The focus of the discussion is a dynamic lighting system, which mimics the 24-hour cycle of natural sunlight. Such a system has been shown to promote healthy sleep and reduce incidents related to sleep deprivation (e.g. sundowning, sleep/wake reversal), which are associated with living spaces lacking sufficient/appropriate lighting.

SPEAKER BIOS:

Mary Burnett is Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton. She has more than 30 years of senior management experience in government, health care, social services and education.  Her organization was one of the first to undergo a voluntary integration under the LHIN Act in 2009, bringing together three smaller Societies in order to enhance services to those affected by dementia.  Recognized as an innovator and creative thinker, Mary has won multiple awards for her leadership and team building skills. A life‐long learner, Mary holds both bachelor and master’s degrees in education, and completed her Master’s of Health Science Administration at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Nafia Al-Mutawaly is Mohawk College’s Industrial Research Chair in smart grid technologies, investigating the impacts of harmonics (distortions of current or voltage in power distribution systems) generated by electric vehicles and residential loads. Harmonics can create unwanted heat and inefficiencies in power supply. Data collected through the research project will be used to develop adaptive harmonic filters to improve distribution system reliability.