Academic Health Science Network says Canadians living with frailty will double over next 20 years

The Northern Capital will be having a two-day symposium put on at the Prince George Civic Centre.

On Nov. 7-8, the British Columbia Academic Health Science Network looks to address the increased needs in caring for and the overall well-being of older adults.

Individuals involved in health care or health research who are interested in learning more about the well-being of older adults, and older adults interested in the future of their own care, or a caregiver who’s unsure of what to expect, are invited to attend in person or tune in by internet.

Topics being covered are to include, among others, frailty, dementia, healthy ageing, seniors care and outcomes in BC.

“This symposium aims to shine a bright light on how we care for our seniors — especially with a growing population of older adults,” said Dr. Tom Noseworthy, BC AGSN’s CEO. “For example, the number of people living with frailty in Canada will double in the next 20 years. We’re starting to collaborate now to ensure that we’re ready to face an ageing population by using research evidence and knowledge to inform complex care and enable change.”

Attendees will include health care decision-makers, physicians, clinicians, caregivers, patient partners, as well as researchers who work together to make informed decisions about care.

Noseworthy told MyPGNow that the purpose of the symposium will be to better plan for the future and the care that is provided as health problems that seniors are facing increase.

“We’re ageing as a country. There are now more people over the age of 65 than there are under the age of 15,” said Noseworthy. “We’re starting to see some progressively increasing numbers of problems associated with that, such as an increase of people with loss of their cognitive function and dementia. There are about a million people with frailty in Canada, and that’ll double. We want to have a conference in the north because we believe it’s important to get ahead of this in the north. There are different issues and different challenges, but there are also a lot of assets in the communities.”

There is no charge to attend the event. However, due to limited space, attendees are required to register beforehand.

Additional information is available at the BC AHSN’s website.