What is this Study about?

Exposure to nature—even just a few minutes at a time—supports improved attention, mood, self-regulation, and social connection.

“Green health initiatives” are outdoor or nature-based activities designed to have a potential positive impact on health. Some of these initiatives are specifically designed to include people living with dementia. These can include walking groups, golfing, farm gardening programs, and seasonal social activities located in parks or natural spaces. We are currently conducting an international literature review to find out more about when and how green health initiatives operate to generate benefits for people living with dementia. As part of this initiative, we are planning a series of three consultation events to learn more about the interests of people living with dementia. For each consultation, participants will receive a $20 Tim Horton's gift card in thanks for their time.

What is this Study about?

This study evaluates an at-home, digital cognitive screening tool for older adults experiencing memory changes across the dementia continuum. Participants will complete a brief series of engaging, online brain games and surveys to determine the tool's accuracy compared to traditional clinical assessments. The goal of this study is to provide accessible, patient-friendly monitoring of brain health that reduces the need for clinic travel and lowers barriers to early detection of dementia.

What is this Study about?

This study examines how Black family caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area experience and access social support while caring for a relative living with dementia. Using Straussian Grounded Theory informed by Critical Theory and Intersectionality, the research explores how factors such as race, culture, gender, and community shape caregiving experiences and support-seeking behaviours. Findings will be used to develop theory grounded in the lived experiences of Black caregivers, and to inform more culturally responsive dementia care policies, services, and supports across Canada. This study has been approved by the York University Research Ethics Board (Protocol 130, April 2026).

What is this Study about?

This study looks at how an at-home nature-based virtual reality (VR) program may help people living with Alzheimer’s Disease manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as depression. Caregivers and/or study partners will have the option of taking part in the study and providing feedback regarding the VR intervention. This project will explore how virtual reality can be used as a non-pharmacological approach to prolong aging in place for individuals with BPSD, as BPSD contributes to rates of institutionalization.

What is this Study about?

This study is part of a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) research program that seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of CBT in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in mid-to-late life, especially as MDD is a key risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. As inflammation has recently been linked to MDD, and CBT has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation, this study also aims to understand the role of inflammation in MDD severity and in the likelihood of response to CBT.

What is this Study about?

This study explores the experiences of family and friends of long-term care residents. It focuses on how they experience stress, burden, and mental health challenges, and how a single-session online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or educational materials may help. We will use the information gathered from questionnaires and interventions to understand the effectiveness of these supports and to develop recommendations for improving resources, strategies, and interventions to better meet the needs of family and friends, helping them manage stress and maintain wellbeing while caring for someone in long-term care.

What is this Study about?

This study explores the experience of family and friend caregivers when they are supporting a person living with dementia to discharge from hospital including the emergency room. It focuses on how caregivers experience discharge planning processes and policies, how their perspectives and needs are considered at this key time, and the impacts upon the person they care for and themself in the 6 months after a hospital stay. We will used findings to develop recommendations to improve understanding of the role, needs and rights of caregivers as they care for people who live with dementia in the community.

What is this Study about?

This study explores how adult day programs affect the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers across several Canadian regions. Over time, we gather information about health, well-being, daily experiences, and quality of life of people living with dementia who attend day program and their caregivers. We also aim to learn about day programs themselves, such as their activities, staffing, challenges, and successes. By combining surveys, interviews, and focus groups, our program of research aims to understand what makes day programs helpful, where challenges exist, and how day program can better support families, and people who use them.

What is this Study about?

Assistive technology products are things that help you function or carry out activities more easily by yourself. Products could be any devices, equipment, instruments, or software. Examples could be mobile phone apps that provide calendar reminders, switches that turn off stoves, or walkers.

Assistive technology services are activities or resources that help you to use or maintain assistive technology products. Services refer to assessment, training, and maintenance that help with choosing, using, and repairing assistive technology products.

Getting these products and services means having to contact different organizations. If these products and services could be bundled as one unit, it may help persons with dementia get them more easily and potentially reduce costs. Right now, policymakers need more information about providing assistive technologies as bundles.

The purpose of the study is to learn about your experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles.

For persons with dementia: We would like to interview you now to understand your past and current experiences. We would also like to interview you each year for up to three years (for three interviews) to see how your experiences change over time. You may leave at any time.

For care partners: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles. If interested, you may also take part in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.

For healthcare providers: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with assisting persons with dementia and care partners to access and use products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles and how delivery may be improved. If interested, you may also take part 6 / 10 in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after completing the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.