April 2025 Community of Interest Highlights
The Aging in Community Education & Research (ACER) Community of Interest is a growing platform that facilitates the exchange of emerging trends, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of research opportunities. Designed to foster connections in an informal and collaborative setting, it brings together organizations, faculty, researchers, and students, enabling them to engage and collaborate effectively.
The highlights from our recent CI gathering on Thursday, April 17th, 2025, are as follows:
The participant discussed the following points from the WEF Report “Future-Proofing the Longevity Economy: Innovations and Key Trends” https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_Proofing_the_Longevity...
Families are facing growing financial pressure due to the rising costs of both childcare and eldercare.
Women are disproportionately affected, often stepping back from their careers or reducing work hours to take on unpaid caregiving roles.
The report estimates that 475 million care jobs will need to be created globally by 2030 to meet the demands of an aging population.
There is inequitable access to care:
In high-income countries, long-term care options like nursing homes are often unaffordable.
In low-income countries, formal caregiving infrastructure is limited or non-existent.
Japan is leading innovation in caregiving:
Use of AI-enabled systems to monitor older adults for falls and emergencies.
Introduction of robotic companions like PARO, designed to offer emotional support to older adults.
Deployment of digital platforms that coordinate care among family, caregivers, and healthcare providers—improving communication and reducing caregiver burden.
The participant also discussed the benefits and challenges of the PSW immigration pathway introduced by the Government of Canada.
Please note:
The next Community of Interest (CI) gathering is scheduled for Thursday, May 15, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM. We invite all individuals interested in participating in this important dialogue. Whether you are a researcher, practitioner, student, or committed to improving the quality of life for older adults in our communities, your insights and experiences are highly valued. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults and the communities that support them.