Concordia'a Centre for Research on Aging, engAGE, brings together researchers from a broad range of disciplines, from fine art to physics, to explore creative ways to study age and identify opportunities to enhance health and wellbeing across the life course.
A gift of $200,000 from Montreal’s Grace Dart Foundation to the Campaign for Concordia will advance research aimed at health care for seniors.
The donation will accelerate the work of Concordia’s Centre for Research on Aging (engAGE), a multidisciplinary and community-engaged hub whose mission is to change how society thinks about — and responds to the hardships of — aging.
“We are proud to support Concordia’s exploratory pilot study at engAGE on the effects of virtual music therapy and music leisure programs on older adults,” says Elise Nesbitt, president of the Grace Dart Foundation.
The foundation’s gift will also assist efforts to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on those at risk for dementia.
“We support a wide range of programs that relate to elders in the Greater Montreal Area,” adds Nesbitt. “Initiatives such as these serve as a reminder of the impact of the pandemic on the elderly and how we can do better to improve their lives.”
Through innovative and collaborative research, engAGE partners with seniors and community groups focused on elder care to help address a variety of social, physical, cognitive and emotional needs.
“The Grace Dart Foundation has demonstrated tremendous vision in supporting elder care,” says Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97, vice-president of Advancement at Concordia. “We are grateful that this commitment now includes engAGE and the urgent work it leads to improve quality of life for older adults.”