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You can donate online via CanadaHelps.org (or click the image above) or
call 519-571-1873 x127 during regular office hours to make a donation.
Why Donate?
Innovation in Seniors Care is Urgently Needed
The number of people over age 65 is growing exponentially, partly because baby boomers are aging, and also because people are living longer. In fact, the fastest growing group is 80 years and older.
This "graying" of Canada is placing unprecedented pressures on a health care system that is already in crisis. The urgency has never been greater for innovations in health promotion, chronic disease management and health care for seniors. Research related to low vision, falls prevention, joint replacement, cerebrovascular blood flow, dementia, quality of life, nutrition, medication use and evaluation of best practices has never been more relevant or more necessary.
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) promotes research relevant to aging in both community and long-term care settings by providing a voluntary and vibrant "living research environment" for conducting research which can be translated to a knowledge base from which policy and best practices can be drawn and applied to both population health and the health care system.
The link between researchers, trainers and practitioners is key to creating high quality research and a readiness to use the results. Because the research happens within the environment of its application, results are immediately translated to practice. Front line workers help define concepts and needs for research projects. The research results are incorporated into staff training programs and into curriculum design for students training for careers that may take them into long-term care environments or community-based seniors care.
Building on Research Success
RIA is proud to be home to three established research programs:
- the Functional Abilities Program, which develops individual exercise programs from long-term care residents to maintain and increase their functional independence,
- the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program, which integrates educational and research activities in an effort to improve dementia care practices,
- the Vascular Aging Program which explores cardiorespiratory and vascular dynamics and aging, and the impact of these dynamics on gait, stability, dizziness and falls.
Newer and emerging research teams that are also part of RIA include teams working on
- Optimizing Medications for Seniors,
- Spiritual Care for Seniors,
- Nutrition and Aging, and
- Fitness and Plasticity of Aging.
You can earmark your donation to a research area of your choice, or you can let us determine where your generous donations are most needed to advance knowledge and practice.
Confidence in the long term sustainability and growth of RIA
The RIA is operating under a multi-level strategy to make certain that financial resources are in place to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.
- Dr. Ron Schlegel has committed $6,000,000 over 10 years to develop the Institute. This includes funding for an Executive Director, Associate Director, Research Coordinator and administrative support. It also includes funding for four joint faculty appointments (Schlegel Research Chairs in Aging), a graduate scholarship fund, and a seed grant fund for young or established investigators working in applied research on aging.
- The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided funding for special projects totaling approximately $375,000 over the last 2 years.
- Sale of educational products developed by research teams has provided revenue to those research teams. For example, sales of products produced by the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program across Canada, the US, Australia and the UK totaled approximately $60,000 to date this year and these funds were reinvested into the research team for continued work on research and product development.
- RIA is embarking on a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $1-$2,000,000 from private sector individuals, corporations and foundations.
Your donations will be added to these funds, all of which will be leveraged by applications to Tri-Council and other public funding agencies that support research on aging.
What your support provides
Support of the RIA will:
- Foster an environment that encourages research in healthy aging and long-term care, including support of career scientists from various disciplines;
- Enable the development of specific long-term care strategies, interventions and outcome measurements;
- Allow the evaluation of new systematically developed programs (as well as those developed anecdotally or by folk wisdom) to develop a knowledge base for best practices;
- Create specific programs for staff development specializing in older adult care;
- Provide leadership development and enhance management skills;
- Ensure enhanced caregiving in community and long-term care settings and promote quality of life for all older adults;
- Facilitate the study of the aging process and assist with the dissemination of research nationally and internationally;
- Build research capacity in Canada through the support of existing internationally-renowned scholars and the mentorship by those faculty members of new, young researchers with an interest in aging; and
- Enable the dissemination of information and programs to health care stakeholders and institutions in Ontario and Canada.
Giving Options
To discuss any of the donation options listed below, please contact Josie d'Avernas at (519) 571-1873 ext. 1271
One-time donation
Make a one-time donation by phone, fax, in person or online.
Monthly donations
Your donations, big or small, are very important to RIA and to seniors everywhere. Consider a monthly pledge in any amount.
Planned Giving
Interested in giving a gift in the form of a bequest? Contact us for information or to meet with us and your estate advisor.
Other
Donors have many options when it comes to making gifts to the RIA. The type of gift you choose depends on many factors. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss and design a personalized giving program that meets your goals and is suitable to your financial situation.
Fundraising and Donation Guidelines
Objectives
Our fundraising objective is to provide the needed financial support to enable the RIA to fulfill its mission and provide the highest quality of research and training in doing so.
Confidentiality
The RIA will publicly acknowledge donors unless a request for confidentiality is expressly received.
Donation Guidelines
We welcome gifts from individuals, foundations, businesses, associations and corporations.
Naming in recognition of donations will follow the RIA's policy on naming.
RIA will not accept gifts that require special consideration in return, such as access to services, employment or contract work.
The RIA undertakes to adhere to the standards set out in the Imagine Canada Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code in its treatment of donors and the public, its fundraising practices and its financial transparency, and to be accountable through its Board of Directors for doing so.