Research Themes
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Agri-food for Healthy Aging (A-HA)
Collaborative Programs
Fitness & Plasticity of Aging Program
Functional Abilities Program
Geriatric Medicine
Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP)
Optimizing Medications for Seniors Program
Policy & Workforce Optimization
Senior-friendly Built Environments
Spiritual Care for Seniors Program
Vascular Aging Program
New Programs Under Development
Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program
Program Coordinator: Dr. Sherry Dupuis
MAREP Website: www.marep.uwaterloo.ca
Since its inception in 1993, MAREP has made significant progress in bridging the gap between research and practice in order to enhance the ability of all involved in dementia care to respond more appropriately and respectively to the needs of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. In the last few years, we have been able to develop important and innovative research-based educational tools and forums including our video Breaking the Silence: Giving Voice to Persons with Dementia, our CD-Rom Dementia Care Education Series, our Responsive Behaviour Video and Resource Guide, and our annual learning and sharing forum designed specifically for persons living with dementia and their partners in care. We are particularly excited about our latest and most innovative educational project based on the research-based drama "I'm Still Here" and have recently received funding to evaluate the impact of this tool on dementia care.
Our research examines issues targeted at improveing the quality of the day-to-day lives of persons living with dementia and their families and includes projects such as:
- the Ontario Dementia Caregiver Needs Project conducted as part of the Ontario Alzheimer Strategy
- the Transitions in Long-Term Care project focused on improving the transition from community care to long-term care
- the Responsive Behaviour Study which is examining behaviours in the dementia context,
- and the Eating Together Project designed to examine issues around food and mealtimes for persons with dementia and their family partners in care
We are confident that through these initiatives, and by developing strong partnerships with other organizations committed to improving the quality of life of persons with dementia and their families, we will continue to have an impact on dementia care in Ontario and beyond.
Current Research Projects
| Project Name | Principal Investigator |
| Ongoing MAREP research projects | Dr. Sherry Dupuis |
| SSHRC-CURA Grant: Culture change in long-term care | Dr. Sherry Dupuis |
| Changing the Culture of Aging | Jennifer Carson Supervisor: |
| Dementia Orientation: "Good dementia care" | Leah Sadler |
Completed Research Projects
| Project Name | Principal Investigator | Completion Date |
| Establishing a memory clinic for older adults living in retirement care | Dr. Erin Skinner University of Waterloo |
2010 |
| Education: Communication and meaningful activity | Frances Morton |
2008 |
| Education: Pathways of dementia and coping with stress on the caregiver journey | Leah Sadler |
2008 |
| Education: The A.R.T. of bathing in dementia care | Dr. Lori Schindel-Martin Ryerson University |
2008 |
| Transitioning from home to long-term care: the experiences of older persons, family members and service providers | Dr. Tamara Sussman University of Waterloo |
2007 |
| Education: Responsive Behaviours | Frances Morton |
2007 |