Patrícia Belchior is leading the #Tech2Connect initiative. She turned to participatory approaches to align her research interests to what really matters to the community. Her #Tech2Connect research focuses on how social platforms can be used by persons living with Alzheimer's and other related disorders and their carers to give voice to their concerns and, thus, also address the stigma related to technology use in later life. This initiative builds on her work as an occupational therapist, associate professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, and researcher at the ''Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal'' (CRIUGM), where she conducts studies in the areas of cognitive aging, technology, and the impact of stigma on the care of older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer's and other related disorders.
This project is a great opportunity to work with community organizations to understand the needs of persons living with dementia and their carers and work together to address those needs. Hopefully, it will help to bridge the gap between lab-based research and community organizations by helping us to adjust our "research compass" to focus on what really matters for persons living with dementia and their carer as they navigate the journey of dementia.
- Technology is becoming a central component to staying connected with the people we love and care for in our community. By participating in this survey, you can help us better understand your needs for, and/or how you use technology, to stay connected with others and engage in online activities.
Image by Kampus Production - Making friends with #tech is an initiative to support the adaptations of technology for social communication with those who matter to us, for participation in the things that matter to us, and to have a voice in how Alzheimer's and related disorders are represented to the public.Image by