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Healthy Aging and Wellness

Ideas for improving healthy aging and wellness services abound; we’re here to take ideas into research and then into reality.

Are you looking to turn your ideas into proven best practices, community or business opportunities in the health and wellness sector? We're here to help.

Niagara College’s Healthy Aging and Wellness Innovation Centre (HAWIC) aims to improve the quality of life of older adults by conducting applied research, shifting perspectives, and sharing knowledge.

The research team at HAWIC investigates and explores innovative solutions for tackling the challenges faced by our aging population, while working alongside our students and academic programs, industry partners, and community organizations.

Read on to learn about our specialties, as well as how to connect to start the conversation today.

Healthcare worker assisting senior with medication and technology support

How We Help

Aging-in-Place

Provides independence, comfort, financial savings, emotional well-being and social connections, personalized care and more.

Community

Through the integration of age-friendly social, recreational, and intergenerational opportunities, older adults can thrive within their community.

Nurse providing care with senior

Care and Services

Thoughtful consideration for the care and services of older adults can make all the difference in their quality of life.

Recreational Therapy student at Niagara College assisting a senior with technology device.

Technology

The use of technology can support older adults in practical and meaningful ways, while also contributing to their ability to remain independent.

Stack of books and notebook with pen

Education and Knowledge Mobilization

Staying current in the latest research topics/trends is important to our students, future leaders in innovative solutions for the aging population.

Want to learn more about our Services?

Visit the Healthy Aging and Wellness Innovation Centre’s Services page to learn more about our initiatives to improve the quality of life of older adults by conducting applied research, shifting perspectives and sharing knowledge.

Learn more

Our Process and How to Apply

By working with Research and Innovation, we provide you with a unique way to advance product development, improve performance or take an innovative leap forward in the marketplace, thanks to government funding from various sources, and opportunities available with our Innovation Centres.

Getting Started

Are you looking to advance your organization? Do you have an innovative idea but lack the resources to bring it to life? We can help.

Our research teams collaborate with many types of organizations in a wide range of specializations. We are ready to put together a strong research team determined to find the appropriate solution for you.

01

Start the conversation

Fill out and submit the Expression of Interest form.

02

We assess and reach out

We will contact you within two business days to schedule a call to answer any preliminary questions you may have and assess your project needs.

03

Determine appropriate service stream

Our business development team will discuss and determine the appropriate service stream and potential solutions, including options from quick turnaround technical services to full applied research projects. If our programs match your needs, we’ll be in touch, and, if appropriate, send a project application form for you to fill out.

04

Conduct your project

Once the project application forms are completed and signed on both sides, we execute the project or service. You will work closely with your Research and Innovation team during all phases of the project to achieve your project goals.

05

Reap the rewards

With successful completion, you obtain rights to the intellectual property generated from the project. You can now benefit from the project’s deliverables and achieve greater success for your organization!

Next Steps

Still want to learn more about us?

Check out Project Successes or read more about our award-winning work in News and Publications.

Our Services Opportunities Apply Now

Faculty and researchers play an integral part of an applied research project. Their specialized knowledge and experience allow them to direct the research in a way that optimizes results for their industry partner. They also ensure that the research assistant (student) and/or research associate (graduate) can progress as an industry professional through a positive real-world learning experience.

As for personal gain, the faculty and research leads benefit from professional development, and the ability to apply what they have learned and accomplished into their course-based teaching.

Getting Started

We have three ways to get involved with us:

01

By applying to conduct your own research through the Research Opportunity Fund

02

By conducting a course-based project in the classroom

03

By working with us on applied research projects as a Research Lead

Next Steps

Learn more about the Research Opportunity Fund.

To receive information on conducting course-based projects or to discuss working with us as a Research Lead, contact David DiPietro.

Are you a current student or recent graduate looking to obtain employment in your field? Looking to gain valuable work experience sought by today’s employers?

Niagara College’s Research and Innovation division can help you grow as an industry professional. As a student employee with one of our research centres, you will collaborate with local industry and community partners to conduct innovative research projects in various specializations.

Getting Started

Apply today to work with us.

Looking to get hands-on job experience? Want to work alongside faculty and staff researchers to assist industry and community partners with leaping forward in the marketplace?

Next Steps

New job opportunities are shared frequently on Research and Innovation’s social media channels and posted below as they become available.

Opportunities are located at the Welland Campus and/or Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit our Students page to review current job opportunities.

Opportunities Apply Now

Getting Started

Are you looking to advance your organization? Do you have an innovative idea but lack the resources to bring it to life? We can help.

Our research teams collaborate with many types of organizations in a wide range of specializations. We are ready to put together a strong research team determined to find the appropriate solution for you.

01

Start the conversation

Fill out and submit the Expression of Interest form.

02

We assess and reach out

We will contact you within two business days to schedule a call to answer any preliminary questions you may have and assess your project needs.

03

Determine appropriate service stream

Our business development team will discuss and determine the appropriate service stream and potential solutions, including options from quick turnaround technical services to full applied research projects. If our programs match your needs, we’ll be in touch, and, if appropriate, send a project application form for you to fill out.

04

Conduct your project

Once the project application forms are completed and signed on both sides, we execute the project or service. You will work closely with your Research and Innovation team during all phases of the project to achieve your project goals.

05

Reap the rewards

With successful completion, you obtain rights to the intellectual property generated from the project. You can now benefit from the project’s deliverables and achieve greater success for your organization!

Next Steps

Still want to learn more about us?

Check out Project Successes or read more about our award-winning work in News and Publications.

Our Services Opportunities Apply Now

Getting Started

We have three ways to get involved with us:

01

By applying to conduct your own research through the Research Opportunity Fund

02

By conducting a course-based project in the classroom

03

By working with us on applied research projects as a Research Lead

Next Steps

Learn more about the Research Opportunity Fund.

To receive information on conducting course-based projects or to discuss working with us as a Research Lead, contact David DiPietro.

Getting Started

Apply today to work with us.

Looking to get hands-on job experience? Want to work alongside faculty and staff researchers to assist industry and community partners with leaping forward in the marketplace?

Next Steps

New job opportunities are shared frequently on Research and Innovation’s social media channels and posted below as they become available.

Opportunities are located at the Welland Campus and/or Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit our Students page to review current job opportunities.

Opportunities Apply Now

Our Team

Click image to learn more

Alexandra Jackson headshot taken outside against red brick wall

Alexandra Jackson

Research Project Manager

As a Research Project Manager focusing on Healthy Aging and Wellness projects at Niagara College, Alexandra will play a pivotal role in assessing the viability and long-term impact of establishing an Innovation Centre in this area. This will involve curating a foundational framework for sustainable growth, fostering college and community benefit through applied research, partnerships, and innovation. Reporting to the Director, R&I, Alex will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive project success, ensuring alignment with NC’s strategic goals.

Alexandra worked for many years as a program and recreation manager in retirement homes, where she gained a passion for working with older adults. She started working at Niagara College in 2019 on a footcare assessment project to provide care to Niagara’s unhoused population, utilizing student placements.

Her most recent projects with NC include a one-year study to understand the age-friendly needs of current and potential students, ages 50+, who are or wish to attend the college, and how our post-secondary institution can be more age-friendly. She worked on NC’s Mental Health Framework following the Mental Health Commission of Canada National Standards to inform best practices for the mental health of college students and employees. For this project, she hosted focus groups and as well as the second annual mental health retreat for students, all funded by Bell Let’s Talk.

Alexandra also teaches at Sheridan College in the Social Service Worker – Gerontology program. She has experience as a certified personal trainer and aqua fitness instructor teaching fitness to older adults and is an active volunteer with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Barrie Community Hub, assisting with community fundraising events.

Alexandra is a graduate of the University of Guelph-Humber with an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, and a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion. In addition, she has a master’s in Health and Aging from Western University. She’s currently an Aging and Health PhD candidate at Queen’s University (online) where her dissertation work seeks to understand assistive technology use by persons aging with MS.