Aging in Place Spotlight Series Presenting: Nora Lambrecht - RCIC, International Student Advisor, Graduate Student Specialist

First question: What has been rewarding for you in working with international students at the Global Engagement Office? Response: I love working with international students because I love seeing the path to success and for us being part of that pathway because I've been an international student myself, I'm very aware of the challenges international students [have] to deal with... So I want to be part of that." Second question: How did your experience and diverse cultural perspectives shape your approach to learning and growing in your career? Response: There is a Chinese saying: "Live until you're old and learn until you're old" Right? So you are constantly learning and we're constantly trying to develop ourselves. Your life experience sort of shapes your career experience as well...

Third question: What are your hopes for the University's future and how do you see 'age friendly' as an intergral part of this institution? Response: In my Iranian culture - and more broadly, in many Asian cultures - age is something to be honoured and respected. There's a natural understanding in many of our cultures that age brings wisdom and I personally learn so much from my older colleagues. I'd love to see other departments across campus reflect more on this - not just hiring across ethnic lines, but also hiring across age groups. Fourth question: If you saw your younger self on campus, what pieces of advice would you give to her? Response: I think the main advice I would give her is to connect more deeply and earlier with elders and intergenerational communities, both on and off campus. I would tell my younger self to have more conversations with her peers about the importance of age to actively seek those connections.

Nora's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Another week, another #SpotlightSeries! ✨

This week's feature is Nora!

Nora talks about the cultural importance and meaning of aging, her connection to international students, the inclusion of 'age friendly' within the University and more...

#UBCO #UBC #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place Spotlight Series Presenting: Robert Buonomo - Coordinator of Facilities Management, Campus Operations

First question: What has been the most rewarding aspect of working at the University? Response: "Most rewarding is the students, every convocation year is the best time of year as seeing them with their family taking pictures and smiling and family members so very proud of their child, brother, sister, as our role isn't to do with teaching them but to make sure the campus, classrooms, study spaces are all in great condition for them to learn here and study in." Second question: As an older adult do you find campus to be easily accessible (mobility-wise)? Are there any challenges you/you think others would face? Response: "I think more automatic doors at entrnaces, even having two elevators in each building and I am also thinking of people with disability so if they have a class on upper floors and the elevator goes out of order. I know our DRC is working on getting more power desks in classrooms which is great."

Third question: What is some advice you can share wth older adults who are looking to come to UBCO and get in touch with learning again? Response: "I have seen several older students on campus and graduating from our campus and I can say when you hear the cheers when they go on stage from their family, friends, and the students it is really great to hear and see. After seeing that I would say to anyone older than even 50, that is thinking to become a nurse, for example, to go for it as there are so many opportuniities in universities. Fourth question: What motivates you to continue to learn and grow in your field of work? "I really really enjoy coming into work each day as I get to do a different type of work daily, meeting with a lot of people and to get to know them and create a great working environment. Knowing the work I do does help others in one way or another.

Robert's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Here is this week’s #SpotlightSeries! ✨

Our next feature is Robert!

Robert shares what he likes about working at UBCO, advice for older adults interested in attending university, and suggests improvements to enhance accessibility...

#UBCO #UBC #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place Spotlight Series Presents: Roger Bizzotto - Associate Director of Facilities Management

First question: What do you like about working on the UBC Okanagan campus? Response: I like the positive energy here. There are so many brilliant minds here and there's enthusiasm from the researchers - they share their research with me which makes me understand why I'm here. Second question: Do you consider yourself a life-long learner? How do you try to implement that into your day-to-day life? Response: I totally consider myself a life-long learner. I support any professional development within my team. I'm part of a global association called APA...I put my managers through it because it provides top quality professional development. Life-long learning is important and if people want to get better at something, I strongly support it.

Third question: As an older adult, do you find the campus to be easily accessible? Any challenges you face? Response: I think the campus is pretty good with accessibility. One challenge is that our geographic location is on a hill. It is very hard to get that 5% incline reduced. Fourth question: UBCO is accredited as an "age-friendly" institution, do you agree with this, where do you see this? Response: Yes. UBCO is definitely and age-friendly campus. I see this within my own team and my peer departments, a lot of them are taking professional development courses and seminars and there's engagement. The distinguished speaker series is also great.

Roger's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Here is this week’s #SpotlightSeries! ✨

Our next feature is Roger!

Roger shares what he likes about working at the University, his thoughts on lifelong learning, and seeing UBCO as an age-friendly institution...

#UBCO #UBC #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Introducing the Aging in Place Spotlight Series featuring Dr. Jan Cioe: Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Undergraduate Psychology Program, and Senior Academic Advisor.

First Question: What do you like about working on the UBC Okanagan campus? Response: I have always had really good administrative support at all levels. When I was Head of Psychology and even when I was no longer a Head, the new leads have always been great. And even the Deans and the Senior Administrative have always been very student-focused which is one of my values. Second Question: Do you consider yourself a life-long learner? How do you try to implement that into your day-to-day life? Response: Yes. I teach, and teaching involves keeping up with the literature, so I do that every year and systematically review the research that has been published on human sexuality in the last year. And then incorporate some of that into my lectures.

Third Question: As an older adult, do you find the campus to be easily accessible? Any challenges you face? Response: No challenges, they have done a great job, over the course of a number of years, especially in terms of accessibility for people who have mobility questions but also just in terms of signs. Signs are a lot more around. Fourth Question: What is some advice that you can share to older adults who are looking to come to UBCO and get in touch with learning again? Response: I would encourage them to be realistic about their workload. And to ensure that they recognize there is probably rust in the gears and the world has shifted. And their capacity to learn will not be at the same level as it was 10 years ago. So, they must set realistic expectations, pacing yourself is important. Faster isn't necessarily better.

Dr, Cioe's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

✨ Here is this week’s #SpotlightSeries!

We’re excited to feature Dr. Jan Cioe!

Dr. Cioe shares his journey at UBCO, offers thoughtful advice for older adults, and speaks about his passion for teaching and lifelong learning. Don’t miss it! 👇

#UBCO #UBC #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place is also conducting a #WalkabilityAudit of UBCO campus accessibility through the administration of a survey.

Our second participant is Kitty!

More videos to be posted on our YouTube channel @AginginPlaceUBCO

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Okanagan Embrace Aging Month Recap. Brain Awareness Week booth, intergenerational events inlcluding intergenerational ice breaker and Age-Link SUO gala, Walkability Audit and Spotlight Series. Thank you for joining us in celebrating Okanagan Embrace Aging Month!

💐✨ Wrapping up #OkanaganEmbraceAging Month! ✨💐

From Brain Awareness Week to intergenerational events and walkability audits, we celebrated aging, inclusion, and lifelong learning. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this amazing month! 💙

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan

Aging in Place Spotlight Series Presenting: Jacquetta Benard - Administrative Assistant for the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention

First question: What motivates you to continue to learn and grow in your field of work as you age? Response: I am always interested in learning and developing skills to improve my outcomes - that is motivation in itself. Second question: What are your hopes for the University's future and how do you see "age-friendly" as integral to the institution's mission? Response: Encouraging older adults to come to campus to learn and share their wisdom with younger students - lifelong friendships may develop. Third question: What has been the most rewarding aspect of working at UBC Okanagan? Response: Reaching the off-campus community (mainly older adults) through events and getting the positive feedback after the event.

Fourth question: What does the younger generation teach you? Response: The younger generation is my future - they show/teach me how they are thinking and moving forward into their future and it's a good thing to stay current with them. I will need their experience. Fifth question: What is one piece of advice you have for other people your age or for students who are just starting their careers? Response: Your work span is a long time. Take the time to explore different areas of employment, career, education. There is time for it all and change is good. Follow your heart, and take chances.

Jacquetta's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluser are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Happy Friday! Here is this week's #SpotlightSeries!

Our next feature is Jacquetta!

Jacquetta talks about what motivates her to continue working, what she hopes for the University's future and more...

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place: Spotlight Series. Presenting: Bradley Buie - Manager of Communications and Engagement in the Faculty of Health and Social Development

First question: What's been the most rewarding aspect of working at UBC Okanagan? Response: Telling the stories of our students doing research or learning activities that make a positive difference. For example, we have nursing students learning about global health by going to Ghana and Zambia to learn and teach alongside partners in those countries. Second question: What does the younger generation teach you? Response: The younger generation teaches me to look with fresh eyes. As we age we don't have many 'firsts', like the first time you tasted ice cream or the first time you had a crush. We'll never have these firsts again, but we would do well to keep the memory of those 'firsts' vivid in our memory to understand the younger generation.

Third question: What motivates you to continue to learn and grow in your field of work as you age? Response: At 50 years old I still have the same level of curiosity and wonder as when I was 10 years old. The beauty of aging is that you are gaining life experiences at the same time as maintaining this curiosity. Fourth question: If you saw your younger self on campus what advice would you give them? Response: I would advise myself in two ways that are in slight opposition: one, explore a diversity of subjects and activities, and, two, commit to a single field of study, skill, or craft, and see it through to its completion.

Brad's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Happy Friday! Here is this week's #SpotlightSeries!

Our next feature is Brad!

Brad talks about student accomplishments, the advice he would give to his younger self, the importance of 'firsts', and more...

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place: Spotlight Series. Presenting Jamie Armer, a Facilities Manager, Custodial and Waste Services

First question: What's been the most rewarding aspect of working at UBC Okanagan? Response: Seeing individuals grow and reach their potential Second question: What does the younger generation teach you? Response: That their is still humanity left. The passion and drive from the younger members of the campus community makes me feel re-energized. It is easy to become cynical over time." Third question: What motivates you to continue to learn and grow in your field of work as you age? Response: I am a believer in self-improvement and constant learning. I always look for a new, better, more efficient way of working.

Fourth question: How have you been involved in educational or research programs here at the University? Response: I have completed my Masters in Management through UBCO. Fifth question: Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies? Response: I can turn my hands to most things - I love to renovate my house. I enjoy seeing transformation of old spaces into new, usable, pleasing environments. I get great satisfaction from doing as much as possible myself and learning as I go.

Tom's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

We are back with this week's Aging in Place #SpotlightSeries!

Our next feature is Jamie!

Jamie shares what he learns from the younger generation, his hidden talents, and more...

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place is also conducting a #WalkabilityAudit of UBCO campus accessibility through the administration of a survey.

Our first participant is Ellen!

More videos to be posted on our YouTube channel @AginginPlaceUBCO

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Aging in Place: Spotlight Series. Presenting Marjorie Mitchell, a Copyright, Scholarly Communications, and Research Data Management Librarian

First question: What's your role on campus? And how lang have you worked here? Response: I am currently the copyright scholarly communications and research data management librarian at UBC Okanagan's Library. I have been here since 2005." Second question: What do you like about working on campus? Response: The people who work here and attend classes are a tight knit community. It's wonderful to come home to your community. Third question: As an older adult, do you find the campus to be easily accessible? Any challenges you face? Response: The campus is built on hilly ground, people with mobility issues face challenges walking or around campus. There's no regular shuttle service between the buildings - that kind of is the biggest challenge.

Fourth question: In your role, do you interact with older adults? Do you see age diversity? Response: I do see age diversity. As an older person myself, people within the library tend to refer older library clients to me for assistant. Not that the others don't help them but particularly if they are unclear of what they're looking for, they know that I often have the patience to assist them. Fifth question: From your interactions with older adults, are there any special moments you can share? Response: One persion I know, hadn't completed a degree, and truly with my encouragement, she came back to complete her degree. She expressed a lot of satisfaction with being able to do that and it was something that she just had considered was too late.

Marjorie's full interview and resources regarding the Aging in Place research cluster are available on our website: https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/

Welcome to our first Aging in Place #SpotlightSeries! This series highlights older-adult staff & faculty at @ubcokanagan.bsky.social. They share experiences, talk accessibility, and advice for lifelong learners.

Our first feature is Marjorie!

#UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan #OkanaganEmbraceAging

Thanks to #OkanaganEmbraceAging for having me today. Looking forward to catching some of the other events this month! Webinar is also posted here: youtu.be/GXmmJaZhamQ?... #IHCLDP @aginginplaceubco.bsky.social @ubcokanagan.bsky.social

As part of #OkanaganEmbraceAging, we will be releasing a series of posts and videos that highlight Aging in Place's role in fostering healthy aging in the @ubcokanagan.bsky.social community! We hope you will all stay tuned... #UBC #UBCO #Kelowna #Okanagan