Patient Partner, Personalized Mental Health for Seniors: Working Together to Improve Quality of Life Working Group

Use of technology has the power to support you in keeping healthy, both mentally and physically. Researchers at Simon Fraser University are seeking two technology savvy seniors to work with them as they create a personalized mental health risk assessment system.

Open to: Patient partners in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley

Lead Organization or Department

Simon Fraser University (SFU)

Aim

• To develop a risk assessment system that identifies older adults at risk of developing mental health challenges and to connect them with personalized pathways to better mental health.
• Patient partners will be able to share their lived experience throughout the cycle of the research project by
  • defining seniors’ mental health priorities
  • participating in co-creation workshops
  • attending the project’s team meetings, and
  • helping develop technology-assisted solutions and knowledge dissemination plans

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

This invitation is being extended to volunteers in Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley communities who are: • Interested and/or comfortable with technology • Comfortable sharing your story • Over 55 and would like to see an improvement in seniors’ mental health • Interested in research and public events If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and volunteer agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact the engagement leader directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 2
• Date/time: To be determined with patient partners
• Location: Via telephone and in-person, in the Surrey/ New Westminster area
• Commitment: One week to 6 months: 2-3 hours a month

Reimbursement

Out of pocket expenses (mileage, transit fares, parking) will be reimbursed. In addition, compensation will be discussed with the patient partner on an individual basis.

Background

One in five seniors suffers from some form of mental illness.  Lack of attention and support for mental illness not only harms the person, but also costs the health care system and economy billions. Our challenge is to identify:

1. What seniors believe is good mental health
2. Factors that make and keep a person mentally healthy

Our objectives are to:

1. Understand seniors’ definitions of good mental health
2. Identify who is more likely to be at risk and/or showing early signs of poor mental health
3. Link people with help and support specific to their needs.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Rableen Nagra, MA
Patient Engagement Specialist, Fraser Centre – BC Support Unit
Phone: 604-587-4600 ext. 765870
Email: rableen.nagra@fraserhealth.ca