Our new study in #JDAD @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social shows that virtual team-based care can strengthen communication & family involvement in hospital-to-LTC transitions for people with dementia—but success requires inclusive policies, clear protocols & leadership support: www.mdpi.com/3042-4518/2/...

@nurselillian.bsky.social and PhD students Joey Wong (Nursing; @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social) and Lily Haopu Ren (Interdisciplinary Studies) are on their way to Sweden 🇸🇪 to share UBC IDEA Lab’s work at #SocGeronTech Network’s 7th Annual Meeting. Stay tuned for updates 👀

Today is #WorldAlzheimersDay. At the UBC IDEA Lab, we believe our work matters because people living with dementia matter. Through co-created research, we’re working toward a kinder, more compassionate future for dementia care 💜

🤖 A new study led by VCHRI researcher Dr. Lillian Hung reveals how accessible, AI-enabled robot companions foster emotional engagement & social connection for residents of long-term care homes:

Welcome to Bluesky, @vchresearch.bsky.social! Under @nurselillian.bsky.social’s leadership, our team is excited to keep learning and growing together as part of the VCHRI research community 🦋

“They were barely as large as an old transistor radio,” shared Fred Keating, UBC IDEA Lab patient partner. In a new @theglobeandmail.com feature, @nurselillian.bsky.social and Fred reflect on the promise and challenges of “tiny” robots and the need for inclusive design:

How can virtual reality support the psychosocial needs of residents living with dementia in long-term care? Our new qualitative study found VR can spark meaningful experiences, foster social ties, involve families, and engage residents even in later stages:

Our new scoping review in Digital Health (@journals.sagepub.com), led by @nurselillian.bsky.social, explores what helps and hinders co-designing #SocialRobots with older adults living with #Dementia. Read here:

@nurselillian.bsky.social will be joining a panel at @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social’s 57th Marion Woodward Lecture & Symposium, “The Future of Nursing in the Age of AI,” on Thursday, October 16 at the VIFF Theatre in Vancouver. Learn more & register: nursing.ubc.ca/community/ev...

Nature via VR or projector can be transformative for hospital patients & LTC residents 🌳🏥 @nurselillian.bsky.social and PhD students Joey and Lily shared this work at @forestry.ubc.ca’s 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy #ICFT2025

@nurselillian.bsky.social #nursesky and UBC IDEA Lab patient partner Mario Gregorio recently joined Mark Niu @beingpatient.bsky.social to chat about how #SocialRobots like PARO and LOVOT are transforming #DementiaCare. Check it out:

New article alert! How can music & co-leadership reshape dementia care? We share insights from a 12-week community ukulele program co-led by a person with dementia, centering equity and inclusion. Read the full article here: 🔗https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319251360518

MIVE Lab at #AAIC25! 👂👁️👃 The Sensory Health and Cognition ISTAART PIA hosted a workshop on hearing, vision & smell in cognitive impairment with Natalie Phillips, @walterwittich.bsky.social, Carrie Nieman, Marilyn Reed & more. 🕶️ @jennycampos.bsky.social also spoke on VR/AR & aging w/ Dr. Lillian Hung

Our July 2025 newsletter is out now! If you haven’t already, subscribe to stay in the loop with UBC IDEA Lab team spotlights, project updates, upcoming events, and more: eepurl.com/ilKMy6

Check out this new community case study led by our PhD student Margaret Lin on using storytelling and #DesignJam workshops to co-create #LearningHealthSystems. Read here:

This past Saturday, @nurselillian.bsky.social shared our co-created VR project for Indigenous older adults at the Technology & Dementia Preconference of @alzassociation.bsky.social #AAIC2025. Honoured to see our inclusive innovation in dementia care represented on the global stage.

Our TV study was featured on @citynewsvancouver.bsky.social today! @nurselillian.bsky.social @agingsmart.bsky.social shared how calming, familiar videos can help people living with dementia remember everyday tasks like drinking water. Watch the segment:

🚶‍♂️What makes a neighbourhood walkable for someone living with dementia? Our new study with colleagues from @sfu.ca and UNBC explores how built environment shapes everyday walking experiences for people living with dementia in Metro Vancouver.

Have you heard about our EMPOWER Framework? This collaborative reflection with patient partners centers lived experience and advances equity through research, policy, and care. Take a look here: www.frontiersin.org/journals/dem... #DementiaVoices #EMPOWERFramework #HealthEquity #CoResearch

Join us Wednesday, Aug 13 for our IDEA Lab Research Day & Indigenous VR Storytelling Exhibit at the Paetzold Theatre (Vancouver General Hospital)! @nurselillian.bsky.social @agingsmart.bsky.social @vchhealthcare.bsky.social Free event with lunch provided—RSVP now:

We are thrilled to highlight the fantastic work and photos from Dr. Lillian Hung and the UBC IDEA Lab in our latest report! @idea.nursing.ubc.ca

Fresh off the press—new paper led by PhD candidate Karen Wong and @nurselillian.bsky.social explored how dementia-friendly videos can support the psychosocial needs of people with moderate to severe dementia in care settings. Check it out: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

New paper 🚨 We reflect on the messy realities of doing tech implementation research in long-term care settings from coast (BC) to coast (ON). With @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social & @uoftnursing.bsky.social:

Our intergenerational, student-led team @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social reflected on bringing LOVOT social robots into community spaces with older adults. Read our critical reflection in Gerontology & Geriatrics Education via @tandfresearch.bsky.social:

Wrapped up our #NWRS2025 presentation on LOVOT in LTC—honoured to share voices of older adults, people living with dementia, and their carers. Thank you to Arwen for being a wonderful co-presenter, @idea.nursing.ubc.ca for the support, and SFU Computing Science for hosting.

@nurselillian.bsky.social and patient partner Mario Gregorio are speaking at 10am on “Social Robots & Digital Innovations to Promote Social Connection” at Day 2 of PHC’s West Coast Conference on Aging:

Join us today at the Northwest Robotics Symposium #NWRS2025 at SFU Harbour Centre—catch all four of our presentations on social robots in long-term care! Full schedule: nwrsymposium.github.io

I’ll be presenting on the #LOVOT social robot with the UBC IDEA Lab (@idea.nursing.ubc.ca) team at the Northwest Robotics Symposium at SFU Harbour Centre later today—it’s a free to attend so come say hi if you’re around!

We’re at the West Coast Conference on Aging @providencehealthbc.bsky.social today sharing work on dementia care transitions, community ukulele classes for people living with dementia, and building an age-friendly institution grounded in lived experience.

Alt text matters—just like centring lived experience in #DementiaResearch. Proud to say 100% of our image posts include alt text.

Proud to see our team at the CIHR-IA #SPA2025 in Toronto this week, where @nurselillian.bsky.social joined Bubli Chakraborty and Lynn Jackson to share how co-research with people living with dementia can advance equity in aging.

Help us to spread this invite of aging study to Canadian older adults #UBC @idea.nursing.ubc.ca @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social

Our new study looks at how AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping learning for nursing students—and what that means for ethics, critical thinking, and practice:

At #AWepic2025, Dr. Jim Mann (patient partner living with dementia) and PhD student Lily Haopu Ren shared lessons from Canada 🇨🇦 & the Czech Republic 🇨🇿 on implementing VR in long-term care. Watch (starting at 27:44):

Inspired and fired up to do more #CGNA2025 so lovely to catch up with students, friends and colleagues. Geronures rock. Thanks @cgna

Just published🚨 Our protocol for an ongoing scoping review focused on exploring best practices for co-designing virtual reality with Indigenous peoples. Check it out:

Joey Wong, our PhD student at UBC Nursing, presented two projects at #CGNA2025 in Winnipeg—one on co-creating VR with people living with dementia in long-term care, and another on what helps staff stay in the sector 🥳👏🏼

Happy #IntergenerationalDay from all of us at the UBC IDEA Lab 💛💙

Are robots the future of elder care? We looked at studies that asked care providers—and their answers might surprise you. Explore the barriers, strategies, and potential of AI-enabled robots in LTC. Check out our scoping review in JMIR Aging: doi.org/10.2196/55257

Our first IDEA Lab #SushiMonday of the summer at UBC—we enjoyed DIY sushi, connected with new and returning lab members, and discussed exciting lab projects for the summer!

Had a wonderful day presenting at #INCREASEBC 2025, held at @bcchresearch.bsky.social! Our students, trainees, and patient & family partners shared posters and oral presentations on our #PatientOrientedReseaech on VR, AI, dementia care, and more.

Earlier this month, @nurselillian.bsky.social shared our work on using the Aether robot in #LongTermCare at the 2025 @enas-agestudies.bsky.social & @nanetworkinaging.bsky.social Conference hosted by @udl.cat in Spain 🇪🇸 Grateful to connect across disciplines and center patient and family voices.

New study out now in @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social Electronics: we explored the feasibility and acceptability of deploying a collaborative #ServiceRobot in a Canadian #LongTermCare home. LTC staff shared what worked—and what didn’t—when integrating #Aether into #DementiaCare.

Calling all #Qualitative #Dementia researchers/trainees on #MedSky & #NurseSky! I’ll be leading a journal club session @dementiaresearcher.bsky.social on this article on Tuesday, April 15 at 11am PDT. Interested? Sign up for an account at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/communities/

Happy #WorldHealthDay! Here at the UBC IDEA Lab, we’re reimagining what health means for older adults and people living with dementia—through transdisciplinary, collaborative #PatientOrientedResearch with care staff, trainees, and patient and family partners.

My recent article published in Virtual Reality just reached a new impact milestone with over 100 downloads. Here is the link if you would like to read our study: www.frontiersin.org/article/1552...

Our March 2025 newsletter is out now! Want to get the next one in your inbox? Subscribe for monthly updates on research, innovation, and life at the lab:

New article 🚨 We break down four key #EthicalConsiderations in using social robots—access, consent, substitution of human care, and infantilization—sharing lessons learned through our studies in Canadian #LTC homes. Read in @frontiersin.bsky.social Robotics & AI: doi.org/10.3389/frob...

What are the ethical considerations for using #VR in #LongTermCare? Our latest article by @nurselillian.bsky.social and colleagues explores real-world case studies from Canada 🇨🇦 and Czechia 🇨🇿, introducing the ABCDEF framework for ethical VR use. #nursesky #geronsky

What are the facilitators, barriers, and impact of using fully immersive VR for dementia care staff training? Check out this new scoping review from the UBC IDEA Lab: