An upcoming research project with industry partner Collaborative Aging helped fuel inspiration for Humber Polytechnic students who were tasked with creating a podcast that looked at aging populations.  

Hanadi Alnawab is a professor and program coordinator in the Bachelor of Commerce – Digital Business Management program. As part of the program’s Product Management course, Alnawab had her class work in groups to develop a podcast as a digital product and develop marketing strategies for it.  

Alnawab knew that Humber and Collaborative Aging would be partnering this winter on a research project, which Alnawab will serve as the principal investigator, to digitize the content they offer – including educational workshops, proactive navigational services and innovation advice to various organizations generating new solutions. Their business goal is to help people discover and shape their future plans by making timely and informed choices or arrangements. 

Some of the Humber students in the Digital Business program will be hired as research assistants for the project next term. So, it was helpful to connect the students to get them interested in Collaborative Aging’s work and the systems they are working to change. Alnawab felt that a subject matter of aging populations would be a good fit for the podcast, introducing the students to the ideas, products and resources that Collaborative Aging works with to effect change. 

What the students came up with was the podcast series Aging Out Loud: Mapping the Futures of How We Live. The teams explored future-ready solutions in health, housing, social connection, sustainable caregiving, technology, and finance.  

Khrystyna Rohashevska was part of the team that created Insight Voices, which had the students connecting with industry leaders to discuss how Canada can prepare for an aging society while talking about caregiver benefits, corporate responsibility, and aging research.  

“What I found was that everything I’ve learned at Humber was applicable to the project,” said Rohashevska.  

When interviewing industry leaders, she leaned into the business communications skills she had acquired. Her editing skills were sharpened throughout this project, and research was a critical part of the process.  

Sue Lantz, founder and managing director with Collaborative Aging, notes that by 2030, 21 per cent of Canada’s population will be 65 and older while the population of over 85 is expected to triple by 2046. Lantz said currently, all levels of government spend about $6 on institutional care models for elders while only $1 on community-based care for aging in place. With multiple studies showing the majority of older Canadians want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, Lantz says this spending ratio needs to reversed to expand the options for healthy aging in the community.   

“This podcast project was a wonderful way to expose the students, some of whom may serve as research assistants, to the concepts and practical challenges of aging while working closely with our company as an industry partner,” said Lantz.   

Humber’s focus on applied research is what interested Lantz’s organization in partnering with Humber. The research project next term will have the students digitizing their navigational content in five key areas: health, housing, social networks, caregiving teams, and finances and other resources. This digital tool will help older adults and caregivers to proactively find trusted businesses, non-profits, products, technologies and services that enable healthy aging - while also reducing known risks. 

Lia DeVries-Voves was part of the Moving Through Time podcast group that spoke with Margot McWhirter, the founder of Inclusive Aging, who talked about what can be done to ensure older adults can safely remain in their homes. DeVries-Voves felt a particular connection to the podcast’s subject matter as she has parents in their 70s.  

“It was a very interesting experience because I’d never created a podcast before,” she said, adding the video work she did as part of the project has her interested and excited about this potential aspect in her future career.  

To find out more, including links to the podcasts, visit the Aging Out Loud: Mapping the Futures of How We Live website.