The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal is part of the Optimal Aging Knowledge Translation Enterprise at McMaster University, which is funded by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative.

The knowledge translation enterprise also focuses on action-oriented initiatives for stakeholder engagement (such as citizen panels, stakeholder dialogues, and public talks and debates) and for media engagement. These initiatives focus specifically on Canada.

During the first 5 years of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, our stakeholder engagement work included panels, dialogues and public talks funded by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative as part of our work. Currently, dialogues and panels are held by the McMaster Forum and public talks through MIRA.

Citizen Panels

These panels give older citizens, caregivers and those interested in optimal aging a voice in how governments and society can and should support optimal aging. We do this face-to-face with citizens drawn from the local region and across the province and use technology to involve residents across the country. We prepare citizen briefs on pressing issues related to optimal aging, convene citizen panels, summarize what we learned, and disseminate the citizen brief and panel summary through the McMaster Health Forum.

Stakeholder dialogues

Policymakers, stakeholders and researchers deliberate about ways to address the needs of the aging population. We gather key participants to meet and discuss issues with local, provincial and national areas of focus. We prepare evidence briefs, convene stakeholder dialogues, summarize what we learned, and disseminate the evidence briefs and dialogue summaries through the McMaster Health Forum.

Public talks & debates

High-profile speakers share what they know and debate important issues related to optimal aging. You can attend the events in person, and in some cases you can watch excerpts or the full proceedings later by video on the McMaster Health Forum YouTube channel.

Student-led conversations

Students organize opportunities to discuss current issues related to optimal aging, as a way to gain exposure and to learn about how they think optimal aging is or should be supported. Documents related to these events are available on the McMaster Health Forum website.