UBC IDEA Lab

We’re now on Bluesky and Threads! Follow us for updates on our innovative, collaborative #PatientOrientedResearch aimed at improving care experiences and quality of life for older adults and people living with dementia.

We are proud to be one of the collaborating institutions of #ISG2026 and are looking forward to delivering 12 presentations at @SFU Harbour Centre from March 26-29, 2026. See you there! isg2026.com

New pub with Victoria, a trainee @UBCIDEALab a nurse Robotic Pets in Hospitals: Fostering Connection aacnjournals.org/aacnacconline/…

On this #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate the women whose knowledge, leadership, and care are shaping innovation in dementia, aging, and senior care research. Today and every day, we honour your contributions to creating a better world.

We are holding the Tumbler Ridge community in our hearts this Family Day. If you’re part of the UBC community and need support, please refer to wellbeing resources below:

At the @CIHR_IRSC IS Teams Networking Forum, @NurseLillian shared how our Learning Health System partnership with @VCHhealthcare is improving dementia transitions through a Learning Community. Learn more: idea.nursing.ubc.ca/2025/02/21/bui…

New pub #VR in #LTC frontiersin.org/journals/demen…

Our new scoping review with @PolyU_Nursing, published in @FrontiersIn Dementia, synthesized evidence across 21 studies on headphone-delivered music programs for people living with dementia in long-term care homes. Check it out: frontiersin.org/journals/demen…

It's Trainee Thursday! 🌟 Yong Zhao is a PhD student at @UBC and AGE-WELL HQP! 🎓 His research focuses on helping older adults with dementia living in long-term care stay active, blending gamified exercise with reminiscence therapy using meaningful memories to spark engagement. #epicHQP

UBC experts—including ELCHA Director Michael Kobor @koborlab —share science-backed tips for healthier living in 2026, from sleep and movement to social connection and brain health. @UBCIDEALab 👉 med.ubc.ca/news/6-expert-… #HealthyAging #UBC

Stories, Arts, and Equity: Intergenerational Qualitative Methods for Inclusive Public Health Research - Julia Henderson, Lillian Hung, Rachel Xia, Christine Germano, Kayla McIntyre, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/16…

Our student team reflected on deploying the Aether care robot in long-term care, and shared what transdisciplinary and intergenerational collaboration taught them along the way. Check out our new paper in Nurse Education in Practice: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

We are hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow with a computer science or engineering background to lead the technical development and real-world implementation of autonomous mobile robot assistants in long-term care settings. Learn more and apply: postdocs.ubc.ca/ad/58967

Happy Holidays from the UBC IDEA Lab 🎄✨ Read our 2025 year-end message from @nurselillian here: idea.nursing.ubc.ca/2025/12/24/mes…

Our new qualitative study led by @NurseLillian explores how two #TinyRobots (EMO and AIBI) can support intergenerational interactions between older adults and university students. Via @FrontiersIn: frontiersin.org/journals/demen…

Powerful new piece titled “Heartstrings and Hardware: Navigating the Ethics of LOVOTs in Elder Care” on the @bioethics_net blog responds to our lab’s LOVOT critical reflection, raising big questions about algorithmic intimacy and dementia care. bioethicstoday.org/blog/heartstri…

Day 2 of IAIC hosted by @suss_sg ! So much fun learning from international experts through world café! 🤩Honoured to be the notetaker and share back to the large group on behalf of Team 3. @nurselillian shared amazing Canadian experiences and practices! 🥳@UBC @ubcappscience

Day 1 at the Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care (IAIC) hosted by the @suss_sg!

10 strategies to help students flourish @UBCIDEALab : 1, inclusion, 2, focus on what works, 3. embrace complexity, 4, connect hearts. 5 connect heads, 6 adopt to needs, 7 build big tent, 8, make it easy, 9 realtime testing, 10 keep pace @ubcappscience #GSA2025

New pub ⁦@UBCIDEALab⁩ ⁦@ubcappscience⁩ link.springer.com/article/10.118…

Our #PARO project co-lead, Yuka Ohno, presented a poster on her work and met PARO’s inventor, Dr. Takanori Shibata, in the exhibit hall at #GSA2025. We’re excited to keep exploring how socially assistive robots like PARO can support people living with dementia and their carers.