Joanie Sims-Gould

Assistant Professor; CHHM Research Scientist

Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Dept. of Family Practice, UBC

Joanie Sims-Gould can recall with clarity celebrating her grandparents’ 87th birthday in their family home of 50 years. She knew at the time that if not for the home care and other community services her grandparents had received in recent years, they’d be celebrating this birthday in a nursing home.

As part of a four-generation Canadian family, Sims-Gould has been surrounded by older people for as long as she can remember. And that personal history has driven her professional life as research scientist at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM). Like Sims-Gould’s grandparents, most older adults prefer to age in their family homes for as long as they can, in spite of health and mobility challenges; Sims-Gould is on a quest to find out how to make that possible.

Primary Recipient Awards

Wall Solutions, Joanie Sims-Gould, 2014

Primary Recipient Joanie Sims-Gould

Co-principal Investigator Heather McKay

Program Wall Solutions

"I'd Rather Stay": Visual Media as a Catalyst to Engage Community around Developing Strategies to Support the Mobility and Health of Older People

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Joanie Sims-Gould and Dr. Heather McKay, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Faculty of Medicine UBC

Partner(s): Mr. Matt Herman, Healthy Living Branch, BC Ministry of Health

We seek solutions to the problem of mobility-disability in older people so as to support them living healthy, independent lives for as long as possible. Physically active older people enjoy and benefit from enhanced mobility. Our key partner-- BC Ministry of Health – identified physical activity of older adult as one priority for BC’s Physical Activity Action Plan. We have the opportunity to use a novel strategy (facilitated community forums and an impactful video that generates discussion) to directly inform the Action Plan and potentially impact every community in BC. Therefore we will; i) implement community-led forums in 6 diverse BC communities, to (ii) identify factors that help or hinder seniors’ physical activity and mobility, while building community capacity; (iii) generate a guideline document to support community action; (iv) evaluate impact and share our findings broadly. Ultimately, we aim to enhance the quality of life of older persons in BC.

Co-principal Investigator Awards

International Research Roundtables, Heather McKay, 2016

Primary Recipient Heather McKay

Co-principal Investigator Joanie Sims-Gould

Program International Research Roundtables

Re-imagine Aging: Adding Life to Years
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Heather Anne McKay, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Faculty of Medicine, UBC; Dr. Joanie Sims-Gould, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Department of Family Practice, UBC