Aging

Ageism is pervasive and harmful, creating an urgent need to understand how ageist attitudes can be improved. Building on the novel age-conscious student concept, this thesis explored the outcomes of a pilot intergenerational classroom, aimed at reducing ageism, that integrated 13 older community participants into a university-based psychology of aging course alongside 60 younger students. Following course completion, 31 individual interviews (13 community participants,18 students) and one focus group (4 students) were conducted to assess the impact of intergenerational connectivity on ageism and age-consciousness. An iterative collaborative qualitative analysis revealed three major themes regarding participants' experiences with ageism and age-consciousness in the intergenerational classroom: (1) heightened knowledge of ageism, (2) transformed attitudes toward aging and youth, and (3) enhanced personal connection with aging. From these findings, a revised model of age-consciousness is presented, describing three integrative factors that promote positive attitudes toward aging and youth.

Author Keywords: age-conscious student, age-consciousness, ageism, ageism intervention, intergenerational, qualitative

While hospitals were seen as high-risk zones during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about how older hospital volunteers and volunteer-based programs navigated that period. Using the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) in Ontario, Canada as a case study, this thesis research explores the pandemic and post-pandemic challenges of older voluntarism in a regional health care setting. In-depth interviews and focus groups were held with 21 volunteers and two program managers. Data analysis was done thematically using NVivo 15 qualitative analysis software. The findings covered major themes encompassing older volunteers' experiences during and post pandemic, the dynamics of digital technologies adoption in hospital volunteerism, challenges faced by older hospital volunteers and the volunteer program, and long-term measures to sustain hospital volunteer programs post-pandemic. The findings demonstrate that sustaining a robust volunteer program post-pandemic requires recognizing volunteers' contributions while also addressing their evolving (technological) needs, ensuring workplace health and safety, and actively involving volunteers in decision-making.

Author Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, digital technology, hospitals, Older volunteers, volunteer experiences, volunteer-based program sustainability

Generativity, or a connection to and concern for future generations, is often premised upon the hetero-nuclear family structure and an elimination of disability, excluding queer and disabled individuals. In this thesis, I extend ideas about queer and crip futures by theorizing an alternative model of generativity that centers queer, and disabled experiences. I argue that queer crip intergenerational relationships contribute to and expand current understandings of generativity in terms of individualism, embodied knowledge, and temporalities. To do so, I used the arts-based participatory methodology, cellphilming. I worked with a group of eight queer, and disabled individuals across the life course in Fredericton, New Brunswick to create short films about aging, queerness, disability, and futures, and analyzed the films thematically. In the context of an ongoing pandemic and heightened backlash against LGBTQ+ rights, I present intergenerational relationship building as a way forward to overcome alienation and imagine a better future.

Author Keywords: aging, cellphilm, disability, generativity, intergenerational, queerness

Filipino immigrant care workers play a critical role in Canada's eldercare systems. Yet, little is known about their aging experiences and eldercare desires. This thesis draws on a qualitative study that employed a life history narrative approach (Brotman et al., 2020) to conduct five in-depth, semi-structured interviews with older Filipino immigrants (ages 59-80) employed in Canada's community-based and residential senior care settings. The purpose of this study was to understand how the transitions and trajectories in their respective life courses influence their own eldercare desires in old age. Ferrer and colleague's (2017) intersectional life course perspective was used to contextualize each participant's lived experiences, revealing how social, economic and cultural processes throughout the life course influence how they dream of care. Analysis revealed that older Filipino immigrant care workers dream of ideal eldercare in three ways: (1) aging across place; (2) through their networks of care; and (3) aging elsewhere.

Author Keywords: Aging, Care, Filipino immigrant care workers, Intersectional life course, Life history narrative

Mnoomin (Wild Rice) is an important ecological and spiritual Being, and a highly nutritious food source with deep spiritual and cultural kinship to Anishinaabeg. Gathering and processing Mnoomin engages the whole body, mind, and spirit, providing access to culturally nutritious food/s that also sustain a healthy environment. However, settler colonialism has disrupted these practices, damaging environments and undermining treaty rights. Responding to expressed interests by Michi Saagiig harvesters for more research, community education, and support for Mnoomin bed restoration, this thesis discusses the role of Mnoomin in strengthening kinship, community, wellness, and ecological relationships. It also responds to earlier calls to contextualize colonialism in the field of Aging. Grounded in Anishinaabe Four Hills of Life Theory and Gerontological Life Course Theory, this research brings Indigenous and Western social science approaches into collaboration. Based on 12 years of learning with local harvesters, this work advocates grassroots efforts to protect rice beds under the guidance of Michi Saagiig Knowledge Holders.

Author Keywords: Aging, Community-Based, Intergenerational Relationships, Manoomin, Well-Being, Wild Rice