Aging With Dignity

10/10/2026

What does it mean to care for aging parents when you’re an only child, living in another city, and trying to navigate dementia from afar?

Jerry Godinho’s story brings the realities of distance, duty, culture, and loss into focus. A conversation that stays with you. And can help guide you through your journeys...

Watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/eLFKL7R2ISY

10/06/2026

Welcome to Aging With Dignity - Season 5, Episode 2

When should we start paying attention to our brain health?

Most people would answer, "When memory problems begin."

Dr. Ziad Nasreddine believes the conversation should start much earlier.

Known worldwide as the creator of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Dr. Nasreddine joins me to discuss how our understanding of cognitive health is evolving - from diagnosing dementia to preventing it.

This conversation isn't just for older adults. It's for anyone who wants to better understand, protect, and support lifelong brain health - for themselves or someone they love.

Watch or listen here: https://youtu.be/4RfP8uiMysg

What if protecting your brain health starts long before symptoms ap...

10/05/2026

What happens when dementia care is shaped not only by a diagnosis, but by culture, family, language, trust and deeply held ideas about dignity?

That question has been at the heart of much of my work, and it was a privilege to explore it recently with Pam Ross on her podcast Disrupt Dementia.

My own journey into this conversation began through my parents and seven years of caring for them at home. It taught me that care is never simply about navigating a healthcare system or finding the “right” service. It is also about understanding the person, the family and the context they bring with them.

Today, through Aging With Dignity and my work around Cultural Context of Care, I’m continuing that conversation - asking how we can build better systems, technologies and approaches to aging that actually reflect the people they are meant to serve.

Thank you to the Disrupt Dementia team for creating space for this conversation.

I’d love for you to watch and tell me: What does dignity in dementia care mean to you?Watch the conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDaxz1urchc

Dementia care brings so many challenges, and when you're culturally...

10/03/2026

I am thrilled to share that my latest article,
When care meets culture: What do we really mean by dignity?

has just been published in The Suburban Newspaper! 📰

When we talk about senior care, dignity is a word used often - but its meaning changes completely depending on our cultural roots. True dignity requires us to look beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and understand the unique cultural identities of those we care for.

Thank you to The Suburban Newspaper for providing a platform for this vital conversation.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how we can better bridge care and culture in our communities.🔗

You can Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gipjCYEf

10/02/2026

Yesterday was a full day of conversations about technology, aging and what it really means to design for people as they grow older.

I was honoured to be invited to present on the Cultural Context of Care and share some of the lessons from my own journey ( combined perspective of 30 years working in technology coupled with the 7+years personal experience of caring for my parents through their aging and end-of-life journeys ) to help guide technologists with bringing the "user" lens into the pre-design phase. This was the AgeTech Discovery Day hosted at McGill University by Rahimi's Lab and AGE-WELL.

Culture was only one part of a much bigger conversation. The day brought together researchers, technologists, older adults, students and others interested in how technology can support people to live and age in the ways that matter to them.

I was also fortunate to participate in a panel in the afternoon where the conversation went well beyond the questions prepared by the moderator. The audience brought thoughtful questions of their own - exactly the kind of dialogue we need if we are going to move AgeTech into a space that actually delivers what is needed by the users! Technology for aging cannot be designed in isolation from the people, families and communities who will live with it.

Thank you to Rahimi's Lab and AGE-WELL for bringing this community together and creating space for these conversations - especially appropriate on National Seniors Day!

There is clearly much more to explore - and I’m very glad to be part of the conversation.

10/02/2026

From participant to moderator, yesterday brought another perspective on the growing AgeTech conversation in Montreal.

I had the pleasure of moderating the panel at the AgeTech Discovery Day hosted by Université de Montréal (University of Montreal) and AGE-WELL, bringing together a fascinating group of perspectives on technology and aging.

The focus was firmly on technology for aging - how emerging tools can support independence, aging at home, connection and everyday life, and just as importantly, how we think about the people who will actually use them.

The day included hands-on demonstrations of different technologies, along with conversations that brought research, innovation and lived experience into the same room.

As moderator, I had the opportunity not only to guide the panel discussion, but also to bring Cultural Context of Care into the conversation - asking panelists to consider how family, culture, expectations around independence and caregiving can influence the way technology is experienced and adopted. What I particularly enjoyed about the day was the exchange between the panel, the audience and the people demonstrating these technologies.

The best conversations weren't simply about what technology can do. They were about what we want technology to enable. And on National Seniors Day, that felt like a particularly fitting conversation to be having.

Thank you to CRIUGM - Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), Université de Montréal (University of Montreal) and AGE-WELL for creating the space to bring these perspectives together.

There is a lot happening in AgeTech in Montreal, and an important conversation ahead about making sure innovation starts with the people it is intended to serve.

10/02/2026

I had a deep exploratory discussion around the requirements in planning for a Hindu cremation in Montreal with Lalit Vora, Narrotam Pattni and Ashok Chauhan in this Aging With Dignity episode.

You can watch the full episode here - https://youtu.be/BqrN9qWrbuc

10/01/2026

What happens when someone you love can no longer speak for themselves?

Sometimes, love means becoming their voice.

I’m deeply grateful to for choosing to support and publish this very personal piece, drawn from my experience caring for my parents and one moment with my mother that has stayed with me.

“Caring Across Cultures” is about much more than food, culture or caregiving. It’s about identity, dignity, and remembering that there is a whole person behind every diagnosis.

Thank you to the Montreal enSante team for giving this story such a thoughtful home and for doing such a beautiful job bringing it to life, both in print and online.

I hope it makes us pause and ask: Do we know the person we are caring for - not just their condition? Because one day, any of us may need someone to speak for us. ❤️

you can read the full article here - page 64-65:

09/30/2026

What happens when dementia meets culture, family, and community?

Kicking off Season 5 of Aging With Dignity, I am joined by Dr. Navjot Gill-Chawla. We explore why culturally responsive dementia care matters.. And we expose some important insights around culture and the critical importance of why it goes far beyond translation.

Watch this episode and share it with someone who may benefit.

https://youtu.be/-Iv9edjVzEg

09/29/2026

Welcome to Aging With Dignity - Season 5, Episode 1

Dementia affects every community, but not every community experiences dementia in the same way.

In this episode of Aging With Dignity, I'm joined by Dr Navjot Gill-Chawla, whose research is helping improve our understanding of dementia in South Asian communities across Canada. Together, we explore how culture, language, family expectations, and stigma influence the dementia journey - and why culturally responsive care is so important.

This conversation is especially meaningful to me because of my own family's experience. I know how overwhelming dementia can be, and I also know how valuable it is to have trusted information and resources that reflect our communities and lived experiences.

Whether you're supporting a loved one today or planning for the future, I hope you'll find this conversation informative, reassuring, and practical.

Watch or listen here: https://youtu.be/-Iv9edjVzEg

How do culture, language, and family values shape the dementia jour...