The Long Way Round: My Journey to the GRC
Joe Humphries (MA Student)
I suppose I鈥檝e never been one to take the road most travelled. When I began my undergrad seven years ago, I took courses in philosophy, geography, sociology, psychology and earth sciences. Somehow I ended up here, working at the Gerontology Research Centre alongside Dr. Sarah Canham while studying for my Masters in Gerontology. Looking back sometimes it鈥檚 difficult to find the turning points that lead me here, but if there鈥檚 one thing that holds true throughout this journey, it鈥檚 that I鈥檝e been inspired by people taking action to help others.
When I met Sarah, that inspiration hit again. Her energy and passion for her research was infectious, and when she offered me the position to work with her as a research assistant I was thrilled. Sarah and I are currently working on a project entitled Promoting a Healthy Drinking Culture for Older Adults in BC. This community-based research project consists of three dialogue events surrounding the topic of the brand new low risk drinking guidelines for older adults. These events will take the form of a 鈥渒nowledge caf茅鈥�, where older adults, community members, service providers and clinicians can all gather in small groups around a table to generate and build on ideas in a lively, safe, and informal caf茅-inspired setting.
What drew me to this project with Sarah was not only the involved, community-based nature of the research, but also the potential for generating real change. We hope that this work will help inform community stakeholders and encourage low risk drinking for older adults. In this way, this research has the potential to affect the real-world health outcomes of members of our communities. The fact that low risk drinking guidelines specific to older adults haven鈥檛 been developed until just recently really shows how neglected this topic has been, and how much potential these dialogue events have to provide unique feedback and insights.
Although I鈥檝e only just begun working at the Gerontology Research Centre, I鈥檓 excited for what lies ahead. It seems as though this project leads down yet another road less travelled. But as far as I鈥檓 concerned, that鈥檚 the only road for me.
If you鈥檙e interested in joining the discussion at one of the upcoming Knowledge Caf茅 events, or if you鈥檇 like to volunteer, please contact me at joe_humphries@sfu.ca. I鈥檇 love to hear from you!