鈥淲orking with Dr. David Kaufman was an enriching experience. I always am looking for new opportunities to learn from researchers who work with older adults, and I look forward to new collaborations with SFU鈥�.
Dr. Helena Brand茫o Viana from Centro Universit谩rio Adventista de S膩o Paulo, Brazil is working with Kaufman from December 2016 until June 2017 on the AGE-WELL research project into older adults and their relationship with new technologies. She holds a BA in Physical Education and MA and PhD in Gerontology, and has been working with older adults for more than 14 years. Brand茫o Viana has extensive experience in managing courses related to physical activity and teaching-learning techniques for older adults. She helped develop an innovative program called 鈥淭he University of the Third Age鈥� which teaches older adults how to use internet in Brazil.
Brand茫o Viana is not a stranger to 51社区黑料as she pursued her doctorate here under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Wister in 2005. During her current visit to SFU, she has helped to develop new activities for older adults, such as the use of kinec games for older adults with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. She has also worked as a co-facilitator with SFU鈥檚 PhD student Lena Rebecca Richardson at the Kerrisdale Community Centre conducting digital storytelling workshops with nine older adults for 10 weeks: 鈥淲e helped them construct their stories using these innovative tools. This was an opportunity for the participants to share their emotions and bond with their friends鈥�.
Brand茫o Viana recently returned to Brazil where she aims to share this research experience with her students and contribute to future research that addresses the needs of older Brazilian adults.