UBC IDEA Lab
@idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Advancing dementia and aging care through patient-oriented research and technology innovation. Learn more at idea.nursing.ubc.ca.
We are hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow with a computer science or engineering background to lead the technical development and real-world implementation of autonomous mobile robot assistants in long-term care settings. Learn more and apply: www.postdocs.ubc.ca/ad/58967
UBC IDEA lab Postdoctoral Fellow Position (Computer Science)
Care robots have the potential to offer useful support in long-term care. We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with a strong background in computer science or engineering to lead the ...
www.postdocs.ubc.ca
January 8, 2026 at 3:29 AM
We are hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow with a computer science or engineering background to lead the technical development and real-world implementation of autonomous mobile robot assistants in long-term care settings. Learn more and apply: www.postdocs.ubc.ca/ad/58967
Happy Holidays from the UBC IDEA Lab 🎄✨ Read our 2025 year-end message from @nurselillian.bsky.social here: idea.nursing.ubc.ca/2025/12/24/m...
December 26, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Happy Holidays from the UBC IDEA Lab 🎄✨ Read our 2025 year-end message from @nurselillian.bsky.social here: idea.nursing.ubc.ca/2025/12/24/m...
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
Is caring for a pet beneficial for brain health? VCHRI researcher Dr. Lillian Hung spoke on the Defy Dementia podcast about innovations in dementia care, including the use of robotic pets: https://ow.ly/MeA250XC2xN Dr Lillian UBC School of Nursing UBC IDEA Lab Centre for Aging SMART
Baycrest Centre - Episode 30
Baycrest is a research and teaching hospital for the elderly in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.
ow.ly
December 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Is caring for a pet beneficial for brain health? VCHRI researcher Dr. Lillian Hung spoke on the Defy Dementia podcast about innovations in dementia care, including the use of robotic pets: https://ow.ly/MeA250XC2xN Dr Lillian UBC School of Nursing UBC IDEA Lab Centre for Aging SMART
New space, same mission. We can’t wait to welcome you into our new home on the fourth floor of the UBC Gateway Building as we continue advancing dementia and aging care through #PatientOrientedResearch.
December 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM
New space, same mission. We can’t wait to welcome you into our new home on the fourth floor of the UBC Gateway Building as we continue advancing dementia and aging care through #PatientOrientedResearch.
New qualitative study led by @nurselillian.bsky.social explores how two #TinyRobots (EMO and AIBI) can support intergenerational interactions between older adults and university students. Out now in Frontiers in Dementia (@frontiersin.bsky.social):
Frontiers | Exploring intergenerational interactions with tiny social robots: a qualitative study
BackgroundWith the rapid aging of Canada’s population, more older adults are choosing to “aging in place,” yet they face challenges of social isolation and h...
www.frontiersin.org
December 4, 2025 at 10:50 AM
New qualitative study led by @nurselillian.bsky.social explores how two #TinyRobots (EMO and AIBI) can support intergenerational interactions between older adults and university students. Out now in Frontiers in Dementia (@frontiersin.bsky.social):
Last week, our Intergenerational & Interdisciplinary Research (IIR) team ran a long-term care clinical huddle at Opal Vancouver.
Patient partner Dr. Jim Mann spoke about unconscious bias toward people living with dementia and how small assumptions shape everyday care 💜
Patient partner Dr. Jim Mann spoke about unconscious bias toward people living with dementia and how small assumptions shape everyday care 💜
December 3, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Last week, our Intergenerational & Interdisciplinary Research (IIR) team ran a long-term care clinical huddle at Opal Vancouver.
Patient partner Dr. Jim Mann spoke about unconscious bias toward people living with dementia and how small assumptions shape everyday care 💜
Patient partner Dr. Jim Mann spoke about unconscious bias toward people living with dementia and how small assumptions shape everyday care 💜
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
We @idea.nursing.ubc.ca completed our Canada arm of multi countries cultural aging study. Very happy to share Canadian results with other countries in Singapore
November 21, 2025 at 11:14 PM
We @idea.nursing.ubc.ca completed our Canada arm of multi countries cultural aging study. Very happy to share Canadian results with other countries in Singapore
New blog post on Bioethics Today by Hana Abbasian and Perisa Ashar responds to our recent LOVOT reflection paper, raising ethical questions about #AlgorithmicIntimacy and #EmotionalAccountability when using social robots in dementia care.
Blog - Heartstrings and Hardware: Navigating the Ethics of LOVOTs in Elder Care - Bioethics Today
A group of researchers at the University of British Columbia’s IDEA Lab recently invited older adults living with dementia and their family care partners
bioethicstoday.org
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
New blog post on Bioethics Today by Hana Abbasian and Perisa Ashar responds to our recent LOVOT reflection paper, raising ethical questions about #AlgorithmicIntimacy and #EmotionalAccountability when using social robots in dementia care.
Sena Kholmatov recently presented our Co-Create VR project at the SFU GRC (@SFUGero.bsky.social) Research Day on Aging. We explored how VR can create meaningful moments for older adults through co-design with residents, staff, and families. Feeling grateful to share this work.
November 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Sena Kholmatov recently presented our Co-Create VR project at the SFU GRC (@SFUGero.bsky.social) Research Day on Aging. We explored how VR can create meaningful moments for older adults through co-design with residents, staff, and families. Feeling grateful to share this work.
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
10 strategies: 1, inclusion, 2, focus on what works, 3. Embrace complexity, 4, connect hearts. 5 connect heads, 6 adopt to need,7 build big tent, 8, make it easy, 9 realtime testing, 10 keep pace
November 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
10 strategies: 1, inclusion, 2, focus on what works, 3. Embrace complexity, 4, connect hearts. 5 connect heads, 6 adopt to need,7 build big tent, 8, make it easy, 9 realtime testing, 10 keep pace
Our #PARO project co-lead, Yuka Ohno, presented a poster on her work and met PARO’s inventor, Dr. Takanori Shibata, in the exhibit hall at #GSA2025. We’re excited to keep exploring how socially assistive robots like PARO can support people living with dementia and their care partners.
November 17, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Thanks for sharing, friends!
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Thanks for sharing, friends!
On #RemembranceDay, we honour and remember the military and civilian lives lost to war, and the families who hold their stories. Working alongside older adults and care partners, we are reminded every day of the power of memory and community.
November 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
On #RemembranceDay, we honour and remember the military and civilian lives lost to war, and the families who hold their stories. Working alongside older adults and care partners, we are reminded every day of the power of memory and community.
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
Flying to Boston #GSA2025, 2 papers, an invited president symposium, 6 posters @idea.nursing.ubc.ca @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social 🥳 🤩 Excited to see friends and colleagues
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Flying to Boston #GSA2025, 2 papers, an invited president symposium, 6 posters @idea.nursing.ubc.ca @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social 🥳 🤩 Excited to see friends and colleagues
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
Featured in Canadian Healthcare Technology, a new study by VCHRI researcher Dr. Lillian Hung reveals how accessible, AI-enabled robot companions foster emotional engagement & social connection for residents of long-term care homes: ow.ly/gHZ850XnXP5
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Featured in Canadian Healthcare Technology, a new study by VCHRI researcher Dr. Lillian Hung reveals how accessible, AI-enabled robot companions foster emotional engagement & social connection for residents of long-term care homes: ow.ly/gHZ850XnXP5
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
So happy to provide the keynote for the Crest conference to inspire practice based research @providencehealthcare.org stories of patient oriented research conducted @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social @idea.nursing.ubc.ca
November 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
So happy to provide the keynote for the Crest conference to inspire practice based research @providencehealthcare.org stories of patient oriented research conducted @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social @idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Congrats Kayoung and team!
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Congrats Kayoung and team!
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
New #nursesky pub alert! Our research team at @idea.nursing.ubc.ca (led by @nurselillian.bsky.social) captured perspectives of people living with dementia and family partners on the potential, limitations, and ethics of implementing #LOVOT in long-term care homes:
Perspectives on artificial intelligence-enabled socially assistive robots in long-term care: Experiences with LOVOT among people with dementia and family caregivers - Kayoung Lee, Joey Oi Yee Wong, Ka...
Objective Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) are reshaping dementia care in long-term care (LTC) settings. This critical refl...
journals.sagepub.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:49 AM
New #nursesky pub alert! Our research team at @idea.nursing.ubc.ca (led by @nurselillian.bsky.social) captured perspectives of people living with dementia and family partners on the potential, limitations, and ethics of implementing #LOVOT in long-term care homes:
New paper in @PLOSOne.org 🦊🎮
Our team, led by Dr. Lillian Hung (@nurselillian.bsky.social) studied a gamified cycling game in a Canadian long-term care home.
Participants shared that it was easy to use, engaging, and supported physical & mental well-being. Learn more:
Our team, led by Dr. Lillian Hung (@nurselillian.bsky.social) studied a gamified cycling game in a Canadian long-term care home.
Participants shared that it was easy to use, engaging, and supported physical & mental well-being. Learn more:
Feasibility and acceptability of gamified cycling exercise for residents in a long-term care home: A qualitative study
Gamification can motivate older adults to exercise by transforming physical activities into enjoyable experiences. Incorporating gaming elements in cycling exercises can foster a sense of interest and...
journals.plos.org
November 8, 2025 at 6:37 AM
New paper in @PLOSOne.org 🦊🎮
Our team, led by Dr. Lillian Hung (@nurselillian.bsky.social) studied a gamified cycling game in a Canadian long-term care home.
Participants shared that it was easy to use, engaging, and supported physical & mental well-being. Learn more:
Our team, led by Dr. Lillian Hung (@nurselillian.bsky.social) studied a gamified cycling game in a Canadian long-term care home.
Participants shared that it was easy to use, engaging, and supported physical & mental well-being. Learn more:
Thanks for sharing!
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Thanks for sharing!
Our thematic analysis of student-facilitated silent-disco in LTC found three themes: intergenerational togetherness, inclusion via personalized music, and stronger social bonds with twice-weekly parties. Read our brief report in JAMDA:
Music Moves: Intergenerational Silent Disco Parties in Long-Term Care
Older adults in long-term care (LTC) often experience loneliness and social isolation. This study explores the experiences of residents participating …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Our thematic analysis of student-facilitated silent-disco in LTC found three themes: intergenerational togetherness, inclusion via personalized music, and stronger social bonds with twice-weekly parties. Read our brief report in JAMDA:
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
October 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
We presented 2 presentations, won the best demo award at AgeWELL conference; then presented 13 presentations at CAG. What a blast @idea.nursing.ubc.ca @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social @ubcappliedscience.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We presented 2 presentations, won the best demo award at AgeWELL conference; then presented 13 presentations at CAG. What a blast @idea.nursing.ubc.ca @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social @ubcappliedscience.bsky.social
Reposted by UBC IDEA Lab
Great week of learning and connecting at #CAG_2025 in Montréal with @nurselillian.bsky.social and the @idea.nursing.ubc.ca team. Presented posters on a seated dance pilot in LTC and a scoping review on social support for 2S/LGBTQ+ older adults in Canada :)
October 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Great week of learning and connecting at #CAG_2025 in Montréal with @nurselillian.bsky.social and the @idea.nursing.ubc.ca team. Presented posters on a seated dance pilot in LTC and a scoping review on social support for 2S/LGBTQ+ older adults in Canada :)