A world-renowned researcher in seniors’ health has been given a major financial boost to continue her work at Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord (HSN).

Today, the HSN Volunteer Association announced it is contributing another $300,000 over two years to fund the HSN Volunteer Association Chair in Healthy Aging, currently held by Dr. Janet McElhaney.

This new contribution adds to the $450,000 the HSN Volunteer Association has already pledged to Dr. McElhaney’s work at HSN.

“Since the creation of this research chair in 2012, Dr. McElhaney has produced amazing results in both research and front-line care for seniors at HSN and in our community,” says Cliff Richardson, President of the HSN Volunteer Association. “This investment has already paid huge dividends with more effective care for older adults here in Greater Sudbury and northeastern Ontario, which is why we’re proud to continue our support of Dr. McElhaney’s work.”

The purpose of the HSN Volunteer Association Chair in Healthy Aging is to investigate, evaluate, and put into practice advances in geriatric medicine and seniors care.

Dr. Janet McElhaney is a geriatrician and world-leading expert on the topic of seniors health. She was recruited to Greater Sudbury and HSN in 2012. Her research is focused on improving the effectiveness of vaccination for older adults, developing vaccines that can prevent or reduce disability and frailty in senior citizens, and developing and evaluating models of hospital-based and community care that can reduce the risk of frailty and disability in seniors.

“This announcement is significant because it allows us to continue to focus on how we can learn to age in the healthiest ways possible,” says Dr. McElhaney. “The more we research healthy aging, the more we are able to have a direct impact on the health and well-being of older adults.”

Dr. McElhaney points out that frailty is no longer viewed as a result of aging, but as a medical condition that can be mitigated with healthy lifestyles and early attention to proper care, procedures and interventions to prevent disease and disability as we age. This understanding is now shaping how HSN provides care to seniors while they are in hospital, and after they return home.

"This is great news for seniors in our community,” said Dr. Denis Roy, HSN president and CEO. “Through the HSN Volunteer Association Chair in Healthy Aging, Dr. McElhaney has improved the health of seniors, and put Sudbury on the international map when it comes to geriatric health. The extention of the HSN Volunteer Association’s contribution will ensure that this valuable and necessary work will continue.”

Dr. McElhaney’s research is being conducted through the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC), HSN’s research affiliate. Dr. McElhaney is a senior researcher at AMRIC.

“This continued funding by the HSN Volunteer Association for the Chair in Healthy Aging is a true vote of confidence in the role of research to leading-edge health care,” says Dr. Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, AMRIC’s CEO and Scientific Director. “Dr. McElhaney’s work embodies AMRIC’s philosophy which says research and the best front-line patient care are inseparable. This funding will allow Dr. McElhaney’s work to continue, and that means better care for seniors for years to come.”