UBC Okanagan’s 12 annual Embrace Aging Month begins March 1 and includes a series of events and workshops to help locals find fun, meaningful activities while learning about topics geared towards healthy aging.

Aging is a fact of life—but how people age is up to them.

To celebrate positive aging, UBC Okanagan’s Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP) celebrates March as Embrace Aging Month. The month is series of events and workshops that help community members find fun, meaningful activities and learn about topics such as the aging process, digital literacy, electronic health records and estate planning.

“Supporting aging well is more important than ever before,” says Dr. Jennifer Jakobi, IHLCDP Director and a Professor with UBCO’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences. “By 2036, it is projected that older adults will account for 25 per cent of Canada’s population. Embrace Aging Month highlights the importance of supporting and enhancing the quality of life of older adults in our communities. Aging well should be important to everyone.”

This is the 12^th consecutive year the university has organized Embrace Aging Month and Dr. Jakobi says the event series has proven popular in the community and the IHLCDP is proud to continue the tradition of providing interesting ways to connect with the local aging population each year. The goal of the month is to raise awareness of services, resources and educational opportunities, and at the same time, connect seniors with service providers. The sessions are for people of all ages.

“The Okanagan’s aging adults are active, engaged people and a vibrant part of our population,” she says. “Each year, we find interesting, interactive webinars, classes or activities to offer. These events open doors and help participants make connections so they continue to be active and engaged throughout the year.”

There are events each day of the month, kicking off with an open house at the KF Centre for Excellence at Kelowna International Airport and a webinar with BC’s Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt. Participants can learn through online and in-person events about better ways to interact with and use their local pharmacist, as well as fire safety tips, how to access and interpret their Interior Health MyHealthPortal as well as learn about research options that use virtual reality. Additional activities include an interactive book club, watercolour classes, chair yoga, personal health assessments, a pole walking clinic and even an introduction to e-bikes.

Embrace Aging Month is organized by UBCO’s IHLCDP in partnership with Beem Credit Union and Interior Health. Events begin March 1, and all events are free and open to the public. For a full schedule and registration details, visit okanaganembraceaging.com.

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Medical advice, help and doctors with a tablet for healthcare, research and medicine planning. Communication, collaboration and men working in cardiology talking about surgery results on technology.

UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing is now accepting applications for its newest professional development opportunity, a micro-credential in case management and care coordination.

Designed for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, this two-course program addresses the complexities of primary care nursing in today’s health-care environment.

“Evidence shows that having access to primary care improves patient outcomes,” said Sheila Epp, Associate Professor of Teaching at UBC Okanagan.

“UBC Okanagan is committed to developing nursing education to support nurses in building their competencies to be leaders and high-functioning members of interdisciplinary primary care teams.”

This micro-credential program equips students with the expertise to develop, implement and evaluate patient-centred care plans.

Participants will master case management and care coordination principles to collaborate within interprofessional teams and address client needs, including those with chronic diseases or complex social determinants of health.

The program supports nurses in meeting the increasing demand for skilled care coordinators in primary health-care settings, such as clinics and community centres.

Key competencies include applying chronic disease management strategies and fostering health behaviour change, making graduates invaluable in improving client outcomes.

“We know that nurses play a key role in team-based primary care, and specific education in the care area, like these micro-credentials, is important for success,” says Shannon Moore, an adjunct professor at UBCO and primary care nurse with Interior Health.

“As a primary care nurse of over a decade and now an instructor, I am passionate about educating nurses to maximize their role and scope to bring primary care to all.”

Open to registered nurses and psychiatric nurses in Canada, as well as nursing students in their final year, the program provides flexibility with its non-credit format, making it an accessible option for continuing education.

Learners who complete the micro-credential will also receive a UBC Okanagan digital badge, a recognized symbol of achievement and competency. This program is part of a series of stackable micro-credentials targeted at primary care nurses.

The first intake starts in February.

For more information, visit cpe.ok.ubc.ca/programs/case-management-and-care-coordination-for-primary-care-nursing.

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New research from UBC and UBCO demonstrates that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia can alleviate postpartum depression.

While many people believe that poor sleep during pregnancy is inevitable, new research has determined that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) while pregnant can not only improve sleep patterns, but also address postpartum depression.

Researchers from UBC’s Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, as well as the University of Calgary, discovered that delivering CBTi during pregnancy significantly reduces postpartum depressive symptoms after baby arrives.

“Early intervention is crucial for infant and parental mental health,” says Dr. Elizabeth Keys, an Assistant Professor in UBCO’s School of Nursing and a study co-author. “Our research explores how addressing sleep problems like insomnia can lead to better mental health outcomes for families, helping parents and their children thrive.”

CBTi is a therapeutic intervention that identifies thoughts, behaviours and sleep patterns that contribute to insomnia. Treatment includes challenging or reframing misconceptions and restructuring habits in ways that improve sleep quality.

“CBTi is the gold standard for treatment of insomnia and has consistently shown to improve symptoms of depression,” says Dr. Keys. “Its treatment effects are similar to antidepressant medications among adults, but with fewer side effects, and is therefore often preferred by pregnant individuals.”

Sixty-two women assessed for insomnia and depressive symptoms participated in the study—with half randomly assigned to an intervention group and half to a control group.

“We found that CBTi during pregnancy significantly improved sleep and reduced postpartum depressive symptoms for participants,” explains Dr. Keys. “These are enormously encouraging results for anyone that has struggled in those early weeks and months with their newborns.”

Results indicate that effective insomnia treatment during pregnancy may serve as a protective factor against postpartum depression.

“Our study adds to the growing evidence that treating insomnia during pregnancy is beneficial for various outcomes,” Dr. Keys says. “It’s time to explore how we can make this treatment more accessible to pregnant individuals across the country, with the goal of improving sleep health equity.”

The research highlights the interdisciplinary collaborations happening between UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, along with researchers from across Canada. Dr. Elizabeth Keys is from UBCO while Dr. Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen, a Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Intersectionality, is based at UBC Vancouver.

Dr. Keys and Dr. Tomfohr-Madsen are lead investigators on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Sleep Equity Reimagined team and members of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium.

The study appears in the October issue of Journal of Affective Disorders.

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To observe National Nursing Week, UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing invites the community to acknowledge and support the pivotal roles of nurses, nurse educators and nursing students.

Their contributions are instrumental in shaping the future of care in British Columbia and nationwide.

“With the support of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, we are expanding our existing programs and developing new pathways and courses,” says Jacqueline Denison, Interim Director of the School of Nursing. “These new opportunities will shape the next generation of nurses.”

UBCO Nursing’s new and expanded programs are pivotal in adapting to and meeting the complex needs of today’s health-care landscape.

“Nurses perform vital work in our clinics, hospitals and communities. The new and expanded programs at UBC Okanagan will create more training opportunities for nurses looking to grow their knowledge as they care for British Columbians and their families,” says Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

New Micro-Credentials in Primary Care
UBCO Nursing launched the first of four micro-credentials, a Primary Care Practice Essentials Certificate. The certificate will build nurses’ knowledge and skills in team-based primary care, which is crucial for health promotion, early disease detection and managing chronic disease.

Specialty Nursing Pathways
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, the school is supported in integrating specialty nursing education pathways—including critical care, perinatal and perioperative nursing—into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This will allow new graduates to move quickly and competently into specialty nursing practice.

Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing Program
The Ministry and the Canadian Institute for Health Research are supporting the development of the Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing program. The program is a collaboration between several Indigenous communities and five BC post-secondary institutions.

The goal is to meet the health-care needs of Indigenous people through the mentorship and training of Indigenous nurse leaders.

Two Indigenous nursing students have completed the pilot MSN Research Methods course on Indigenous Health Nursing Approaches to Wellness at UVic as part of their pathway. Four new Indigenous Master’s students are set to begin the pathway at UBC Okanagan this month.

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A UBCO researcher is studying why many new mothers choose to feed their infant expressed breast milk.

While health-care professionals and researchers have long maintained that direct breastfeeding is the most healthy choice for infants, it is not always possible for many new mothers.

Dr. Heidi Sze Lok Fan, a postdoctoral researcher with UBCO’s School of Nursing, recently published a study that describes the benefits and struggles of expressing breast milk—and the impacts not only on the infant but also the mother.

Dr. Fan conducted much of her research in Hong Kong and says until recently, maternity leave was limited to 10 weeks. It has now been extended to a 14-week leave, and Dr. Fan says Chinese mothers are ideal candidates to study when it comes to expressing milk because they often return to work when the infant may still be relying solely on breastmilk.

“Along with a short maternity leave, new mothers also have a one-month confinement after delivery where they are expected to stay at home with their infant,” she explains. “They usually don’t go out of the home except to visit a health clinic, so during those first few weeks more than 90 per cent of their time is at home with their baby.”

During this confinement time, it is expected they develop a breastfeeding routine. For her study, Dr. Fan interviewed new mothers at 1.5 months postpartum.

“We thought this might be an ideal time as mothers spend most of their time at home with the baby and can have direct breastfeeding as they do not need to go out often or return to work,” she explains. “However, these mothers chose to feed their baby with expressed breast milk. This study looks into their reasons for choosing expressed breast milk feeding and their experiences.”

Most mothers choose to express their milk because they are having difficulties breastfeeding. Other women start expressing breastmilk as they try to establish a routine for when their maternity leave ends.

“In Hong Kong, the breastfeeding initiation rate is high at more than 84 per cent,” she says. “However, sustaining breastfeeding poses challenges, and less than one-half of new mothers continue to breastfeed their children at six months postpartum.”

Dr. Fan also points to previous research that shows almost 85 per cent of breastfeeding women expressed milk at some point during the first six months postpartum and about 15 to 20 per cent exclusively feed their child expressed milk.

“Understanding the experiences of a new mother who has high levels of expressed milk feeding may help to identify how this is associated with breastfeeding duration,” she says. “Understanding the experiences of those who feed expressed milk may also help improve breastfeeding support strategies.”

Previous research conducted by Dr. Fan followed women who had just given birth. They were recruited shortly after delivery and were followed for about six months. This second research paper, published recently in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, stems from qualitative interviews with those participants and examines why they express and how they feel about it.

“We do find that expressing milk does give many women a greater sense of control, especially for time management, because the infant’s feedings can be scheduled. With expressed milk, a woman can have more freedom, allowing family members to feed the baby. And that also helps with the preparation of returning to work.”

Many women also said that knowing the amount of milk an infant consumed during a feeding, and having a stored milk supply ready at any time, provides a sense of security. However, expressing doesn’t come without complications. Specialized equipment is needed and studies have shown more health problems for infants not fed directly from the breast including ear infections, asthma and rapid infant weight gain.

Dr. Fan notes many parents who have expressed milk have a shorter breastfeeding duration as they tend to stop breastfeeding earlier than parents who do not express milk. She also says that breastfeeding women need support and, she would like to see an improvement in strategies provided by health-care professionals to support post-partum women.

“We know that direct breastfeeding is the best option, and that expressed breastfeeding is still better than providing the infant with formula,” she adds. “That’s why it is crucial to strengthen the breastfeeding support programs provided in the early postpartum period to ensure that all breastfeeding women can feed directly for as long as they choose.”

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