Change takes time. It does not always happen in one fell swoop. Real change happens through incremental steps, eventually leading to major, transformative impact.
This idea of incremental change leading to big-picture impact is at the root of the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation’s (CABHI) overarching objectives. We are working to build a Community of Innovation, accelerate innovative solutions, and strengthen the aging and brain health ecosystem to create transformative change, all leading to a brighter, healthier future for Canada’s—and eventually the world’s—aging population.
Grace Life Center is a prime example of a grassroots organization working to make meaningful, incremental changes over time, leading to a ripple effect of tangible impacts; and CABHI is proud to be part of the transformative change Grace Life Center is accomplishing.
Grace Life Center is a place of worship located in Scarborough, Ontario, that cares for both the spiritual and physical wellbeing of its congregants. In addition to services, Grace Life Center offers health and wellness activities to its community members, specifically older persons, to support with movement and brain health.
A longstanding relationship between CABHI and Grace Life Center sparked when CABHI’s former Executive Director of Health Innovation, Bianca Stern, was first introduced to Grace Life Center’s Sharon Daley. The collaboration began with digital literacy courses for older persons, providing them with the skills they need to stay connected and engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and grew to offer health information sessions, garnering a deeper understanding of age-related conditions.
After successful digital literacy training, members were itching for more, which led to bi-weekly health sessions guided by Bianca and Sharon. The sessions featured Baycrest specialists and covered topics ranging from eye health to oral health, dementia, and heart disease. These varying educational opportunities provided older congregants the tools and knowledge they need to live healthy, fulfilled lives, aligning with both CABHI’s and Grace Life Center’s ultimate goals.
“Working with CABHI has opened up doors to understanding the importance of brain health,” Sharon Daley remarked upon reflecting on the relationship between Grace Life Center and CABHI. “It is beyond words to explain the importance of the relationship we have with Baycrest and CABHI.”
Baycrest and CABHI’s Webby-nominated Defy Dementia team also attended Grace Life Center’s STRIVE Health and Wellness Symposium – a multi-day health and wellness fair stemming from Grace Life Center’s STRIVE (State of wellbeing, Teaching health, Relevant choices, Interventions, Vital components, Ensuring health excellence) program, which offers professional medical support and resources to older persons in the congregation.
The STRIVE Health and Wellness Symposium broadens STRIVE’s goal by providing attendees the opportunity to learn about health and wellness topics from professionals within the community. Last year’s symposium featured sessions on women’s health, men’s health, healthy eating, joint pain, and dementia prevention, to name a few.
As experts in dementia prevention, detection, treatment, and care, Baycrest and CABHI’s Defy Dementia initiative—an empowering podcast, and series of knowledge products like infographics and videos, is dedicated to helping people reduce their dementia risk, unlock the power to age fearlessly, and defy dementia. The Defy Dementia team will return to the STRIVE Health and Wellness Symposium once again this year, taking place September 2025.
The educational sessions, STRIVE, and the symposium are all examples of how Grace Life Center ensures older persons in the community are equipped with the knowledge, support, and care they need to age with dignity.
“We can have the tools we need to age gracefully,” Sharon explained.
And together, Grace Life Center and CABHI are working to achieve this mission.
