About Lois

My interest in healthy aging developed along with my personal experience with growing older, and I have come to a firm belief that, contrary to popular opinion, being old is not synonymous with being sick. I am a proponent of a health model that considers the social, emotional, and spiritual components of health to be of equal importance to the physical aspects, and believe that high quality of life can be achieved in spite of illness or disability. I have a keen interest in long term care for elders, dementia care, and person centered care.

In my teaching, I use context based learning principles to engage learners and to facilitate active learner participation. Because I believe that good teaching and effective learning rely on trusting, respectful relationships, I develop my workshops after consultation with stakeholders and gaining an understanding of particular learner needs. I enjoy using creative and innovative strategies for presenting content.

I hold a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Adult Education from the University of New Brunswick, and a post-graduate Certificate in Gerontological and Palliative Care Nursing from Grant MacEwan University. I have presented on educational and aged care topics at national and international conferences, and have published papers on person centered care and clinical education. I have more than 35 years of experience in nursing and nursing education. Internationally, my work has taken me to the Middle East and East Africa.

On a personal note, I walked the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain in the fall of 2015, from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compestello–all 800 km with a 17 lb pack on my back. It was a challenging and memorable experience. I am an avid fiction writer with one completed novel under my belt, and another in development. You can read some of my short fiction in the “Resources” section of this website.

Values:

• Relationship
• Respect
• Integrity
• Learning

Mission:

• To provide engaging educational programs that: enhance positive thinking about aging and the aging experience; strengthen the knowledge and skills of those involved in care of the elderly both in homes and care facilities; and increase understanding of healthy aging and how to accomplish it.

Vision:

• Empowerment of elders to live their best lives and enjoy the aging experience through education for themselves and for their care givers.

Motto:

• Live well to a hundred and twelve.