Reimagining aging

This is a call to those who see aging not as a challenge to manage, but as an opportunity to reimagine how we live, learn, and connect across generations. 

As Ontario’s first age-friendly university, Trent is rethinking what aging can be. Through community-engaged and interdisciplinary research, the University is helping to shape a future in which people live well as they age, supported by insight, collaboration, and care. 

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Reimagining Our Understanding of Aging 

Across Canada, people are living longer and remaining active in their communities. This shift invites a new understanding of aging as a meaningful stage of life.  

At Trent, the goal is to change the narrative on aging. It is not something to fear, but a time shaped by experience, contribution, and continued growth. 

This work is grounded in a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach. Aging studies are integrated into programs such as Nursing, Psychology, Indigenous Studies, Kinesiology, Canadian Studies and Political Studies. 

Through the globally recognized Trent Centre for Aging & Society, researchers and community partners are examining diverse experiences of aging, including Indigenous perspectives. Their work informs policy and strengthens community supports while addressing ageist assumptions. 

Intergenerational learning and engagement are key to the work. Initiatives such as shared classrooms and community gatherings bring students and older adults together, creating space for connection and mutual learning. 

Canada’s aging population calls for new thinking and stronger communities. Trent is positioned to lead this work. Your support will help grow programs, deepen research, and shape a future where people age with dignity and connection. 

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building an intergenerational community at trent 

Trent’s vision for an on-campus Intergenerational Community reflects our distinctive approach to aging by creating a one-of-a-kind campus–community where older adults, students, and researchers live and learn together, strengthening intergenerational relationships and reimagining housing, care, and belonging.  

Set within 55 acres of mature green space and trails, the development will integrate natural landscapes with built environments, offering flexible housing options, community hubs, and technology-enabled safety features. 

This initiative will serve as an innovation hub for aging and wellness, informed by intergenerational learning models championed by TCAS. It will consider integration with the adjacent long-term care home, the University, and anticipate a growing need for home-based dementia care.  

This project offers an opportunity to support the development of Canada’s first intergenerational university – a community in which older and younger people live and learn together. 

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Using Technology and Connection to Transform Dementia Care 

Psychology professor and TCAS executive member, Dr. Raheleh Saryazdi’s research is reshaping how communities understand and support people living with dementia. Her interdisciplinary team in the Cognition, Health, Aging and Technology (CHAT) Lab studies how sensory processing, memory and technology influence everyday experiences.  

Through a new partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region, they are also exploring how intergenerational programming can strengthen social connection. Each week, Trent students meet with individuals living with dementia, using conversation, shared activities and tools such as virtual reality and tablets to build relationships and reduce isolation. 

By designing and testing practical, technology-supported interventions, Dr. Saryazdi is helping create a more compassionate, connected future for people living with dementia, while preparing students to lead this important work in their own careers.