Research-practitioners

Social worker for the Support Program for the Autonomy of Seniors (SAPA), Patrick Durivage is interested in the palliative care provided to older adults. He is a member of the Comité interfacultaire en soins palliatifs of the RUIS of the Université de Montréal, as well as in the implementation commitee of the law within his institution. A certified instructor, he provides training to healthcare and social services professionals on the issues experienced by people at the end of their lives and caregivers. As a practitioner-researcher, Mr. Durivage collaborates with universities in many research projects in the field. He is the co-author of publications on palliative home care and makes presentations on the subject during national and international congresses. He is also a member of the McGill Palliative Care Council, which aims to raise public awareness of palliative care.

Zelda Freitas holds a master’s degree in social work from McGill University. She worked with clients in loss of autonomy for 28 years as a social worker and clinical supervisor. As a coordinator, she has been actively engaged in developing, conceptualizing and implementing best practices in terms of psychosocial support, palliative care, caregiver support and grief, loss & bereavement. As a research-practitioner, she has been involved in several research projects and she lectures at national, Canadian and international conferences. As a trainer, she teaches professionals, students, the general public and volunteers about the challenges faced by caregivers. Since 1998, she has also been a member of the McGill Council on Palliative Care, whose goal is to raise public awareness about palliative care.

Social worker, Sarita Israel is part of a specialized team in the fight against mistreatment of older adults since 1991. She holds a key role in the development of research, training and leading practices to counter mistreatment of older adults. Sarita Israel is also involved in many partnership projects for the development and enhancement of the practice in terns of prevention, screening and intervention in mistreatment. Pioneer and and coordonnator of the multisectoral consultation team to of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, she supports services to professionals and the ongoing development of the training program of the Elder Abuse Help Line, the hotline and referral line specialized in elder abuse. With her expertise, Ms. Israel acts as a consultant on several mandates and ministerial committees for the development of knowledge, policies, implementation guides and national training.

Sandra Smele’s work focuses on research and the development of leading practices that promote the inclusion, health and wellness of older adults by attending to intersectional differences. She has contributed to a number of interdisciplinary projects on long-term care, mistreatment, informal caregiving and health and social services. Her current collaborations focus on supporting social participation and enhancing the quality of life of older adults through building creative community relationships, and on identifying and promoting practices that support wellness in residential homes. Sandra’s publications can be found in the books Creative Teamwork and Troubling Care, and in the academic journals Violence and Victims, Critical Social Policy and Nursing Inquiry. Sandra is also a Research Associate of the Simone de Beauvoir Institute.