UBC IDEA Lab
LightNews LightNews
banner
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
UBC IDEA Lab
@idea.nursing.ubc.ca
190 followers 330 following 71 posts
Advancing dementia and aging care through patient-oriented research and technology innovation. Led by Dr. Lillian Hung @UBC Nursing.
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Posts Replies Media Videos
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Sena Kholmatov recently presented our Co-Create VR project at the SFU GRC (@SFUGero.bsky.social) Research Day on Aging. We explored how VR can create meaningful moments for older adults through co-design with residents, staff, and families. Feeling grateful to share this work.
Sena Kholmatov speaks at a wood-paneled lectern with a laptop and mic during SFU’s Research Day on Aging.
November 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Our #PARO project co-lead, Yuka Ohno, presented a poster on her work and met PARO’s inventor, Dr. Takanori Shibata, in the exhibit hall at #GSA2025. We’re excited to keep exploring how socially assistive robots like PARO can support people living with dementia and their care partners.
Dr. Lillian Hung and Yuka Ohno stand smiling on either side of their research poster titled “Long-term care residents and staff perspectives on PARO using video reflexive ethnography” at GSA 2025. Yuka Ohno and Dr. Takanori Shibata stand in front of the PARO booth in the exhibit hall at GSA 2025, each holding a fluffy white PARO seal robot and smiling at the camera.
November 17, 2025 at 5:43 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Happening right now: @nurselillian.bsky.social joins Dr. Bernie Garrett, Prof. Ash Scott, and Dr. Charlene Chu at the @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social Marion Woodward Symposium 2025, sharing opportunities, ethical issues, and strategies on AI implementation in nursing practice & education #nursesky
Five panelists seated on stage in front of a large purple screen displaying ‘The Future of Nursing in the Age of AI – Marion Woodward Lecture & Symposium 2025, The University of British Columbia, School of Nursing.’ From left to right: Dr. Emily Jenkins (chair), Dr. Bernie Garrett, Dr. Lillian Hung speaking into a microphone, Prof. Ash Scott, and Dr. Charlene Chu, who later delivered the keynote lecture.
October 17, 2025 at 12:45 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Congratulations to Dr. Karen L. Y. Wong on successfully defending her PhD at UBC Social Work.

A long-time member of the IDEA Lab, Dr. Wong led many projects advancing senior care—from dementia-friendly TV study to reducing antipsychotic use in long-term care. We’re so proud.
Dr. Karen L.Y. Wong stands smiling outside the UBC Thea Koerner House Graduate Student Centre holding a bouquet of flowers, with PhD students Lily Ren (left) and Joey Wong (right) beside her.
October 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Full house at our C2 South Asian & Chinese community Healthy Aging workshops this week.

Led by Margaret Lin, PhD student @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social, older adults, families, health and community partners shared stories and set priorities for inclusive, integrated care across @fraserhealth.ca (1/2).
South Asian community Healthy Aging workshop participants sit at round tables while a facilitator presents a slide titled “Knowledge Exchange — Summary,” with flip-charts and workshop materials in the background. Margaret Lin (left) and Joey Wong (right) smiling with microphones while facilitating the Chinese community Healthy Aging workshop. At a round table, a facilitator leans over a large worksheet as older adults and partners discuss; with sticky notes, pens, and water bottles scattered across. Packed room with multiple round tables of Chinese community members in small-group discussions; a screen displays “Small Group Discussion” in English and Chinese.
October 9, 2025 at 5:49 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Proud moment today! Our research assistant @jeffrey.cspsc.ca and patient partner Lynn Jackson presented our poster “Co-Designing Immersive Virtual Reality With Indigenous Communities” at the TWU CREATE Conference 2025.
Jeffrey Wong and Lynn Jackson stand beside their poster “Co-Designing Immersive Virtual Reality With Indigenous Communities” at the TWU CREATE Conference 2025.
October 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Our new study in #JDAD @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social shows that virtual team-based care can strengthen communication & family involvement in hospital-to-LTC transitions for people with dementia—but success requires inclusive policies, clear protocols & leadership support: www.mdpi.com/3042-4518/2/...
Screenshot of the article title: “Virtual Team-Based Care Planning for Older Adults with Dementia: Enablers, Barriers, and Lessons from Hospital-to-Long-Term Care Transitions.” Authors listed include Lillian Hung, Paulina Santella, Denise Connelly, Mariko Sakamoto, Jim Mann, Ian Chan, Karen Lok Yi Wong, Mona Upreti, Harleen Hundal, Marie Lee Yous, and others.
September 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
@nurselillian.bsky.social and PhD students Joey Wong (Nursing; @ubc-vnursing.bsky.social) and Lily Haopu Ren (Interdisciplinary Studies) are on their way to Sweden 🇸🇪 to share UBC IDEA Lab’s work at #SocGeronTech Network’s 7th Annual Meeting. Stay tuned for updates 👀
Joey Wong, Lily Haopu Ren, and Dr. Lillian Hung (from left to right) smiling together in an airport jet bridge with an airplane visible outside the windows, traveling to Sweden for the Socio-Gerontechnology Network’s 7th Annual Meeting.
September 22, 2025 at 3:23 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
FYI, this is what a transistor radio looks like 🤓
Image of a person holding a transistor radio.
September 12, 2025 at 7:01 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Nature via VR or projector can be transformative for hospital patients & LTC residents 🌳🏥

@nurselillian.bsky.social and PhD students Joey and Lily shared this work at @forestry.ubc.ca’s 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy #ICFT2025
PhD students Joey Wong and Lily Haopu Ren present behind a lectern with a large slide of their VR dementia care poster projected behind them at the 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy. Dr. Lillian Hung speaks during a research panel at the 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy, seated alongside other panelists in a classroom setting. Joey Wong speaks with an attendee in front of her poster titled “Co-Creating Virtual Reality with Older Adults with Dementia.” Lab manager Lily Haopu Ren, patient partner Lily Wong, and PhD student Joey Wong smile together holding a large Instagram-style photo frame at the 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy.
August 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Our July 2025 newsletter is out now! If you haven’t already, subscribe to stay in the loop with UBC IDEA Lab team spotlights, project updates, upcoming events, and more: eepurl.com/ilKMy6
Promotional graphic for the UBC IDEA Lab July 2025 Newsletter. Yellow background with an envelope icon and a “Subscribe Now” button.
July 30, 2025 at 1:59 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
This past Saturday, @nurselillian.bsky.social shared our co-created VR project for Indigenous older adults at the Technology & Dementia Preconference of @alzassociation.bsky.social #AAIC2025. Honoured to see our inclusive innovation in dementia care represented on the global stage.
Dr. Lillian Hung speaking on stage at a podium labeled “AAIC 25,” with a large presentation slide behind her titled “Co-Create VR with Indigenous.” The slide includes a photo of a totem pole and a bulleted list outlining the goals of co-creating VR content with Indigenous older adults. Dr. Lillian Hung and Dr. Jennifer Campos smiling and posing together in front of a tall purple sign that reads “AAIC 25, ISTAART, Technology and Dementia” at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2025 preconference venue.
July 28, 2025 at 10:59 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Have you heard about our EMPOWER Framework?
This collaborative reflection with patient partners centers lived experience and advances equity through research, policy, and care.
Take a look here: www.frontiersin.org/journals/dem...
#DementiaVoices #EMPOWERFramework #HealthEquity #CoResearch
July 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
They’re presenting now! @nurselillian.bsky.social and Mario are live at the West Coast Conference on Aging, sharing considerations for using social robots and digital innovations for connection.
Mario Gregorio, a smiling older man wearing a cap and striped shirt, stands at a podium holding a microphone. Beside him is Dr. Lillian Hung, also smiling, in a pink blazer and glasses. They are co-presenting at the 2025 West Coast Conference on Aging.
June 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
We’re at the West Coast Conference on Aging @providencehealthbc.bsky.social today sharing work on dementia care transitions, community ukulele classes for people living with dementia, and building an age-friendly institution grounded in lived experience.
Dr. Lillian Hung and Dr. Jim Mann, a patient partner living with dementia, standing in front of their poster on improving dementia care transitions. Joey Wong and Mario Gregorio, patient partner and dementia advocate, in front of posters on co-designed ukulele classes and age-friendly UBC initiatives.
June 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Alt text matters—just like centring lived experience in #DementiaResearch. Proud to say 100% of our image posts include alt text.
Screenshot of the Bluesky Alt Text Rating tool showing results for the account @idea.nursing.ubc.ca. The tool analyzed 22 of our posts, 8 of which contain images, and all 8 have alt text. The final score is 100.00% with a smiling face emoji. A gauge graphic at the bottom shows the score in the green zone, indicating excellent performance.
June 13, 2025 at 10:20 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Proud to see our team at the CIHR-IA #SPA2025 in Toronto this week, where @nurselillian.bsky.social joined Bubli Chakraborty and Lynn Jackson to share how co-research with people living with dementia can advance equity in aging.
Dr. Lillian Hung, Canada Research Chair in Senior Care, speaks at a podium during the CIHR Institute of Aging Summer Program in Aging 2025 in Toronto. A large screen behind her displays a slide featuring two smiling family partners and co-researchers, Bubli Chakraborty and Lynn Jackson.
June 12, 2025 at 6:48 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Joey Wong, our PhD student at UBC Nursing, presented two projects at #CGNA2025 in Winnipeg—one on co-creating VR with people living with dementia in long-term care, and another on what helps staff stay in the sector 🥳👏🏼
Joey Wong stands smiling beside a large academic poster titled “Staff retention among long-term care staff: A qualitative study” at the CGNA 2025 conference. The poster summarizes key themes like relational joy in caregiving, respectful workplace culture, and opportunities for professional growth. Joey Wong stands at a podium presenting a slide titled “Co-Creating a Virtual Reality Program With People Living With Dementia in Long-Term Care.” The slide shows logos from UBC, SFU, the University of Waterloo, CGNA, and the MGNA, and includes a photo of an older adult wearing a VR headset.
June 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Our first IDEA Lab #SushiMonday of the summer at UBC—we enjoyed DIY sushi, connected with new and returning lab members, and discussed exciting lab projects for the summer!
Group photo of the UBC IDEA Lab team smiling in a classroom. Some are seated at a table with snacks and sushi-making ingredients, while others stand behind them. Several members are wearing white IDEA Lab hoodies, and the atmosphere is friendly and festive. UBC IDEA Lab students and trainees are gathered around a classroom table preparing DIY sushi. One person is placing ingredients on a sheet of seaweed, while another holds a plate with sushi in progress.
May 10, 2025 at 4:18 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Had a wonderful day presenting at #INCREASEBC 2025, held at @bcchresearch.bsky.social!

Our students, trainees, and patient & family partners shared posters and oral presentations on our #PatientOrientedReseaech on VR, AI, dementia care, and more.
Undergraduate research assistant Julia Banco smiling and standing in front of her poster presentation titled “Student Reflections and Lessons Learned in Deploying an AI-Enabled Service Robot Within Long-Term Care.” PhD student Lily Haopu Ren and family partner Lily Wong present at a podium during their oral presentation, “Co-Creating a Virtual Reality in Hospital With Patient and Family Partners and Staff for Older Adults With Dementia,” at INCREASE BC 2025. Four members of the UBC IDEA Lab—Lily Haopu Ren, Rachel Xia, Julia Bianco, and Albin Soni—stand smiling in front of a research poster titled “Student Reflections and Lessons Learned in Deploying an AI-Enabled Service Robot Within Long-Term Care.” Group photo of 11 UBC IDEA Lab members and partners standing and kneeling in front of a wall with the words “The Mighty” at BC Children’s Hospital. Everyone is smiling and wearing conference name tags.
May 1, 2025 at 3:19 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Earlier this month, @nurselillian.bsky.social shared our work on using the Aether robot in #LongTermCare at the 2025 @enas-agestudies.bsky.social & @nanetworkinaging.bsky.social Conference hosted by @udl.cat in Spain 🇪🇸 Grateful to connect across disciplines and center patient and family voices.
Two photos from the ENAS & NANAS 2025 Conference in Lleida, Spain. Left: Dr. Lillian Hung and Dr. Julia Henderson, smiling in front of a historic stone building. Right: Dr. Hung and IDEA Lab alum Hiro Ito posing together inside the conference venue, a large stone hall filled with attendees and round tables.
April 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
New article 🚨 We break down four key #EthicalConsiderations in using social robots—access, consent, substitution of human care, and infantilization—sharing lessons learned through our studies in Canadian #LTC homes.

Read in @frontiersin.bsky.social Robotics & AI: doi.org/10.3389/frob...
A bright yellow graphic shows an older woman smiling and interacting with two social robots—PARO, a fluffy white seal, and LOVOT, a small green robot. On the left, bold text reads: ‘Ethical Considerations for Social Robots in Long-Term Care’ with four bullet points: Inequitable access, Consent, Substitution of human care, and Infantilization. A small orange label says ‘New Article’.
April 1, 2025 at 5:21 AM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Our very own founder and lead, @nurselillian.bsky.social, will be speaking at Providence Health Care’s West Coast Conference on Aging in Vancouver this June! We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share insights from our #PatientOrientedResearch.
A speaker announcement for Providence Health Care’s West Coast Conference on Aging featuring Dr. Lillian Hung. On the left, a circular portrait shows Dr. Hung smiling with short auburn hair and glasses. To the right, bold black text announces the conference. Below, her title and affiliation with UBC’s Innovation in Dementia and Aging Lab are listed. A yellow box at the bottom highlights the event dates: June 19-20.
March 19, 2025 at 9:22 PM
idea.nursing.ubc.ca
Innovation in dementia and aging, now in the clouds. Follow along for more!
A group of robots takes flight in a bright blue sky. PARO, the fluffy robotic seal, leads the way, carrying a VR headset. Two LOVOT robots, one in red and one in green, hover nearby with wide, curious eyes. The Aether robot, screen beaming with a big smile, floats alongside them. The UBC IDEA Lab logo sits in the bottom left corner.
March 18, 2025 at 10:30 PM