Season 3, Episode 6: Caroline Grammer, Professor, Social Service Worker – Gerontology

About Today's Show

In today's episode, we speak with the Professor Caroline Grammer, professor at the Social Service Worker – Gerontology (SSWG) Program.

It’s no secret that this pandemic has impacted different people differently. While some people are experiencing the pandemic in a comfortable home, with easy access to technology and a job we can do remotely, for others, having a reliable Internet connection is a big deal. But what about the elderly? Providing even adequate care to that vulnerable segment of the population has often fallen short even in the best of times, but during COVID, it’s worse than ever. The vast majority of COVID deaths are from our senior community, and conditions in seniors residences are often, quite frankly, horrible. And what makes it worse is that social workers can’t even make personal wellness visits, so they have to figure out a way to set up video calls, which creates even more challenges to providing good care. And….what about the care for social workers?

As daunting as this story is, there are areas of hope, and a big part of that hope is our guest today, Caroline Grammer.

Also in this episode, we talk about:

1. An exciting, city-wide program Seneca College is participating in (and making a significant impact in), through Caroline's leadership, and the participation of her research team.

2. What we can do to help re-imagine a system of senior-care that actually works.

3. Fascinating solutions to seniors' care that de-institutionalize how the elderly are cared for.

4. Lots more!

About Today's Guest, Caroline Grammer

Caroline Grammer has been a professor at Seneca College for over 15 years, and through her work in the Social Service Worker – Gerontology Program, Caroline has trained legions of social service workers who provide Social Work services specifically to seniors. In addition to inspiring many in Canada, and globally, in how to improve the care seniors receive, Caroline has dedicated her professional life to helping the most vulnerable.

Prior to Seneca, Caroline worked in a variety of group home settings starting with terminally ill children as support person, adults with dual disorders as a case worker in Toronto, and adults with intellectual and developmental delays in the Vancouver Lower Mainland (VLM). She became a teaching assistant for at-risk youth in a Richmond, BC, and ultimately began working in the downtown east side of Vancouver, helping people with IV drug addictions, youth suffering from HIV/AIDS, and eventually transitioning to palliative care, supporting patients dying of AIDS. This was in the ‘90s, and there was really heavy stigma and fear associated with HIV / AIDS, and very little formalized help. Caroline worked with the underground cannabis network to provide pain relief for patients and clients because cannabis was only method that worked. She transitioned from clients with AIDS to older adults who remained invisible in institutional settings and began her work to raise awareness and develop palliative programs in Long Term Care homes in Vancouver. She returned to Toronto and worked briefly as a case worker on a national telephone crisis line before entering Seneca College to teach and hopefully change the system from within.

Caroline is also a practicing psychotherapist, and when she has the time, she circulates through the senior support services agencies and seniors community centres in the city to talk and teach older adults about safe sex and sexuality in older adulthood. The “toy box” is a favourite among the crowd. Pre-COVID this was a very popular workshop for both the older adults and continues to be a favourite class for students in the SSWG program.

She has been a gerotechnology consultant (one of Canada’s few) for the past 25yrs engaged with global think-tanks on how technology can allow for aging in place. She designs and implements studies to test industry technology with older adults and run clinical trials on medical grade technology that assists older adults in maintaining or improving their mobility and independence.

Most recently, Caroline has been leading Seneca's Social Service Workers -Gerontology Program in participating in a massive, city-wide study on digital access in Toronto and the underserved. Caroline and her research team are focusing on the seniors community.

Important Links and Contact Information

All COVID-19 related information, questions or concerns should be sent to health@senecacollege.ca

For Updates on Seneca's Policies Regarding COVID-19, visit here:

https://inside.senecacollege.ca/health

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Pat Perdue