CTAAN supports aging in northern and rural communities by making AgeTech more available to older adults, care partners, and the healthcare systems that support them. CTAAN’s programs focus on testing, piloting, adapting, and implementing new and existing technology solutions tailored to address the challenges experienced by older adults and care partners in northern and rural communities. Older adults and care partners in these regions face barriers, including geographic isolation, limited access to care, and a lack of real-world validation and implementation pathways for AgeTech solutions. CTAAN addresses these gaps by working with healthcare systems, communities, and innovators to evaluate and integrate technologies through its Living Lab network and implementation research, supporting adoption across home and care settings.
CTAAN advances collaborative innovation to support aging and brain health by working with partners to bring new technologies and care models into real-world settings. Initiatives include SEEEDS (Supporting Empowerment and Education for Engaged Dementia Carers), a program co-created by carers and professionals to support those caring for individuals with memory and thinking changes in northern and small communities. CTAAN also leads and partners on projects such as DemSCAPE and evaluations of solutions, including Vantech’s Sundae Doll, Tochtech’s SleepSense, and in-home monitoring systems. Through this partnered approach, CTAAN ensures technologies are adapted, validated, and implemented to enable, empower, and engage those aging in the North.
