Welcome to the EMPOWrD Research page
This is where you will find overviews of all six of our ongoing research programs, progress updates, publications, and insights derived from our research. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved in our EMPOWrD research and how you can be a part of shaping a better digital world for older adults.
Explore Our Research Dimensions
Innovative solutions for older adults’ digital inclusion
Information Box Group
Dimension 1: Combatting Misinformation Watch Intro
Explores how digital misinformation affects older adults’ trust, confidence, and well-being online.
Dimension 2: Tech Club for People Living with Dementia Watch Intro
Co-designs a supportive, social “Tech Club” that helps people with dementia and their care partners build digital skills through shared learning.
Dimension 3: Delivery of Mobile Digital Literacy Training Watch Intro
Brings approachable, community-based tech training directly to older adults living in social housing to enhance access, comfort, and confidence.
Dimension 4: Impact of Pain Neuroscience Education Watch Intro
Studies how different ways of teaching about pain can empower older adults to move more confidently and reduce fear.
Dimension 5: Living Laboratory Using Smart Gerontechnology
Turns a residential building into a real-world lab for testing and co-designing smart home technologies that support aging in place.
*COMING SOON*
Meta Dimension: Adaptable Software for an Aging Population Watch Intro
Focuses on creating flexible, inclusive software that adapts to older adults’ diverse needs across all project areas.
Stay Informed on Our Research Progress
Explore our latest publications and ongoing research efforts. Stay connected with our funding acknowledgements and collaboration opportunities.
Discover our published research and insights.
2025
- Elgamal, R. (2025). Public library-led digital literacy training to older adults in social housing (Doctoral dissertation, McMaster University). McMaster University MacSphere. https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/handle/11375/32416
- Head, M. (2025). A Canadian approach to rethinking technology design for aging populations. Information Matters, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5260353
- Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Kovalik, K., Burkholder, E., Dupuis, C., & Burke, E. (2025). Tech Club for older adults living with dementia and their care partners: A guide. Burlington Public Library. https://gilbrea.mcmaster.ca/tech-club-for-older-adults-living-with-dementia-and-their-care-partners-a-guide/
- Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Kovalik, K., Dupuis, C., & Burke, E. (2025). A library-based “Tech Club” for older adults living with dementia and their care partners: A co-designed pilot project. Library Trends. (Special Issue). (In press.)
- Munawar, M., Detlor, B., La Rose, T., Perkovic, I., Ghilic, I., & Abouei, M. (2025). Digital skills training and older adults: A scoping review (MDTRC Working Paper No. 103). McMaster Digital Transformation Research Centre, McMaster University. http://hdl.handle.net/11375/31950
Note: Supported by EMPOWrD staff and funded through a knowledge synthesis grant from the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre. - White, P. J., Patocs, A., Beauchamp, M., & Raina, P. (2025). Does design thinking work in the long term? In E. Pei & K. Becker (Eds.), Design thinking: Theory and practice (pp. 189–212). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003487524-12
2025
Invited Talks
- Raina, P., White, P. J., Patocs, A., Griffith, L., Beauchamp, M., Head, M., & Gannon, R. (2025, August 26). Plenary 1: Mobility and healthy aging: Navigating the challenges of an aging global population. Design Health and Aging Interdisciplinary Workshop, U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting—Aging Across the Lifespan. https://u21health.org/mcmaster2025
- Detlor, B. (2025, December 4). MIRA Dixon Hall Knowledge Synthesis Grant. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
- Detlor, B. (2025, November 12). Android tablet training by Hamilton Public Library to CityHousing Hamilton older adults: An action research approach. Expanding Horizons: Shaping Public Library Knowledge and Practice Through Partnered Research Symposium, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Oral Presentations
- Kovalik, K., Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Dupuis, C., & Burke, E. (2025, October 24). A library-based “Tech Club” for older adults living with dementia and their care partners: A co-designed project. Canadian Association of Gerontology (CAG) Annual Conference, Hotel Bonaventure, Montreal, Quebec.
- Safaei, B., & Head, M. (2025, August). Fact-checking misinformation: Human–AI collaboration dynamics across age groups. Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) 2025, TREO. https://aisel.aisnet.org/treos_amcis2025/196/
- Head, M., & Hassanein, K. (2025, June). Bridging the digital divide for older adults: An investigation of barriers and facilitators. Proceedings of the 38th Bled eConference. https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/947/chapter/634
- Detlor, B. (2025, May 27–29). Public library-led digital literacy training to older adults in social housing. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS / Actes du congrès annuel de l’ACSI, Halifax, Canada. https://doi.org/10.29173/cais1887
Poster Presentations
- Dupuis, C., Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Kovalik, K., & Burke, E. (2025, October 8). A best practice guide to building tech groups that bridge the digital divide for people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Europe 35th Conference, Bologna, Italy.
- Kovalik, K., Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Dupuis, C., & Burke, E. (2025, November 12). A “Tech Club” for older adults living with dementia and their care partners: A co-designed initiative. Expanding Horizons: Shaping Public Library Knowledge and Practice Through Partnered Research Symposium, Hamilton Public Library (Central Branch), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Kovalik, K., Innes, A., McLeod, M., Gilani, U., Dupuis, C., & Burke, E. (2025, December 4). A “Tech Club” for older adults living with dementia and their care partners: A co-designed initiative. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange Day, The Hub, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Head, M., Ghilic, I., & Safaei, B. (2025, December 4). EMPOWrD major program of research: Year in review. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange Day, The Hub, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
2024
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Elgamal, R., & Detlor, B. (2024, August 15–17). Addressing the digital divide among older adults in social housing. Emergent research paper presented at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Salt Lake City, UT, United States. https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2024/soc_inclusion/social_inclusion/5/
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Abouei, M., Elgamal, R., Detlor, B., & Head, M. (2024, December 15). Complementing older adult digital literacy training research with a mobile user experience lab. In Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Pre-ICIS Workshop on HCI Research in MIS, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Safaei, B., & Head, M. (2024, August). Navigating the digital frontier: AI and coping mechanisms for enhancing misinformation resilience in older adults. Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) 2024.
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El Shamy, N., Hassanein, K., & Head, M. (2024, June). Recruitment and EDI challenges in NeuroIS research: A case for mobile research infrastructure. Proceedings of the NeuroIS Retreat 2024, Vienna, Austria.
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Head, M. (2024, May). EMPOWrD – Enhancing mobility and participation for older adult wellness through digital inclusion. MIRA / World Health Organization (WHO) Meeting.
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Head, M. (2024, November). EMPOWrD – Enhancing mobility and participation for older adult wellness through digital inclusion. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange.
2025
- Detlor, B. (2025, November 3). Digital skills training and older adults: A scoping review. Digital Skills Training and Older Adults Townhall (Knowledge Sharing) Event, Toronto, Ontario.
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Head, M. (2025, August). Enhancing Mobility and Participation for Older Adult Wellness through Digital Inclusion (EMPOWrD). U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
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Head, M. (2025, March). Lost in the interface: Why we fail older users and how to fix it. Psychology LIVE Talk Series, Hamilton, Ontario.
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Head, M. (2025, September). Neurophysiological insights: A case study on digital inclusion of older adults. Digital Futures Symposium, Burlington, Ontario.
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White, P. J., & Patocs, A. (2025, August 25). Design Health and Aging Interdisciplinary Masterclass. Student and Doctoral Forum, U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting—Aging Across the Lifespan, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. https://u21health.org/mcmaster2025
2024
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Detlor, B. (2024, October 10). MIRA Dixon Hall Knowledge Synthesis Grant [Invited panel speaker]. New Research and Collaborations Panel, MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario.
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Munawar, M. (2024, October 10). The promotion and sustainability of digital literacy skills for marginalized older adults [Poster presentation]. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario.
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Elgamal, R. (2024, October 10). Addressing the digital divide among older adults in social housing [Poster presentation]. MIRA & Labarge Knowledge Exchange, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario.
The Enhancing Mobility and Participation for Older Adult Wellness through Digital Inclusion (EMPOWrD) initiative is proudly supported by the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA).
MIRA’s investment has enabled our interdisciplinary team to explore how technology can foster mobility, social participation, and digital inclusion among older adults. Through this support, EMPOWrD brings together researchers, community partners, and older adults themselves to co-design solutions that enhance well-being and inclusion in an increasingly digital world.
Current Research Initiatives
Working Paper - Digital Skills Training and Older Adults: A Scoping Review Read here
This paper reviews a decade of research (2014–2024) on digital literacy training for older adults, analyzing 200 studies on delivery methods, participation factors, and outcomes. Findings stress the need for inclusive, learner-centered, and well-funded programs, noting positive impacts but ongoing gaps in equity, coordination, and sustainability.
Key Research Accomplishments and Insights
Achievements
Our research has made significant strides in enhancing the digital inclusion of older adults. We are committed to bridging the technology gap and improving wellness through innovative approaches.
