Marie Savundranayagam

Dr. Marie Savundranayagam (pronounced: SAAV-UUN-DRA-NAH-YEAH-GUM) is Associate Profession in the School of Health Studies at Western University and the Director of the Sam Katz Community Health and Aging Research Unit. Her research is on family and formal caregiving. Dr. Savundranayagam’s research focuses on factors that contribute to poor- and high-quality caregiving experiences. She uses that knowledge to develop, implement, and assess evidence-informed interventions that enrich their caregiving experiences. Dr. Savundranayagam created Be EPIC, a person-centered communication training program for health care workers who care for persons living with dementia. She co-leads the Conversation Study within Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging’s Team 17, which focuses on the interface between sensory abilities, cognition, and communication.

Spotlight Presentation

Promotion of Skillful Person-Centered Communication

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Debbie Hewitt-Colborne

Debbie Hewitt Colborne is an Advanced Practice Nurse with experience and expertise working with older adults within long-term care, the community and hospital settings. Her current work at the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Provincial Coordinating Office focuses on activities that support the development and implementation of person, family and relationship-centred care of older adults with, or at risk of, responsive behaviours/personal expressions associated with dementia, mental health, substance use and/or other neurological conditions.