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Research Interests: Olivia completed her degree in Kinesiology with a minor in gerontology from the University of Waterloo in 2021 and began her M.Sc. in the Brain and Body lab the following Fall. Olivia is passionate about the promotion of physical activity as a means of disease prevention and support for quality of life and living well post diagnosis. Olivia is certified as a Registered Kinesiologist and Certified Exercise Physiologist and is currently facilitating the DEmentia Lifestyle Intervention for getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) program for people living with dementia and their care partners. DELIGHT is a social exercise and education program with the goal of promoting living well with dementia. Her hope is that those who are diagnosed with dementia will have meaningful opportunities to live fulfilling and engaging lives and believe in the possibility of a brighter, more inclusive future.
Current Studies: Olivia’s thesis focuses on the feasibility of the DELIGHT program using a mixed methods approach. She has been involved in the delivery of the virtual and in-person pilot and is currently delivering DELIGHT at the University Gates Schlegel Village Retirement home. Olivia is also helping support the translation of DELIGHT into the community through the YMCA, and for rural living and Chinese-language speaking individuals. Olivia is also working with a collaborator from Laurier on a qualitative study to understand the unique experience of young onset dementia and its implications on perceptions, facilitators, and barriers related to physical activity. She hopes to inform service providers about the specific wants and needs of people living with young onset dementia and promote further physical activity programming that is appropriate, engaging and enjoyable for this group.