“Racialized persons have a completely different experience”: the experiences of older adults with the Toronto Police Service Available to Purchase

Kristina Marie Kokorelias, PhD, works as the Senior Academic Program Coordinator for the Department of Medicine’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program at Sinai Health and the University Health Network. Kristina received her PhD from the University of Toronto’s Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and completed postdoctoral training in implementation sciences and dementia with the St. John’s Rehab Research program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Her program of research aims to understand the experiences and needs of family caregivers and older adults with complex care needs with the aim of using this information to develop, evaluate and implement timely family-centered care programs and services.

Anna Grosse, MBBS, is a Geriatric Medicine Research Fellow with the Department of Medicine’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program at Sinai Health in Toronto, Canada. Anna completed medical school in 2016 at The University of Adelaide in Australia, and she is currently undertaking dual specialty training in General Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Dara Dillion, MBA, MSc, is an astute problem-solver with over a decade of progressive experience working on large-scale projects. She holds a Master Degree in Strategic Studies and Energy Security, an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management and is currently in her final year at York University, where she is pursuing a BA Spec. Hons in Urban Studies. As a published academic, Dara applies a critical race lens to social institutions, with the intent of raising awareness and societal change.

Joshua Wyman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at King’s University College-Western University. He is also a registered school and clinical psychologist in Ontario. His research focuses on improving the assessment, reporting and investigative practices in situations involving potential older adult maltreatment.

Elsa Nana Nzepa, BSc, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Duke University, in North Carolina. In 2019, she joined Sinai Health/UHN’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program as a Program Assistant where she was mainly in charge of event planning and coordination, among other duties. Since becoming a Program Coordinator in 2021, her portfolio has expanded to include more research work with medical students and external stakeholders, as well clinical administrative support. She has been involved in research with the Canadian Red Cross on Emergency Preparedness, and recently with the City of Toronto on a Police Services’ Curriculum.

Meena Bhardwaj, MPH, is a Management Consultant on the Seniors Service Team at the City of Toronto in the Seniors Services & Long-term Care Division. The team drives the recommendations of the Toronto Seniors Strategy V.2.0, is leading a review of City services for seniors and is working on the development of the Integrated Service Model for 83 Toronto Community Housing seniors buildings. Meena has a Masters of Public Health in Health Promotion and Public Health Policy and a degree in Gerontology.

Andrea Austen, MA, is the director of Seniors Services and Community Programs at City of Toronto Seniors Services and Long-Term Care. Under Andrea's leadership, the Seniors Services and Community Programs teams innovate and advance City services for seniors, leveraging community and sector partners to drive system change and enhance access to health and social services for Toronto's ever-expanding and diversifying senior population. Andrea and her teams are responsible for delivering SLSTC's expanded mandate under Council direction: to meet Toronto seniors where they are and facilitate their ageing in place through holistic, collaborative, and coordinated service delivery. With over a decade at the helm of the City's senior's portfolio, Andrea has a profound understanding of seniors' needs across health, social service, community and municipal service systems. She is a deeply committed city builder and visionary with a plan to drive demonstrable and positive transformation in services for Toronto seniors.

Samir K. Sinha, MD, DPhil, is the Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing. A Rhodes Scholar, Sinha is a highly regarded clinician and international expert in the care of older adults. He was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Government of Canada’s National Seniors Council, and is also leading the development of new National Long-Term Care Standards for Canada.