Bullet News SEAFORTH – A group of researchers is conducting a study to gauge the health and financial status and knowledge base of the pre-retirement population in Huron County.
Gateway Rural Health Research Institute and University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy are looking for volunteers aged 45 to 70 who live within a 30-km radius of Seaforth to take part in the study. As well, eligible participants must have lived in the area for the past five years.
“There’s been a connection established between wealth and different health markers, like mortality and chronic disease. It’s been shown that the wealthier you are, the healthier you are,” said Jenny Seguin, one of the study researchers.
She is a student in the University of Waterloo’s pharmacy program. She will work under the supervision of Dr. Feng Chang, an assistant professor with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and Chair for Rural Pharmacy at Gateway.
The information collected will be used to identify needs of the population, and to create an educational program tailored to the specific needs and demographics of the community.
“If people were more able to manage their finances in retirement and knew a little bit more about their health, they’d be in a better position to manage their health in their retirement,” Seguin said.
For more information or to volunteer for this study, please contact Gateway Administrator Shelly LeBlanc, at 519-600-2273 ext. 246 or email [email protected]
Gateway is the only community-driven rural health institute in Canada. It aims to improve the health and quality of life of rural residents through research, education and communication.
Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties are experiencing significantly higher rates of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, some forms of cancer, chronic lung disease, depression, mild cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s) than urban rates.
