RGPEO Geriatric Rounds
The RGPEO is committed to enhancing geriatric care through education, collaboration, and innovation.
Regional Rounds offer health professional working with older adults – including physicians, nurses, primary care provider, allied health professionals, and others – with updates on best practices, initiatives, and latest findings. These sessions held at The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus Amphitheatre and are also broadcast virtually across the region, feature a 45-minute presentation followed by a 15 minute Q&A.
The Regional Geriatric Rounds are held monthly in the Amphitheatre of the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, unless otherwise specified. They are now offered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend in person or virtually via Teams. All those interested in the care of the elderly are invited to attend.
Speaker
Regional Geriatric Rounds: Ditching the Cane and Keeping my Swagger: The Art and Science of Risk in Geriatrics
- Date: January 21, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Ditching the Cane and Keeping my Swagger: The Art and Science of Risk in Geriatrics
This presentation explores how clinicians can move beyond risk avoidance toward balanced, person-centered risk assessment when supporting older adults living with frailty, cognitive impairment, or complex health needs. Drawing on clinical examples and system-level insights, it highlights how fear of adverse events, liability, and uncertainty can unintentionally undermine autonomy, dignity, and quality of life. The session introduces a structured decision-support approach to help teams integrate clinical risk, individual values, and contextual factors into shared decision-making. Participants will leave with practical strategies to support ethically sound, defensible, and compassionate risk-taking in everyday practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the elements of a balanced approach to risk assessments and its relevance to person-centred care for older adults living with frailty and cognitive challenges.
- Identify common individual, team, and system-level barriers that lead to overly risk-averse practice (e.g., fear of liability, uncertainty, organizational culture).
- Apply a structured, values-informed decision-support approach to balance safety, autonomy, and quality of life in complex clinical situations.
- Recognize practical strategies for documenting and communicating shared risk decisions in ways that support ethical practice and organizational accountability.
