Extendicare Gerontology Award

I developed an interest for reading and writing fiction and non-fiction when I was a child. I was born and raised on a rural farm located near Fort St John, British Columbia. Soon after getting married, we moved to Lethbridge, Alberta. I completed my Bachelor of Nursing, with Great Distinction, at the University of Lethbridge in the spring of 2006.

My interest for reading and writing non-fiction became an asset when researching and writing papers throughout my degree. My ability to write was elevated to a higher level with input and feedback from numerous instructors. Dr. Judith Kulig, a professor for a number of my undergraduate degree courses encouraged me to pursue graduate education.

In the fall of 2009, I began working as a clinical instructor for the University of Lethbridge, eventually beginning my Master degree in the fall of 2013. My Master thesis is: How do rural male caregivers of spouses with dementia come to understand their role as a caregiver?

The proceeds from the Canadian Nurses Foundation Extendicare Gerontology Award will be directed towards the dissemination of my research findings. Dissemination will be directed towards rural communities and will inform individuals on how male caregivers perceive themselves when providing care for their spouses diagnosed with dementia. Without the support from the Canadian Nurses Foundation, dissemination of my findings in a timely manner would be limited. My goal is to defend my thesis in the fall of 2014, then to disseminate my findings in the spring of 2015.