Project Update
Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE)
The Centre is proud to introduce the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program. Initially designed by the WHO, the program supports healthy aging by focusing on prevention, proactive assessment of needs, and personalized support for older adults in Canada.
Project Update
DuraGym
DuraGym is an evidence-based exercise program designed to improve autonomy, mobility and independence for older adults. Led by kinesiologists and based on the validated Otago Exercise Program, DuraGym offers supervised, progressive training that targets strength, balance and functional mobility in a safe and welcoming environment.
About the Centre
The Simone & Edouard Schouela RUISSS McGill Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health of Seniors (Schouela CEDurable) of the McGill Integrated University Health and Social Services Network (RUISSS), based at the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS) of the West-Central Montreal, is a Centre of Excellence focussed on implementing multiple validated interventions to improve the health and well-being of seniors in the regions served by the McGill RUISSS.
The Centre aims to translate research data into practice, to support, strengthen, and disseminate research programs that work, enabling older adults to remain mobile and enjoy life.
Our Platforms
Our activities focus on implementing evidence-based supported interventions that have demonstrated their effectiveness in research studies but still require implementation in real life in our communities. We translate great ideas into great strategies through our four different pillars.
To ensure the success of our programs, we have grouped our activities into four main platforms covering several areas, such as health care and the delivery of health services, autonomy, mobility and independence, cognitive health, healthy lifestyles, well-being, supportive environments and communities, as well as the maintenance of social ties.
DuraGym
The DuraGym program is our supervised, validated exercise program that promotes autonomy, mobility and independence for older adults. Led by kinesiologists, it offers personalized sessions that build strength, balance, flexibility and confidence, and is especially suited for older adults with reduced mobility or functional frailty.
Frailstop
The FRAILSTOP ecosystem is a technology developed in Madrid, Spain, and validated throughout the European Union. This solution takes a modular approach, enabling all stakeholders in the healthcare network to monitor and address factors contributing to frailty in older adults, while offering the flexibility to adapt to the specific needs of each region.
Exercise Parks
Exercise Parks are outdoor activity spaces designed specifically for older adults. They promote autonomy, mobility and independence by offering safe, accessible equipment that targets strength, balance, flexibility and functional movement. Each park includes stations that are easy to use, low-impact and suited to a wide range of physical abilities, including those with reduced mobility or mild frailty.
Vivifrail
The Vivifrail Project is an international physical activity program recognized as a leading approach for preventing frailty and falls in older adults. Vivifrail is a WHO-validated system that provides older adults with a clear, personalized home exercise plan based on their mobility and strength level. Our kinesiologists use Vivifrail to guide geriatric patients at discharge or after clinic visits, ensuring they leave with a safe, tailored routine they can follow independently. We are proud to be pioneering its clinical prescription in Québec.
Key projects and initiatives
FEATURED EVENT
2025 Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Network for Translational Geroscience
The Canadian Network for Translational Geroscience is pleased to present its second scientific meeting, an event designed to foster dynamic exchanges among academics, industry stakeholders, healthcare professionals, and individuals interested in promoting longevity and healthy aging.
November 10, 2025
DuraGym Launch 2025
On November 6, 2025, we were delighted to welcome Dr. Debra Waters, professor and researcher at the University of Otago (New Zealand) and the University of New Mexico, for a special event within our community: the opening of our DuraGyms.
The presentation began with Dr. Gustavo Duque, who gave a short talk about the DuraGyms. Afterwards, Dr. Waters presented how tailored interventions can support mobility, autonomy, and quality of life, particularly among vulnerable communities in New Zealand and New Mexico.
July 23, 2025
Capturing vitality: Toward a multidimensional lens for intrinsic capacity and healthy aging
Two members of the Schouela CEDurable team, Dr. Gustavo Duque, Scientific Director, and Hussein Samhat, Coordinator of the Platform for Autonomy, Mobility and Independence, co-authored an article in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Agingproposing a clearer and more multidimensional definition of vitality, linking it to nutrition, muscle strength, fatigue, and psychosocial well-being to promote healthy aging.
Samhat, H., & Duque, G. (2025). Capturing vitality: Toward a multidimensional lens for intrinsic capacity and healthy aging. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 29(8), Article 100636.