Homeward Bound - Letter of Information and Consent
1. Invitation to Participate
You are being invited to participate in a project that seeks to create interventions related to healthcare, housing, and social support, with the goal of helping aging adults in rural Nova Scotia age in their home and communities for as long as they wish. Participation in this study is voluntary.
2. What will I be asked to do?
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to place color-coded pins on large, printed community maps to identify existing local strengths and resources.
- This session has not time limit and will take approximately 30-45 minutes
- With you permission the exercise will be photographed
3. What are the risks and harms of participating in this study?
This study poses minimal risk. However, discussing your lived experience of aging in rural Nova Scotia may bring up emotional responses, such as feelings of sadness, frustration, or anger. If this occurs, you may pause or stop your participation at any time, and a member of the research team will be available to support you and talk through your experience. We can also connect you with free community resources, including the Nova Scotia Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line (1-888-429-8167), which provides 24/7 support.
4. What are the benefits of participating in this study, and will I receive compensation to be in this study?
You will receive $25 honoraria for your participation in the Community Cafe upon your arrival to the event. You may not directly benefit from participating in this study, but information gathered may provide benefits to your community, which include more tailored support for aging in the context of healthcare, housing, and social support.
5. How will my data be used?
With your consent, the asset maps you have created will be photographed and digitized. No personal information will be recorded or stored. Your map will be combined with those of other participants and analyzed in aggregate. The information you provide may be used in research reports, academic publications, presentations, and other knowledge-mobilization activities.
6. What are my rights as a participant?
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You may choose not to participate, and even if you provide consent, you have the right to pause or stop participating at any time during the session without penalty. You may also withdraw from the study and request that your map be removed after your session. After this time, your data will be de-identified and can no longer be linked to you. You do not waive any legal rights by signing this consent form.
7. Whom do I contact for questions?
If you have any further questions or want clarification regarding this research and/or your participation, please contact Dr. Alison Grittner, Cape Breton University:
If you have any concerns about the way you’ve been treated as a participant, please contact Jared Walters, Research Administration Officer: Facilitation and Outreach, Cape Breton University at:
This research study is #2025-007.