Our goal
In the HAFA Research Lab, we believe that age is just a number. Our research goal is to increase disability-free life expectancy for older adults by developing, testing, and implementing evidence-based programs.
The Health Aging and Functional Ability Lab is committed to maintaining and promoting an inclusive environment. We welcome people from all backgrounds. We support open communication of diverse perspectives because we believe that diversity breeds innovation. We are better thinkers, and we produce better science when we include and listen to different perspectives.
principal investigator
Dr. Chiung-ju (CJ) Liu
She is the principal investigator of the Healthy Aging and Functional Ability Research Lab. As an occupational therapist and gerontologist, her research passion is to help older adults ageing in place. Dr. Liu’s work has contributed to two practice guidelines published by the American Occupational Therapy Association: Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Older Adults with Low Vision and Occupational Therapy Practice Guideline for Productive Aging for Community-dwelling Older Adults. She was invited by the World Health Organization to develop the Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People.
Research
Sponsored projects
Our research examines how aging affects memory, health comprehension, physical function, and daily activities. We study the benefits of exercise and occupational therapy in improving independence and preventing disability in older adults.
Publications
Stay informed
Read our publications on innovate, non-medication approaches to improving older adults’ lives. Our articles cover strategies to promote active aging and foster overall well-being. Explore solutions designed to support healthier and happier lives as we age.
System Partners
Community Advisory Board Members
Community Advisory Members are stakeholders that partner with the Healthy Aging and Functioning Lab because of a shared passion for helping individuals aging in place.
Our team
Lab members
We are a group of professors, occupational therapy practitioners, clinical researchers, PhD students, graduate students, and undergraduate students that are devoted to promoting healthy aging.
Opportunities
Undergraduate students and entry-level professional students
Dr. Liu is interested in recruiting promising undergraduate students or OTD and DPT students to participate in research activities in the Healthy Aging and Functional Ability lab. Dr. Liu’s lab incorporates hand-on training to ensure that students’ participation and engagement facilitate their future career pursuit in the health care field or advanced graduate degrees.
Opportunities
PhD students
Dr. Liu is accepting PhD students pursuing the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program. The lab uses a range of research methods to study functional ability within the population of older adults. The lab focus on healthy aging in both experimental and more naturalistic contexts (home, retirement communities, the health care setting or system). Incoming students will spend time working with older adults, fellow researchers inside and outside the department of occupational therapy, and stakeholders.
links of interest
Dr. Liu featured in the Washington Post
She was quoted in an article discussing ways to overcome fatigue and disability while cooking and baking.
Dr. Liu is among the newest LeaRRn Learning
Dr. Liu will work with the Brooks Rehabilitation Skilled Nursing Facility under the mentorship of Dr. Linda Resnik and Mr. Daniel Ciolek. Her LHS Scholar project will optimize functional outcomes for short-stay residents in the Skilled Nursing Facility.
Exciting News: We’re Affiliated with I-DAPT!
The Institute for Driving, Activity, Participation, and Technology utilizes approaches from occupational therapy, rehabilitation science, rehabilitation engineering, and public health to assess and enhance the mobility, activity, and participation of people, communities, and populations for their meaningful, productive, and autonomous engagement in everyday life.
Do you have any questions?
Contact Us
Please send all inquiries to Dr. Liu using the form below!