Shlomit Rotenberg

Dr. Shlomit Rotenberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She was trained as an occupational therapist at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, where she also received her PhD in 2017. She worked as an occupational therapist for 10 years, in an inter-disciplinary geriatric clinic and community-based rehabilitation unit, working with adults and older-adults with cognitive impairments. 

Dr. Rotenberg’s research aims to enable autonomy, community engagement and continued participation in meaningful occupations of older adults. Her research focuses on understanding how cognitive impairments arising from aging and/or neurological deficits affect engagement in everyday life; elucidating the underlying mechanisms through which this happens; developing standardized ecological assessments to measure these effects; and developing and evaluating interventions to promote occupational engagement, health and wellbeing of older adults. Dr. Rotenberg’s studies are grounded in theory, combining quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
 

Recent Publications

1. Rotenberg, S., Fritz, H., Chippendale, T., Lysack, C., & Cutchin, M. (2021). Out of home activities and health in older adults: A scoping review. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, In press.PA
2. Rotenberg, S., *Leung, C., *Quach, H., Anderson, N.D., & Dawson D.R. (2021 online). Occupational challenges in older adults with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment. Disability and Rehabilitation, In press. PA
3. Rotenberg, S., Ruthralingam, M., Hnatiw, B., *Neufeld, K., Yuzwa, K., Arbel, I. & Dawson, D.R. (2020). Measurement properties of the Multiple Errands Test: A systematic review Archives of Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation, 101(9), 1628-1642.  PA
4. Rotenberg, S., Maeir, A., & Dawson, D.R. (2020). Changes in activity participation among older adults with subjective cognitive decline or objective cognitive deficits. Frontiers in Neurology, 10, 1393. PA
5. Rotenberg, S., Sternberg, S., & Maeir, A. (2020). Where did I put my glasses? The lived experience of older adults seeking medical help for perceived memory problems. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(25), 3606-3613. PA
6. Rotenberg-Shpigelman, S., Sternberg, S., & Maeir, A. (2019). Beyond memory problems: Multiple obstacles to health and quality of life in older people seeking help for subjective memory complaints. Disability and Rehabilitation, 41(1), 19-25. PA
7. Rotenberg, S., & Maeir, A. (2018). Occupation-based metacognitive group intervention for older adults experiencing memory problems: Feasibility study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81(10), 582-590. PA

Honours and Awards

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07/2019: Invited Participant, The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Planning Grant Collective Workshop on Aging in Place, Alexandria, VA, USA

09/2018: AGE-WELL Post-doctoral Fellowship Award ($20,000 CAD)

08/2018: Baycrest CARE Award: A peer-to-peer recognition award for living the Baycrest values of Compassion, Advocacy, Respect or Excellence.

10/2016 - 09/2017: Yakov Gershburg Foundation, supporting geriatric research in the Hebrew University. Given in support of my PhD studies. ($6,000 US = ~$8,000 CAD)

05/2008: Benedicta Botoschinsky Scholarship for advancing research in the field of occupational therapy in geriatrics. Given in support of my MSc studies. (5,000 NIS = ~$1,800 CAD)