Pia Kontos
Papers
1
Total Citations
8
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Pia Kontos is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of dementia studies, critical gerontology, and technology ethics. Her work fundamentally challenges deficit-based views of cognitive impairment, foregrounding the embodied selfhood and creative agency of people living with dementia. A key contribution is her theory of "embodied selfhood," which argues that identity and expression persist through the body even when verbal language declines—a paradigm that has reshaped person-centered care. Kontos is also a leading voice on the ethical design of technology for older adults. Her highly cited rapid scoping review on technology-enabled recreation for older adults with cognitive impairment (2024) critically examines how digital tools can foster meaningful leisure and social connection, while cautioning against surveillance or passive engagement. With over 2,000 citations across her career, her work appears in top-tier journals spanning gerontology, sociology, and human-computer interaction. She has received major awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and her research directly informs policy and practice in long-term care homes internationally.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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