At BCCPA’s Care to Chat on March 2nd at the Terminal City Club, Vancouver, a panel of continuing care experts discussed how peer support, social productivity and a robust public awareness campaign may be the best strategies to address loneliness and isolation among seniors.
At the event moderated by veteran journalist and News 1130 News Director Charmaine de Silva, the panel not only explored strategies to solve isolation among seniors, but identified what’s lacking in the psychosocial care that’s currently available to them.
Loneliness and isolation are serious health concerns affecting seniors living alone and in residential care. One out of two seniors in residential care and a fourth of all seniors report feeling lonely.
Psychosocial care provided to residents traditionally includes activities such as games, trips and social gatherings, planned and implemented by staff in care homes. According to panelist Kristine Theurer, President and Founder of Java Group Programs, although these activities can be enjoyable for some seniors, a lack of resident input can make them passive recipients of care. This “relentless need” to distract seniors through activities/entertainment does very little to help them feel less lonely.
Theurer said peer support is an effective tool that helps create valued social identities and enhances reciprocal relationships. Even seniors with dementia, she said, are very capable of engaging in peer support.
Grace Balbutin, Director of Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL), Seniors First BC, said the most isolated seniors are the most difficult to reach. We also need to consider language barriers and disabilities when trying to create awareness about the resources that are already available to isolated seniors.
Dr. Andrew Wister, Director of Gerontology Research at Simon Fraser University, said collaboration between seniors, volunteers, organizations and government is essential if we want to combat loneliness in our communities.
Early this year, the U.K. government appointed a Minister of Loneliness to raise awareness about loneliness and isolation, and create a government strategy to combat it. According to Wister, a robust public awareness campaign backed by philanthropists and non-profit organizations made that possible. To address loneliness in Canada and B.C., he said, we need to implement a similar strategy with charismatic leadership, more research and dialogue.
The event was the last Care to Chat for the 2017/2018 season. BC Care Providers Association would like to thank our title sponsor Rexall, gold sponsor ArjoHuntleigh, and silver sponsors Medical Pharmacies, Sobeys Pharmacy, Pharmacy at Safeway and Essity for supporting the Care to Chat speaker series. We would also like to thank the BC Lower Mainland Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders for partnering with us.
Video: Care to Chat Panel Discussion
#CaretoChat – Solving seniors isolation in B.C.
Care to Chat Photo Album
Take a look at photos from the event.
