In my line of work, I promote independent living for the aging population. I provide strategies and resources for people to continue to live at home, a place where they feel most comfortable in. Living and aging in your home has great potential for wellness and health if you are well supported. We require elaborate connections and resources to stay at home and age into our senior years. A risk to aging in our home is social isolation and intense feelings of loneliness. It is estimated that up to 16% of Canadian seniors experience social isolation (Statistics Canada, 2010). I predict this number is now incredibly higher as our aging population grows and more people choose to age at home, often alone with limited supports. Isolation and loneliness has been linked to have a strong negative impact to our health. Lack of social support has been identified as a risk factor for frailty and care home placement (Andrew & Keefe, 2014).
As we age in our home, it is important to remain connected to our family, friends, and to our community and its resources. I would also add that it is important to remain well connected to health professionals – doctors, nutrition specialists, exercise specialists, etc. Some key dimensions of social vulnerability were identified by Andrew and Keefe (2014) as self-esteem, sense of control, living situation, social support, engagement, relations with others, and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. Being well supported is complex and imperative to facilitate social inclusion for better health outcomes.
How can we promote social inclusion and reconnect vulnerable seniors to their communities? First, there needs to be the resources in place for them to easily access. Our communities should provide initiatives that facilitate social inclusion for seniors and targeted initiatives to those most vulnerable. The Government of Canada identifies groups at most risk for social isolation to be seniors who are Aboriginal, caregivers, immigrants, LGBT, living alone, living in remote or rural areas, low-income or living in poverty, experiencing mental health issues, and/or living with health challenges or disabilities. This extensive list captures an alarming number of vulnerable seniors who deserve communities capable of supporting their needs. Here are some suggestions to encourage and provide opportunities for the social inclusion of seniors:
Improved housing options
Knowledgeable volunteers, staff, and health professionals to increase awareness on social isolation and connect seniors to resources
Organizations offering facilitators to accompany seniors to first visits to a new program, offering tours, etc.
Telephone resources and programs
Improved access to transportation
Outreach strategies
Inter-generational Programming such as Co-Housing Programs for Students and Seniors, shared spaces for Seniors Programs and Children's Programs (example: Adult Day Program with Children's Day Care)
Leisure, Arts and Culture based programs geared at seniors
Friendship Groups
Multicultural Senior Centers
The video "Housemates wanted: Seniors look to co-housing to move away from loneliness" from CBC News: The National (2018) below highlights a story of three seniors who try co-housing to avoid social isolation and loneliness.
We all play a part in decreasing the social vulnerability of seniors to enhance health as we age. Ageism is also a factor we must consider as a significant barrier to healthy aging. I believe a shift from "normal aging" to "successful, healthy aging" is necessary to ensure Canadians are living well in society in their life continuum. We must be proactive to seek and maintain meaningful connections as we age to accommodate changes in our lives. Resources for seniors must be accessible, appropriate, and well-promoted to be effective and inclusive.
References:
Andrew, M. K., & Keefe, J. M. (2014). Social vulnerability from a social ecology perspective: a cohort study of older adults from the National Population Health Survey of Canada. BMC Geriatrics, 14, 90. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-14-90
CBC News: The National (2018, December 19). Housemates wanted: Seniors look to co-housing to move away from loneliness. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVMJ95d59OU
The National Seniors Council. (2017, April 26). Who's at risk and what can be done about it? A review of the literature on the social isolation of different groups of seniors. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/national-seniors-council/programs/publications-reports/2017/review-social-isolation-seniors.html
Comments