• Food Pantry in Upper Big Tracadie • Committee on Aboriginal and Black Students Success ― Council of Canadian African Education/rep in Lincolnville Healthy Relationships for Youth Program/SRCE • JACK.org in Guysborough and Canso schools • Garden Club • Equipment Loan Programs/CLC • Ant. 4-H and other similar youth leadership organizations ― Ant. a tradition of volunteering • Ant. United Church hot meal programs 2 x week + Xmas • Ant. strong cultural communities, Mi'kmaw, African-NS, newcomers • Ant. functioning, cohesive, government bodies - band and municipalities • Church Ant. university and educational institutions Ant. natural spaces, wild and cultivated, like trails and outdoor rec spaces • Ant. visible and approachable leaders in the community ― Ant. resource-rich recreational departments ― Ant. a history of community organizing and grass-roots community led development • Ant. people / leaders willing to be mentors and to teach others and share success and • Ant. very strong and visible L'Arche community that teaches by example • Paqtnkek-Ant. strong women leaders in the community • Ant. StFX Service Learning adds more young people to the community service landscape here and elsewhere for the future Ant. relatively wealthy population and strong tax revenue to be able to support these initiatives (also philanthropy) • Ant. arts community • Ant. Friendship corner • Ant. Antigonish County Adult Learning Association • Ant. Positive peer pressure on businesses to sponsor orgs. and events and be visibly community-minded • Ant. also businesses that build in community i.e. Tall & Small , Op Shop, Townhouse, etc. • Ant. local media to keep people informed Ant. a scale of community that is both close yet also still evolving - and the scale allows for projects to be accomplished ― *noting the loss of the Antigonish weekly paper to keep people informed and connected
Breakout Activity #2 The Spark that Lights the Fire What can we do together to keep people connected? What specific actions can community organizations commit to in working on social isolation? • Community Links telephone support programs. • Caregivers Nova Scotia • Host some of the group activities highlighted in the Spark brochure and partner with other groups to do this. • Create a Community Navigator Position/ Library or NS Health (paid position) • Reach the vulnerable populations (peers mentors- e.g. model on the Primrose Model Dartmouth Community Centre). Make position sustainable not just at one level- diverse and lots of partnering required. • Include First voice in planning • Start a pool of volunteers (a volunteer registry). People that live in the community, students. • Social Inclusion is a priority for the CHBs in the area. CHBs host a follow up conversation to reconvene and keep the energy going and keep connected/ CHBs. • Create a community of practice. Host a private group on social media where people could be posting ideas or questions. Remember to add the LEAD - who has responsibility for the action? • Support for applying for and writing funding proposals • Work with NS Quality of Life Local Leadership Teams to engage community on Social Isolation (one of six critical issues) • Follow up with politicians on how to get access to quality internet • Reopen conversations with some of the Municipalities who have not taken action or planning on age friendly communities. There is funding available. Follow up with candidates for Municipal elections about these issues • Continue connections and relationships from today instead of working in silos. • Changing/adapting some plans that got derailed due to COVID • Victoria SSP - with municipal Active Living coordinator - visit trails and outdoor • Moving meetings for caregivers for families with dementia from in person to virtual • Life Streams Plus project, similar to Lifting Spirits projects in Richmond County • Interested to continue the collaboration that started today. • Literacy organization, exciting to start a project similar to Pen Pal STFX, looking at all age groups • Become increasingly aware about what is going on in other communities, for coordinated approach, to share and work together • Re-evaluate service of Seniors Safety Program in Victoria County after reflecting on assumptions about loneliness
• Excited about collaboration between municipalities and organizations and agencies • Inspired by the acts of kindness projects, wanting to take part more not just as organization, but as a citizen ― • Similar to STFX pen pal program create letter writing campaigns - church/youth groups with nursing homes • Create more tactile programs that are not just virtual to be more inclusive. Programs that need to continue even after COVID • Continuation of virtual/phone medical appointments volunteer coordinator - matching more volunteers to community organizations advocate for improved and enhanced recreation departments and volunteer partnerships - • More publicity about local programs and services affecting this. • PA Regional Library will commit to being a central clearinghouse for programs and services. • Create a personal invitation to program. A personal approach. • Technology training through libraries, learning centres • Affordable internet in low income housing complexes @NS, MLA's. • Finding a way to connect to the multitude of agencies to work together. • Intergenerational connectivity via an educational forum. This forum will allow for the sharing of experiences about what social isolation looks like across generations and ways we can address issues and barriers collaboratively across the generations; and will allow for the opportunity to determine community readiness and willingness to address social isolation together. Conversations are needed to further explore the implementation of future forums via coalitions (e.g. Aging Well Coalitions) • Start a letter writing campaign/Senior or Women's Group • Advertise on our FB and website/ Caregivers Nova Scotia • Access funding for programs/Provincial organizations. • Listening to where the gaps are and filling in the gaps/Laura • Sharing resources - social media to create a service providers resource sharing group – made of a list of service providers available • Consider the option of creating a inter agency group that focuses on inter- generational connectivity of resource and service sharing ... sharing on various media outlets ( flyers, internet, etc to allow access for everyone) • Use the partnership between NSCC and Service Learning to undertake the creation of a shared resource list produced both virtually and in print. – • Develop an inventory of resources for the community. • With a joined partnership with Kids First Recreate Keep Well Antigonish in Port Hawkesbury - Port Hawkesbury Recreation Department and Seniors Club as leads • Help eliminate fear of joining arrange group transportation with support persons so not arriving alone - Strait Area Transit/other transportation and event or program host • Encourage like organizations to 'team up' and brainstorm how they can work together to create new programming or recreate programming that has been successful elsewhere - public health could support
• Create a community asset map of supports, events, programs and organizations and make available to the community via town website and in a booklet. • Create a flyer similar to the recreation departments flyer but on monthly programming and supports available and information on social isolation (i.e. tips and suggestions) - Town of Port Hawkesbury and contributors • Have the Christmas food box program team up with local wreath makers and crafters to add a wreath or holiday decoration to the food delivery • Share what we learned today with our networks • Hike It Baby/Guysborough Branch/MODG Recreation • Kitchen Parties/St. Patrick's Community/Guysborough Intervale • Communication of smaller community events/Guysborough Journal • New to the area meet and greet info and contacts/Guysborough Recreation • Provide volunteer opportunities/Community organizations/recreation/schools • New Programming/Guysborough County Recreation • Intergenerational programming/ Guysborough recreation/senior clubs/libraries. Library will bring all info together to connect service and programs together in Pictou/Antigonish • Host regular, semi-frequent coffee drop-ins for org. reps to build relationships and share and leave space for AHA moments and cross-pollination of ideas - CHB reps & library identify willing and committed partners for specific projects re. raising awareness, sending referrals, etc. • Women's Center (KS) & CHBs & Library Create space for communicating, hearing, sharing and accepting constructive criticism about programming/services from/with fellow community organizations and individuals (all of us!!)
2020 SPARK Con 1. Method of Participation - Zoom or In Person? 2. We are interested to hear your feedback on the virtual hybr 3. Please tell us how your method of participation affected the 4. KEYNOTE PRESENTATION with Drs. Mary Pat Sullivan & Ch Scale of 1 to 5: I learned a bit from this presentation -TO- I learned a great de Learned a Bit 2 3 1 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION with Drs. Mary Pat Sullivan & Christin Scale of 1 to 5: I did not enjoy this session- TO- I enjoyed this session very mu Did Not Enjoy 2 3 1 Feel free to provide additional comments about the keynote prese
nference Survey rid format based on your participation method. e quality or nature of your engagement? hristina Victor eal from this session. Learned a Great Deal 4 5 na Victor Enjoyed Very Much uch. 5 4 entation.
5. FIRESIDE CHAT - Community Panel- Social Isolation Scale of 1 to 5: The projects did not demonstrate how social isolation was addr social isolation can be addressed in communities. Did Not Demonstrate 2 3 1 FIRESIDE CHAT- Community Panel- Enjoyed Scale of 1 to 5: I did not enjoy hearing from participants and organizers about t organizers about their projects. Scale numbers were not explicated defined- 97% were in the 4 Did Not Enjoy 2 3 1 FIRESIDE CHAT- Feel free to leave additional comments about the 6. Bright Lights - Community Stories (Padlet Gallery / Bookle Scale of 1 to 5: The projects featured did not help me learn about community my understanding of community approaches to social isolation Did Not Help Me Learn 2 3 1
ressed in communities – TO- the projects clearly demonstrated how 4 Clearly Demonstrated 5 their projects – TO - I enjoyed hearing from participants and to 5 range. 4 Enjoyed 5 e Community Panel et) - Learned approaches to social isolation – TO- The projects featured increased n. 4 Increased My Understanding 5
Bright Lights - Community Stories (Padlet Gallery / Booklet) - En Scale of 1 to 5: I did not enjoy learning about community approaches to socia social isolation. Did Not Enjoy 2 3 1 Bright Lights - Feel free to share any additional comments about th 7. Shining the Light - Small Group Discussion on Local Commu Scale of 1 to 5: I did not learn more about community resources to address so help address social isolation. Did not learn 1 2 3 Small Group Discussion on Local Community Strengths Feel free to share additional comments about Shining the Light - S 8. Spark that Lights the Fire – Small Group Discussion to Ignit Scale of 1 to 5 This session did not activate ideas or a desire for collective act community action. Did Not Activate Ideas 2 3 1
njoyed al isolation- TO- I enjoyed hearing about community approaches to 4 Enjoyed 5 he Bright Lights session. unity Strengths and Assets- Learned ocial isolation – TO- I learned a lot about what is in my community to 4 Learned a lot 5 Small Group Discussion on Local Community Strengths and Assets te Action in our Communities - Ideas for Action tion- TO- this session helped activate ideas and desire for 4 Activated Ideas 5
The Spark that Lights the Fire – Small Group Discussion to Ignite Scale of 1 to 5 I do not plan to take further action on this issue- TO- I am com No Further Action 2 3 1 9. Community Health Board - Wellness Funds - Intention to A Scale of 1 to 5 This session did not increase my likelihood of applying for CHB applying for CHB Wellness Did Not 2 3 1 10. Please share “3 specific actions” you intend to take to addre 11. Feel free to share your feedback on Lighting the Way - Refl 12. Please share any additional comments on the format, cont
Action in our Communities - Plans for Action mmitted to collective action to address social isolation. Committed to Further Action 45 Apply for Funds B Wellness Funds for a community project- TO- I would consider 4 Would Consider 5 ess social isolation and how. lections of the Day with Dr. Katie Aubrecht. tent, facilitation, etc. of SPARK a Connection.
Loneliness and Social Isolation References – September 2020 Provided by the Health Promotion Team, Mental Health and Addictions, Nova Scotia Health Alpass, F. M., & Neville, S. (2003). Loneliness, health and depression in older males. Aging & Mental Health, 7(3), 212-216. Beller, J., & Wagner, A. (2018). Loneliness, social isolation, their synergistic interaction, and mortality. Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 37(9), 808-813. https://10.1037/hea0000605 Berg-Weger, M., & Morley, J. E. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation in older adults during the covid-19 pandemic: Implications for gerontological social work. Journal of Nutrition, Calati, R., Ferrari, C., Brittner, M., Oasi, O., Olié, E., Carvalho, A. F., & Courtet, P. (2018). Suicidal thoughts and behaviors and social isolation: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Affective Disorders, Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Yip, P. S. F. (2008). A revisit on older adults suicides and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(12), 1231-1238. https://10.1002/gps.2056 Clay, R. (2020). COVID-19 isn’t just a danger to older people’s physical health. https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/03/covid-19-danger-physical-health Courtin, E., & Knapp, M. (2017). Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: A scoping review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 25(3), 799-812. https://10.1111/hsc.12311 Fakoya, O. A., McCorry, N. K., & Donnelly, M. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: A scoping review of reviews. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-14. Gerst-Emerson, K., & Jayawardhana, J. (2015). Loneliness as a public health issue: The impact of loneliness on health care utilization among older adults. American Journal of Public Health, 105(5), 1013-1019. https://10.2105/AJPH.2014.302427 Gyasi, R. M., Yeboah, A. A., Mensah, C. M., Ouedraogo, R., & Addae, E. A. (2019). Neighborhood, social isolation and mental health outcome among older people in Ghana. Journal of Affective Disorders, 259, 154-163. https://10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.024 Johnson, S., Bacsu, J., McIntosh, T., Jeffery, B., & Novik, N. (2019). Social isolation and loneliness among immigrant and refugee seniors in Canada: A scoping review. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 15(3), 177-190. https://10.1108/IJMHSC-10-2018-0067 L. Z., & Wang, S. (2020). Prevalence and predictors of general psychiatric disorders and loneliness during COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. Psychiatry Research, 291, 113267. https://10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113267
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the health care system. National Academies Press. Ma, R., Mann, F., Wang, J., Lloyd-Evans, B., Terhune, J., Al-Shihabi, A., & Johnson, S. (2019). The effectiveness of interventions for reducing subjective and objective social isolation among people with mental health problems: A systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, https://10.1007/s00127-019-01800-z Menec, V. H., Newall, N. E., Mackenzie, C. S., Shooshtari, S., & Nowicki, S. (2019). Examining individual and geographic factors associated with social isolation and loneliness using canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA) data. PloS One, 14(2), e0211143. https://10.1371/journal.pone.0211143 Parlapani, E., Holeva, V., Nikopoulou, V. A., Sereslis, K., Athanasiadou, M., Godosidis, A., Stephanou, T., & Diakogiannis, I. (2020). Intolerance of uncertainty and loneliness in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 842. Salma, J., & Salami, B. (2020). “Growing old is not for the weak of heart”: Social isolation and loneliness in muslim immigrant older adults in canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 28(2), 615-623. https://10.1111/hsc.12894 Simard, J., & Volicer, L. (2020). Loneliness and isolation in long-term care and the covid-19 pandemic. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, Singer, C. (2018). Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. Journal of Aging Life Care, 28(1), 4-8. Smith, B., & Lim, M. (2020). How the COVID-19 pandemic is focusing attention on loneliness and social isolation. Public Health Research & Practice, 30(2) https://10.17061/phrp3022008 Smith, K. J., & Victor, C. (2019). Typologies of loneliness, living alone and social isolation, and their associations with physical and mental health. Ageing and Society, 39(8), 1709-1730. https://10.1017/S0144686X18000132
Search
