What is a Compassionate Community?
Compassionate Cities are communities that celebrate care for one another during life’s most testing times and experiences. Professor Allan Kellehear started the Compassionate Communities movement in Australia over 20 years ago. He says that dying is not fundamentally a medical event, rather it is an event that happens in a family and community.
Our focus is primarily on the aging population and helping that group “live as well as they can for as long as they can”. A person with a serious illness spends about five percent of the day with health professionals and 95 percent with family, caregivers and friends in their community.
Our challenge is to mobilize citizens to help provide knowledge and information on service available to anyone in need. Caring for others is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of the health care professionals.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Advance Care Planning Workshops
Advance Care Planning is a gift you can give to your loved ones. It helps you plan for possible future health care: It’s about conversations. It’s about wishes. Who will speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself?
If you would like to register for one of our free seminars here are some opportunities:
Kingston Frontenac Public Library branches:
All sessions are 1:00 – 3 p.m. To register: https://calendar.kfpl.ca/events
- September 24 – Calvin Park Branch, 88 Wright Crescent
- October 22 – Central Branch, 130 Johnson Street
- November 26 – Calvin Park: 88 Wright Crescent
Seniors Centre, 56 Francis Street
All sessions are 4:30 – 6 p.m. To register call 613 548-7810.
- November 18, January 20, March 17, and June 16
NEWS
Queen’s Department of Family Medicine HORIZONS magazine
The September issue of HORIZONS magazine is a very interesting read. It is focused solely on seniors’ health and wellbeing. Included is a profile of Compassionate Communities Kingston Canada and our various programs.
https://familymedicine.queensu.ca/global-health/horizons-magazine
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
There are many health and community support services available in the Kingston area. Yet, many people don’t know about these services. If you don’t know about a service, it doesn’t exist for you! Here is a list of six community directories to help you find services when you need them.
AVOID FRAILTY: www.avoidfrailty.ca. or 613 483-9399. Click on “Access Community Resources” for information. Register as a MEMBER to join their healthy aging program. Register as a GUEST to learn more.
Eastern Ontario Community Navigation: www.cneo-nceo.ca. OR Call 211.
Province wide: www.211ontario.ca. OR Call 211.
Southeast Health Line: www.southeasthealthline.ca. OR 613 545-0539.
Everything Frontenac: www.everythingfrontenac.ca.
Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation: www.sfcsc.ca. OR Call 613 376-6477.
Health Connect Ontario: dial 811.