Loneliness and social isolation are now very serious public health issues that can badly affect one’s health. They can increase a person’s risk of dying early, or dementia, heart attacks and stroke.
Older adults are at increased risk because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.
Feeling lonely can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Community Connectors are members of the community who signpost and inform family, friends and neighbours about how to access support groups, services and information that might help improve their health and wellbeing.
Our one-hour training session is designed to help ANYONE in the Kingston area be better equipped to signpost and support others in the community.
If you wish to learn more or enrol in our training course, email us at: info@compassionatekingston.ca
The Ten Stories: Intergenerational Conversations
There is power and purpose in the stories older people tell over and over again – and there really are just 10 stories they tell repeatedly. Based on interviews with caregivers, Dr. Mary Ann McColl’s (Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University) research has found that the values and symbols in those retold stories hold the secret to making our loved ones feel validated, remembered and understood in the late stages of their lives – and can help us connect to our loved ones on a deeper level.
Did you know that social relationships have been shown to have the strongest influence of reducing premature death? Research has shown that social isolation and loneliness have about the same impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!
Become a Community Connector
Compassionate Communities Kingston is developing a network of Community Connectors. Training sessions will be scheduled this spring and fall. For more information, email info@compassionatekingston.ca.
“I know what I want to say – I just don’t know how to say it”
When I met my friend Jane at the hospital for her latest CAT scan, she seemed more tired than ever. Her face swollen from lymphoma, she described how hard it was to eat and drink, and how drained she felt. “Honestly,” she said to me, “over the weekend, if someone had...
Story #10: The Shipyards Community
‘Knowing Your Neighbour Gives Confidence’ Most of us count ourselves lucky to have a helpful, friendly neighbour in times of crisis or need. Phil Jackson is one of those neighbours. A retired teacher, Phil works as a volunteer with Immigrant...
Story #9: The Seniors Centre
Social connections keep seniors healthy It can be tough to find a parking spot at the Seniors Centre on Francis Street. Most days, the former elementary school is a bustling place, filled with people playing sports, learning a new language, listening to...
