Up to 24%
of Canadian seniors experience social isolation, defined as having minimal
meaningful contact with others. This is a growing public Health concern with
measurable impacts on health, emergency services, and long-term care systems.

Key risks
increase with:
• Living alone
• Low income
• Being a newcomer or visible minority
• Hearing/vision loss or mobility changes
• Loss of spouse or major life transitions
• Lack of accessible transportation
• Ageism and stigma

Isolation
is distinct from loneliness: loneliness is a feeling; isolation is an objective
lack of connection with serious health consequences.

Why It Matters

Research
shows that social isolation increases risks of dementia, Depression, heart
disease, Stroke, and premature death, comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a
day.

Isolated
seniors are heavier users of emergency rooms, hospitals, and long-term care.
Municipal environments, transportation, sidewalks, signage, benches,
accessibility, and community programming, play a major role in preventing or
reducing isolation.

Key
evidence and sources:

1.  
National Seniors Council – Report on Social Isolation
https://www.canada.ca/en/national-seniors-council.html

2.  
World Health Organization – Age-Friendly Communities Framework
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241547307

3.  
Statistics Canada – Social Isolation in Seniors
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca
(Search: “Social isolation of older adults – StatCan”)

4.  
Age-Friendly Communities Framework (World Health Organization)
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241547307

5.  
Public Health Agency of Canada – Age-Friendly in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors.html

6.  
Research on Health Impacts of Isolation (Holt-Lunstad et al.)
Summary accessible via the National Institute on Aging:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks

Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/

Royce Shook Blogger

I served as a teacher, a teacher on Call, a Department Head, a District Curriculum, Specialist, a Program Coordinator, and a Provincial Curriculum Coordinator over a forty year career. In addition, I was the Department Head for Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a professor both online and in person at the University of Phoenix (Canada) from 2000-2010.

I also worked with Special Needs students. I gave workshops on curriculum development and staff training before I fully retired