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The Care2Connect podcast discusses the importance of social connections for mental health in isolated seniors. Barriers to social connections include losing loved ones, living alone, lack of transportation, and difficulty navigating technology. Technology can help bridge the gap by providing access to online communities and instant communication. Encouraging seniors to engage in hobbies and activities they enjoy can also improve social connections. Community-based programs, senior centers, and support services play a role in facilitating social engagement. Social prescribing and companion services can connect individuals to resources and provide emotional support. Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and improve mental health. Overall, fostering social connections can improve the mental well-being of isolated seniors. Hello and good morning to my wonderful listeners. I'm Lauren, the host of the podcast Care2Connect. On today's episode, I am pleased to welcome three special guests, Brooklyn, Ravni, and Michelle, who are nursing students from UBC. I'm very excited for them to be joining us because we'll be talking about mental health and isolated seniors and how to facilitate social connections to improve this. So let's get into this. As O'Rourke reported in 2018, social connectedness is a basic human need that may influence mental health for older adults. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can cause changes to older adults' mental health, such as memory loss, dementia, depression, and cognitive decline. Although most people know this, there are many barriers that stand in the way of allowing the elderly population to socially connect with each other. Brooklyn, are you both able to speak about some of the barriers you've researched or seen? Yeah, an article done by O'Rourke in 2018 addressed many of these barriers. Factors like losing loved ones, living alone, not having access to transportation, and not knowing how to navigate technology are some of the barriers that put older adults at risk for reduced social connections and loneliness. Although a lot of older adults are not aware of support groups or senior groups in the community. The good news is that there are things that can be done to help overcome some of these barriers. To start us off, do you want to speak about how technology is acting as a digital bridge to help with social isolation? Yeah, I'd love to speak to this. Technology offers a lifeline for seniors who may feel isolated by giving them access to online communities, discussion groups, and most importantly instant communication. It's not a substitute for in-person interactions, but it certainly lessens the emotional gap. In a world that's becoming increasingly online, it's no surprise that seniors are embracing technology to stay connected with loved ones. Definitely, and to your nursing listeners, the NCEEE did a report in 2022 that gave us tools on how to support older adults to use technology, which includes encouraging older adults to engage in training seminars and using technology and social media so that they can stay connected with their families and friends. It sure sounds like social media and technology are tools that can reduce feelings of isolation, foster their mental well-being, and provide newfound opportunities for seniors to connect with the world. I know my grandparents love seeing my photos online as a way to keep in touch. Hey Ravni, do you have some other suggestions on ways seniors can become more involved socially with other people? Yeah, something else seniors can do is engage in hobbies and simply do things they enjoy. It could include sports, workouts, walks, art sessions, cooking, shopping, whatever it may be. And the best part is most of these hobbies can be done with someone else. There are obvious benefits to some of these hobbies like physical activities on mental health. However, an article by Huxhold et al. in 2014 states that doing hobbies with some of your friends can increase life satisfaction and positive effects while also decreasing negative effects of aging. Those are awesome ways for older adults to connect with friends. As a bonus, doing things with others saves time and makes it more enjoyable. Mm-hmm. And I was also recently speaking with my senior mentor and she mentioned when she was going through her cancer treatment the hospital offered her a two-year long art program to all the cancer patients. It allowed her to connect with other patients that may have had similar experiences as her. And more importantly, she was able to create art which she thought to be very nice and relaxing experience. My senior mentor explained how this opportunity made her feel like she wasn't alone. Thanks to your senior mentor for allowing you to share that with us today. That's a great example of how social connection can improve someone's experience when they're going through a difficult period in their life. Michelle, I understand that you're familiar with the kinds of social support that could help older adults. Are you able to speak on these? Of course. There are many community-based programs, senior centers, and support services that facilitate social engagement for older adults. For sure. And not everyone knows about them too. To help this, what are some ways you think that could help to improve access to these resources? In class, we learn about social prescribing where health professionals connect individuals to community services to support their patients' emotional and social needs. Where I work as an ESN, there are companion services where they engage in conversations, provide emotional support, and support for older adults to get involved in activities that they enjoy. I love how you've already seen examples of these services where you work. I am curious about the mental health benefits of volunteering for older adults. Could you dive into that a bit more? Yes. According to the article in Volunteer Canada in 2013, it can provide a sense of purpose and social connection. It provides mental health benefits such as Helper's High, which is the increase of endorphins from the selfless service and sense of being of value to others. Thanks again for listening, everyone. Hopefully, we can include these ideas of technology, hobbies, social groups, and volunteer activities to help foster social connections in our isolated seniors to improve their mental health. Keep caring to connect.
