Older Adults Connecting and Belonging Initiative

Preventing, mitigating, and reducing the impacts of social isolation on older adults requires systemic change.

The Issue

There is an epidemic of loneliness in Canada.

Individuals and communities everywhere, including in Kingston and area, are feeling the negative impacts of social isolation on their health and wellbeing. While loneliness can affect anyone, older adults are particularly impacted by social isolation.

“Lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day”
(US Surgeon General Advisory, 2023)

Preventing, mitigating, and reducing the impacts of social isolation on older adults requires systemic change. Resilience refers to the capacity of individuals, families, and communities to adapt and thrive in the face of life’s challenges, changes, and stresses at any stage in life, from childhood through old age. The needs and strengths of individuals evolve over time and over the lifespan, and community supports must be diverse and adaptable to meet these changing needs effectively.

To address social isolation and foster connection and belonging for older adults a collective impact approach has been encouraged, involving partnerships across private, non-profit, and public sectors, through coordinated and localized actions.

The Solution

The OACB unites community organizations and agencies serving older adults

The OACB aims to be a collaborative initiative to unite community organizations and agencies serving older adults in the KFL&A region, who share the intent of reducing social isolation and fostering connection and belonging for older adults in the community.

We are dedicated to fostering connections, finding productive synergies, developing systemic awareness of key local issues affecting the connection and belonging of older adults, and improving cross-sector communication.

Our intent is to create sustainable connections and community-based solutions to prevent, mitigate, and reduce the impacts of social isolation on older adults in KFL&A that will have long-term impact. We are excited about the potential impact of this work and look forward to working together as we build a more resilient and connected community for older adults.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Get Involved

Interested in learning more? Reach out to us today to learn how you can help make an impact.

Elizabeth Nelson

OACB Project Manager

mail oacb@cfka.org

phone 613.546.9696, ext 108

Land Acknowledgment

The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is situated on Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat territory. We acknowledge the significance of this land and all that is within it for the Indigenous Peoples who lived and continue to live here and who are sustained by this land.

It is our understanding that this territory is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee to share and protect this land. In the spirit of peace, friendship and respect, all subsequent Indigenous Nations and newcomers were invited into this living treaty to care for this land and its resources.

We affirm our commitment to continuously listen, learn, and honour Indigenous histories and perspectives as we work towards building a more resilient and welcoming community. We affirm our commitment to be a space for reconciliation in action.