This project aims to foster social connections and resilience among seniors organizations serving four groups of older adults (65+) identified as being at high risk for social isolation: 1) in visible minorities; 2) those with symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression; 3) those with challenges completing daily tasks such as dressing, cooking, shopping, transportation, and cleaning the home; and 4) their informal caregivers. The Connect!Age Project includes 40 organizations across the province of British Columbia and 40 organizations in Quebec, Canada. This represents a research network of advocacy groups and organizations that provide services to older adults and their caregivers. The research team and organizations have co-developed an evidence-based response to organizational needs that serves as a platform for community deployment based on syntheses and translation into lay language of academic research. Priority strategic innovations within and between clusters of organizations with common aims and contexts were developed to test the new co-produced approaches and techniques for reducing marginalization and social isolation in the four target groups. We have merged academic research with organizational needs and translated research-based knowledge into plain language (French and English), supporting grant development, enhancing volunteer strategies, and providing support to enhance capacity. The research team also assessed innovations in this area and the sharing of successful approaches, including several discovery outcomes. Findings are discussed in terms of new methods of knowledge translation based on the co-production of knowledge and action that produces translational outcomes (organizational change and innovative interventions) resulting in social impact.

Authors:
Andrew Wister, Simon Fraser University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Andrew Wister is Director of the Gerontology Research Centre at SFU. He has interests in aging issues and solutions to emerging challenges due to population aging. His current project addresses social isolation.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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