What is Keeping Connected?
The Keeping Connected Program is a service that addresses loneliness among older adults through companionship over the telephone. Throughout the program, we monitor client well-being while working to ensure that the program has a continuous, positive impact. Our goal is to keep seniors safe, supported, and living at home. All it takes is one friendly conversation to brighten a day.
Why Keeping Connected?
It is estimated that more than 1.3 million seniors in Canada suffer from chronic loneliness. Studies indicate that health deterioration is twice as high (24.8% vs. 12.5%) when seniors are lonely. As health deteriorates, there is an increased burden for health care services and an earlier onset of death (45% more likely) for those that suffer from loneliness.
Keeping Connected provides social support and friendship to seniors with the goal of reducing their loneliness. Through reducing a senior’s level of loneliness, while reviewing and intervening regarding identified risks, we can help keep seniors safe, socially supported and well at home.
In order to service the many complex clients that remain at home, current home care services are aimed at supporting physical well-being and care needs, with little time left for social interaction. Keeping Connected offers a unique service that offers support, hope and a safe non-judgmental environment for seniors to feel less lonely.
- Sign Up – sign up by calling 1-844-KEEP-CON (1-844-533-7266). Upon connecting with one of our trained and experienced companions, basic information is taken to develop and assess risk indicators and loneliness levels. The length of the initial interaction is designed to be lengthy (40-60 mins) in order to help develop trust and rapport.
- Schedule a Call – calls are scheduled during the day, at your convenience, one call in advance. Calls can be cancelled or re-scheduled depending on availability. We typically speak with individuals 1 to 3 times per week and calls average 20-30 minutes in length.
- Pick a Topic – depending on the frequency of social interactions, risk indicators are asked to ensure the individual is safe and is not at an increased risk from a health and safety perspective. Topics of conversation during these interactions have few limitations. Common topics include: sharing of recipes, story telling from the past, talking about family, discussing current events, and technological advice.
Our Call Companions
Our Call Companions are professionally trained and have years of experience speaking with individuals in the Keeping Connected program. They are fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi. Not only are they great conversationalists, but they are caring, passionate, and never fail to put a smile on someone’s face. Through regular phone calls, our Call Companions will get to know you on a personal level and will always be available when you need someone to speak with.
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