This webinar is presented by the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario (OACAO) and Understanding Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life.
During this webinar, participants will be introduced to the history and benefits of social prescribing as a pathway to promote the overall health and well-being of older adults. In addition, the presenters will talk about social prescribing in the provincial context, including a description of a three-year social prescribing project that the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario (OACAO) is co-leading. This webinar will be of interest to individuals who would like to add a new 'tool' to their toolkit for linking older adults with recreation and social programs that promote social inclusion.
Date: Monday March 7 2022
Time: 1 – 2 p.m. EST.
Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants will have increased knowledge and awareness of:
- what social prescribing is and how social prescriptions may benefit their clients
- the role of Seniors Active Living Centres (SALCs) in providing social and recreational opportunities for older adults
- the referral pathway for connecting clients to the SALCs.
Target audience
Primary health care providers or allied healthcare team members including, but not limited to: case managers, social workers.
About the presenters
Pat Spadafora, Kaleidoscope Consulting, is the founder and former Director of the Centre for Elder Research, an applied research Centre of Excellence at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. With many years of experience in post-secondary education, social work and applied research, Ms. Spadafora has a proven track record for bringing innovative projects to fruition. Ms. Spadafora’s interests are broad and include, among others: promoting positive images of aging; social prescribing; social inclusion; promoting multigenerational environments; community development and capacity building with organizations that serve older adults. Through Kaleidoscope Consulting, Pat’s mission is to change the way we view aging.
Dena Silverberg: As Links2Wellbeing: Social Prescribing for Older Adults Project Coordinator at the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO), Dena is focused on ensuring that seniors have the opportunity to connect with each other and have access to engaging programs and services. Prior to joining OACAO, Dena was the Vice President of Health and Wellness at Better Living Health and Community Services and worked there for 22 years overseeing various departments including Senior Active Living Centres, Adult Day Programs, Exercise and Falls Programming, Social Work Services, Volunteer Services and Hospice and Palliative Care Services. Dena has spent her career in the not for profit sector and has a demonstrated track record in program development, building partnerships and grant writing and management. Dena holds an Honours Bachelors Bachelor Arts in Therapeutic Recreation and Gerontology from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate in Community Engagement, Leadership and Development from Ryerson University. In her spare time Dena is an avid fitness enthusiast, snowboarder, reader and knitter!
Sue Hesjedahl has been the Executive Director of the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO) since 2011, having previously served on the OACAO Board of Directors since 1996 (as President from 2001-2002). Sue has a 30 + year history of working in the not-for-profit sector, specifically with older adult centres. During her long tenure as the Executive Director of the Square One Older Adult Centre from 1994 – 2011 Sue developed and implemented a seniors’ charity. Sue has a B.A. in both Psychology and Gerontology from McMaster University in Hamilton. Sue’s current role with the OACAO involves community development and partner collaboration, financial and project management, government relations and advocacy initiatives for the Seniors Active Living Centres sector. Sue has worked on large granting projects including Building Bridges to Tomorrow funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Partnership Grant Project (PGP) Building Evaluation Capacity for Older Adult Centres funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Seniors Active Living Fairs funded by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. Sue is excited to be bring Social Prescribing to the Seniors Active Living sector through the Links2Wellbeing project.
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