Pilot program to help N.S. seniors combat isolation seeks to become permanent

The Seniors Connect N.S. pilot project in Nova Scotia has been a resounding success, with organizers seeking to make it a permanent program. Operating in five counties with funding from the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care, Seniors Connect N.S. offers seniors the opportunity to socialize over the phone through activities like coffee chats, bingo, trivia, and singalongs.

One of the program’s participants, Rose Jackson, in her 80s and living in a cabin in rural Lunenburg County, shared how the program has positively impacted her life. Previously living in Halifax with her husband, they moved due to rising rental costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolated by her location and mobility issues, Jackson expressed how the program has become her primary social outlet, stating, “I would be devastated if it doesn’t continue because I’m very dependent on it. It’s only been a few months, but it really lightens my life completely, like a ray of sunshine.”

Initially launched in Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg counties, and Halifax Regional Municipality, the program has expanded to Inverness County in Cape Breton. Rebecca McCarthy, the program’s coordinator, highlighted how the sessions provide not only entertainment but also foster a sense of community. McCarthy emphasized the prevalence of loneliness and isolation among seniors, stating that as people age, these feelings become more challenging.

Developed in Ontario and adapted for Nova Scotia under the province’s direction, Seniors Connect N.S. serves as a stepping stone for seniors to transition back into in-person socialization. However, due to high demand exceeding capacity, McCarthy, as the sole coordinator, had to limit the number of seniors accepted to the project to around 50.

Allison Davis, the executive director of Spencer House seniors center in Halifax, emphasized the importance of the program’s personal touch, with a dedicated phone line answered by a person. She noted that many seniors felt left behind as the world moved online after the pandemic, making the need for a program to connect seniors even more urgent. Davis expressed optimism about the program’s future, highlighting the team’s efforts to secure funding and expand its reach across Nova Scotia.

As Seniors Connect N.S. aims to become a permanent program, stakeholders are excited about the prospect of continued success and growth. The program’s impact on reducing isolation among seniors in Nova Scotia has been significant, providing a lifeline of socialization and community for participants like Rose Jackson.