Social Prescribing Project
Building Neighborhoods of Care
Seniors across Ontario experienced a significant loss of social and community connection through the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to StatCan 2022, 46% of older adults reported being very concerned regarding their physical, mental and social health due to isolation and delayed care. Social Prescribing connects patients to a wide range of non-clinical services in the community based on identified social needs to improve their health and well-being.
Carefirst is pleased to announce that our association is moving forward on our Social Prescribing Program with gracious funding from United Way of Greater Toronto and New Horizons for Seniors. Carefirst’s objective is to establish a Care Pathway, implement early identification and intervention of potential “seniors at risk”, refer the right services at the right time, build neighborhoods of care, and create a model development of the Social Prescribing Program.
The Social Prescribing Pathway will involve a prescriber to recognize a client’s needs to refer them to social prescribing. A navigator will collaboratively offer social prescriptions by connecting the client to appropriate non-clinical community based supports and peer seniors to support the client. Through the Social Prescribing Program, Carefirst hopes to achieve improved well-being of our seniors, reduced silos of care, and improved diverse determinants of health. It will leverage our High Priority Communities Strategy Program’s web of existing agency partnerships alongside Carefirst Senior’s pre-existing partnerships to facilitate a robust referral program targeting the clients who need it most. Carefirst is pleased to help pioneer a new way of aging in place in the GTA region.
