Provincial Learning Event: End Loneliness, Spread Happiness

You are invited to join BC CRN’s online November Provincial Learning Event: End Loneliness, Spread Happiness.

Register now.

Loneliness and social isolation are epidemic, affecting so many older adults. Research tells us that enhancing emotional connections is key to solving the problem. While that sounds easy—just go and talk to your neighbour—it isn’t. Typical social programming addresses loneliness with entertainment and distraction. Java Group Programs bring people together with an innovative approach that ends loneliness and spreads happiness. Through structured peer support and peer mentoring, Java participants uplift others and are uplifted themselves.

Presented by:

Dr. Kristine Theurer pioneered the use of standardized peer support and mentoring to address loneliness and social isolation among older adults. She is author of ‘It Makes Life Worthwhile!’ Peer Mentoring in Long-Term Care in Aging & Mental Health and The Need for a Social Revolution in Residential Care, one of the most downloaded articles in the Journal of Aging Studies. Dr. Theurer has received numerous research awards including Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She serves on the planning committee for the Canadian national conference on culture change.

The Java Group Programs is a company with a vision of ending loneliness. They pioneered a series of unique research-based peer support and mentoring programs for older adults to end loneliness and associated depression.

These programs have been implemented in over 900 organizations to date in both Canada and the US in long term care homes, assisted and retirement living, supportive housing, hospitals and in the community.

Their mission is to build a sense of belonging and purpose within senior living communities.

Register now.