Toronto, Oct. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first ever Engage: End Isolation campaign, led by the RTO/ERO Foundation, concludes at the end of October; the month it recently dubbed Social Isolation Awareness Month. The campaign aims to deepen the national dialogue on the issue of social isolation among Canadian seniors. The success of this year’s effort has inspired the Foundation to make the campaign an annual event.
A total of 650 Canadians signed up to participate in the campaign and receive a “challenge email” every Tuesday in October. Weekly challenges included awareness measures and tips for preventing social isolation such as:
- Scheduling a weekly call with a senior (friend or family member)
- Offering to help with seasonal chores
- Finding time to help a senior set up and/or fix technology devices
- Sharing social engagement success stories on social media
“We are extremely pleased and encouraged not only by the number of people who chose to participate in this new campaign, but also by the degree of positive feedback we received,” says Joanne Murphy, Chair of the Board of Directors for the RTO/ERO Foundation. “Our experience this year has demonstrated two things. Firstly, that this is an issue of great concern for a growing number of Canadians. And secondly, that there is a serious need for more information, action, advocacy and programming related to social isolation. People want to know more, and they want to help.”
The objective of the Engage campaign is to create awareness about the scope of the issue:
- By 2036, up to 25% of Canada’s population will be over 65 years old.
- An estimated 30% of Canadians are at risk of becoming socially isolated.
- About 24% of Canadians over 65 report feeling isolated from others and wish they could participate in more social activities.
- Risk factors include living alone, being 80 or older, having multiple chronic health problems, lacking transportation, lower income, changing family structures and being a caregiver.
At the beginning of the month, the Foundation also set a fundraising target of $100,000 for its annual grant program. The program provides funding for research and training in geriatrics and gerontology; and for community-based programs and approaches to reducing social isolation of older adults. Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, a total of $66,668 has been raised. The Foundation announced a call for proposals at the RTO/ERO Fall Senate event on Tuesday, October 30.
About the RTO/ERO Foundation
www.rto-ero.org/support-the-foundation
The health and prosperity of seniors is of prime importance to RTO/ERO’s 77,500 members. The RTO/ERO Foundation shares the belief that seniors are valuable and contributing members of society. All are worthy of respect and deserve to age successfully and with dignity.
The Foundation is a registered charitable organization founded in 2011 by RTO/ERO and inspired by the philanthropic spirit of its members and friends. It is one of few foundations to invest exclusively in initiatives related to enhancing the quality of life of aging adults, with three core areas of granting:
- Aging-related research
- Geriatrics/Gerontology training
- Innovative programs to reduce social isolation
Connect: www.facebook.com/rto.ero or Twitter @rto_ero or @RTO_Foundation
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