Aging Well Together – Southern Frontenac Community Services Training for Tomorrow’s Care

While the doors were closed to usual activities on April 28th and 29th, the staff of the Grace Centre were hard at work inside.

Thanks to the generous grant from the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, the staff and local nurses participated together in workshops, hosted in the Grace Hall by the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. The hands-on workshops guided staff through age-related changes and providing care for adults experiencing frailty, cognitive decline and dementia. They also had an opportunity to experience those changes firsthand.

Heather Rogers, Executive Director explained, “It’s important that aging adults experience respect and dignity when they come through our doors. All staff need a foundation of knowledge and the genuine compassion that comes with lived experience.” Heather shared that she first learned of Baycrest when she saw the CBC interview of Meaghan’s team demonstrating the simulation suit experience. “I was inspired to find a way to bring them here. Thankfully, Community Foundation related to our vision and made it happen. We are so appreciative of their support”.

SFCSC’s initiative comes at an important time, as the demographic trends show a steady increase in the aging population across the region. Community Support Services (CSS) are being asked to do more every day, to support our communities and healthcare system. SFCSC continues to see rising participation across the programs and services. “It’s essential that we build our knowledge and compassion within the workforce to meet current and future care demands.”

The Township of South Frontenac completed a study and determined that the senior population in South Frontenac is the fastest-growing demographic in our area. From 2021, people ages 65+ represented 39% of our population and that by 2031, this will increase to 46%, in 2041 this will increase to 48%. At the same time, according to national data from the Alzheimer Society of Canada, over 771,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia and it is forecasted that more 1.7 million people in Canada will have dementia by 2050.

For Meaghan Adams, Manager at the Centre for Education & Knowledge Exchange in Aging at Baycrest, it was the first time her team had worked with a community services organization. Meaghan shared about the experience from her team’s perspective: “ From the moment we arrived, it was clear how deeply this team is connected to their mission and their community. They embraced every activity with enthusiasm, engagement, openness to learning, and ability to balance tough conversations with laughter made the two days incredibly impactful.”

It was back to business as usual immediately following the training. Staff felt renewed and inspired as they returned to providing the wide range of services to support healthy aging in the community including Social and Recreation activities, Meal Programs, Transportation, Adult Day program, in-home supports, Visiting volunteer Hospice and Grief and Bereavement as well as Food bank and referral assistance. If you or someone you know could benefit from support or wish to donate to support SFCSC reach out today. www.sfcsc.ca