ABOUT THIS EPISODE
We all have a need for social connections, to talk to someone about our day, events in our lives, share stories or whatever is on our mind. Social connections, how we relate to and interact with others, are important to reduce social isolation and loneliness for all ages, but particularly for older adults as we age.
In this Episode of Aging Vibrantly, we will talk with France Connor, Manager of 'A Friendly Voice', that provides a free call-in service for adults over 55 years old who live in Ontario or Atlantic Canada. When an older adult calls the toll free number at 1-855-892-9992 they will be greeted by a compassionate and caring volunteer who will listen to them. Each call may last up to 30 minutes and seniors can call as many as 3 times a day. A Friendly Voice is available from 8 AM - 10 PM (ET), 7 days a week/365 days a year.
In this episode you will learn:
- How volunteers at A Friendly Voice are trained in having good listening skills, showing empathy and respect and to identify warning signs of abuse, neglect or fraud.
- Why maintaining connections can help older adults mitigate the negative impacts of isolation and loneliness, which are often associated with increased risks of poor health, depression, anxiety, elder abuse, disability and frailty.
- How keeping engaged with others can provide a sense of belonging, purpose, and even improve cognitive function and yes, age vibrantly!
- About the WHO (World Health Organization) recent study, that found 1 in 6 people on this planet feel lonely. In Canada, an estimated 1.6 million older Canadians feel lonely, which is almost one in five Canadian seniors aged 65 and older experiencing loneliness.
Until next time - Stay Vibrant!
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References & Resources:
A Friendly Voicehttps://afriendlyvoice.caToll-Free: 1-855-892-9992
From loneliness to social connection: charting a path to healthier societies. Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection/report
Webinar Presentation at SAGE: A FRIENDLY VOICE Reducing loneliness and isolation one phone call at a time. Presented By: Kelly Dumas & France Connor. https://sagelink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kelly-Dumas.pdf
Media Interviews
A Friendly Voice on CTV (Oct. 2024) https://www.facebook.com/AFVCanada/videos/a-friendly-voice-on-ctv/927936622139014/
Age Friendly Thunder Bay - TV Show (Oct. 15, 2024) https://www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca/age-friendly-tv-show/v/episode-29-a-friendly-voice-program?categoryId=65411c2bb00d14145d2ba397
New phone line lends lonely seniors a friendly ear (Dec 4, 2018) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-seniors-line-phone-in-1.4937986
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About Our Guest:
France Connor has been with Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS) since 2019 as the Manager for A Friendly Voice. In her role, France manages a large team of trained volunteers, ensuring empathy, active listening, and cultural sensitivity, all while maintaining quality standards, and fostering a supportive environment for both the callers and volunteers. It is the personal connections and relationships she has developed with the callers who use the warm line that France finds the most rewarding. Knowing that she can make a positive change in a person's day by simply saying, "Good morning, A Friendly Voice, this is France", reaffirms the need and fills her heart with joy.
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Credits:
Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast ExpertsPodcast Coordinator: Lisa WiddifieldCo-Host: Sherry Baker, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Advisory CommitteeOrginal Music: Redpath Audio
We want to thank HelpAge Canada for their financial support to produce Season 2 of the Aging Vibrantly podcast.
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Stay Connected :
The best way to show your support and help us grow our Aging Vibrantly podcast, is to subscribe, like, and share. Why not leave us a review by completing our Listener Feedback Survey and subscribe to Aging Vibrantly wherever you get your podcast.
Listener Feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Podcast_Listener_Feedback
If you prefer to watch the interview, this episode and all others are available on Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario's YouTube Channel.
Be sure to also check our website eapon.ca to learn more resources on abuse prevention and protecting the rights and dignity of older adults.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting or implying endorsement by EAPO of any entity, product, service or organization mentioned, referenced, or linked.
