Thanks to Evan Rosser at Zoomer Magazine for this piece on Companion Connections speed dating. ?The story was connected to the CRNCC Symposium: Keep on Rocking back in October 2009. It was decided to make senior speed dating a separate feature. Below is the full piece from the February 2010 issue of Zoomer Magazine:
Why Didn't We Think of This?
Last Fall, St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre held its second Companion Connections, an event of "speed dating" for older adults and seniors in northwest Scarborough, Ontario. The brainchild of St. Paul's Community and Corporate Development Officer Michele Cauch, Companion Connections isn't quite speed dating in the traditional sense. "It's based on the speed dating model," Cauch says, "with the purpose of facilitiating social interaction."
By battling loneliness, Cauch's initiative could provide genuine health benefits for its participants. A wealth of studies, including one conducted by Health Canada, have emphasized the importance of developing and maintaining social networks--for enhancing our sense of well being and control and by decreasing the risk of social isolation.
With the 40 available spots (20 men and 20 women) hotly contested, Cauch couldn't be happier. "That's a really good turnout, and we have excellent feedback." What's next for Companion Connections? "We would like to do one [specifically] for Chinese seniors," Cauch says, "because there's been a lot of interest from Cantonese and Mandarin speakers." The next event is scheduled for April. Civic groups and caregivers, listen up: perhaps there are people in your community who could benefit from a similar event.
Evan Rosser
Zoomer Magazine, February 2010
5 comments:
Your approach is so wonderfully informational and so accurately "on-target". I applaud you. Please keep up your efforts on behalf of myself (an "older adult") and all the others in my category.
Henry
I'd love to see senior speed dating widespread. With our experience and self-knowledge, I think most of us can tell right away whether we'd like to engage someone for more conversation or whether the chemistry and interest just aren't there. And it's tough for seniors to meet other singles out of our routine social circle.
Joan Price
Author of Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty
Join us -- we're talking about ageless sexuality at
http://www.betterthanieverexpected.blogspot.com
As someone who is entering the field of massage therapy, I've witnessed firsthand the effects that loneliness can have on seniors. Any outlet being pursued for the purpose of fostering meaningful social interaction between seniors is worth engaging in. And this is certainly one of them.
Eric
And it's tough for seniors to meet other singles out of our routine social circle.
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