Can Social Prescribing help improve our health and well-being challenges? With Heather Bursaw and Rob Miyashiro

Social prescribing is a means for health-care providers to connect patients to a range of non-clinical services in the community, in order to improve their health and well-being. As opposed to simply treating symptoms, social prescribing may help to address the underlying causes of patients’ health and well-being challenges. Ideally, social prescribing is a more holistic approach to health care, which promotes community-based integrated care, and helps to de-medicalize health service provision.

Seniors Community Services Partnership (SCSP) is a partnership between four local service organizations that support seniors 60+ to navigate health care and social resources, access financial benefits and housing, and provide emotional support for those with various psychosocial needs. The needs of older adults are assessed by an intake worker, who then assigns individuals to a Senior System Navigator (SSN) who builds a trust-based relationship and creates a collaborative service plan targeting improved outcomes inclusive of building connections with other community partners or seniors’ specific services delivered out of the LSCO. The speakers will explain the SCSP program and highlight how this kind of ongoing support is a key component of improving Canada's health care.

Speakers: Heather Bursaw and Rob Miyashiro

Heather Bursaw is a registered social worker, with over 20 years of experience specializing in the delivery of psychosocial support to older adults. Heather earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2007 with a specialty in Geriatrics. She joined the team at LSCO after a lengthy career working with seniors within Alberta Health Services, excited to build capacity within the community to support older adults to remain happy and healthy in the homes in which they live.

Rob Miyashiro was a Lethbridge City Councilor for many years and has been involved in developing and implementing programs in children’s services, disabilities, employment, and seniors’ sectors. He has worked with people of southwestern Alberta and also developed an adolescent treatment Centre for Kainaiwa Children’s Services on the Blood Tribe First Nation. When Rob left Kainaiwa Children’s Services, he was given the Blackfoot name Aakaoko’si (Protector of Children) in honour of his years of service to children and families. Currently, Rob is the Executive Director of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.