WellX: The Wellness Exchange

By Kate Graham

Human beings are social by nature, our well-being is dependent upon feeling connected to others. Unfortunately, as we become older, we tend to become more and more alone, which leaves us vulnerable to feelings of loneliness. Older adults are among those at highest risk of social isolation. In fact, the number one emerging issue facing seniors in Canada is the necessity of keeping older adults socially connected. Social isolation often leads to a lower quality of life and poor health outcomes such as cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease. Currently in Canada, 1 in 4 seniors lives with a mental health problem or illness such as depression, anxiety or dementia. WellX is an initiative that aims to foster a sense of value and connectedness between StFX students and seniors in the Antigonish area. Through this McKenna Leadership Project, StFX students and seniors in the community will be paired together based on shared interests, and they will get together on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for an hour or so. What they will do is entirely up to them – chat over coffee at the Tall and Small, go for a hike at Keppoch or visit the Antigonish Farmer’s Market – the main idea is to foster inter-generational friendships. The intended outcome of the program is ultimately to create friendships that would otherwise not exist. By the end of the year, my hope is for both seniors and students alike to have created some fun memories with their partner and ideally reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which will in turn benefit the overall health of our community.