Seniors find community in Calgary’s Bowness neighbourhood

For older adults living in Calgary, social isolation is not simply just a risk — it’s a reality many face daily. While some have frequent family visits and strong personal connections, others spend most of their time alone.

Those living in residential facilities can become even more isolated, getting little attention beyond the occasional check-in from staff.

“In my experience, they get very little social interaction, but it depends on their family,” said Olivia Foisy, a health-care worker with experience in senior care.

“A lot of them don’t have family that live close by or that can come and visit them. So, often, nurses will take them out of their rooms and pretty much just plop them in front of a TV,” Foisy added.  

This lack of engagement can have profound effects on mental health, especially for seniors dealing with conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Front-line health-care workers play a crucial role in many living facilities by creating meaningful relationships with the seniors in their facility. The workers are responsible for monitoring their residents’ well-being in an effort to decrease experiences of isolation. 

“A lot of the time they [residents] get depressed like that. So they [care workers] have to encourage them to go out and do things,” Foisy said. 

Foisy wants to see facilities prioritize better community interaction for all seniors, regardless of ability.

She says activities such as craft sessions, music classes and other interactive activities would go a long way towards reducing the risks associated with isolation. 

Places such as the Bowness Seniors’ Centre play the role of a community hub. Mitigating isolation risks and combating ageism. 

Peggy Flanigan, the Centre’s executive director, dedicates a majority of her time to creating a welcoming space for seniors in and around the Bowness area. 

“We’re not a residential facility, but we provide a place where people can come and connect with others,” said Flanigan. “We have recreation programs, intellectual classes, and it’s more than just playing cards.”

The center provides a crucial support system by helping seniors grow their sense of belonging within the community. 

Bev Peterson, a part-time employee and volunteer at the centre, knows this first-hand.  

“Even my grandkids, they say it was my lifesaver,” Peterson said. “I was going down a bad road. I was getting depressed, and I was getting miserable, and it felt like, ‘I got nothing’ but doing this gives back some life.” 

Flanigan notes that it’s important to nurture the community, but also appreciates that the centre makes an effort to recognize and celebrate members individually. 

“When their birthday comes, they get a handwritten birthday card,” said Flanigan. “The card itself is made by the craft people, and they get a phone call, so someone has spoken to them on what is the most important day of the year. I thought that was really amazing.”

Research has shown that the loss of social networking for older adults leads to a deterioration of cognitive ability and a decline in health. 

While there is still work to be done in senior care, continuing efforts that prioritize connection, compassion and senior wellbeing are showing there are available tools to combating isolation effectively.