YORKTON - Yorkton Council has agreed to enter into a funding agreement with the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism for the social prescribing pilot project.
Social Prescribing in Saskatchewan links the health-care system to community organizations that serve the needs of older adults (55+). This reduces the demand on healthcare professionals and better equips them to support older patients. Through the initiative, doctors, nurse practitioners and other health professionals can promote community support for healthy aging and respect for their older population, explained Rod McKendrick, with the Saskatchewan Senior Mechanism, attending the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Nov. 25.
“Social prescribing is a way for physicians and health care workers and other front line supports to connect patients/clients to a range of nonclinical services in the community to help improve the health and well-being of individuals,” he said.
“Social prescribing can help to address the underlying causes of a patient's/client's health and well-being issues, as opposed to simply treating the symptoms.
“It promotes integrated community-based support and care and helps to reduce some of the dependence on health service provisions.”
Social prescribing in Saskatchewan is in the second year of a four-year project, noted Lisa Washington, Manager of Community, Culture and Heritage with the city.
“The Saskatchewan Senior Mechanism has successfully supported three communities with starting social prescribing and has identified Yorkton as a potential site for the upcoming year,” she explained.
“Through the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism, there is funding available to hire, on a contract basis, a Community Connector to implement social prescribing in our community. The City of Yorkton, as a member of the steering committee, is in a good position to be the conduit for this funding and also act as a valuable resource to the Community Connector.”
In general, “Social prescribing in Saskatchewan links the healthcare system to community organizations that serve the needs of older adults (55+). This reduces the demand on healthcare professionals and better equips them to support older patients. Through this initiative, doctors, nurse practitioners and other health professionals can promote community support for healthy aging and respect for their older population,” said Washington.
Washington said the project will have limited financial impact on the city, “As funding is provided by the Saskatchewan Senior’s Mechanism, the City of Yorkton will not have any financial obligations, other than in-kind costs of administration and oversight of the contract position, and potentially providing a meeting space for the Community Connector and steering committee, when required.”
The goal is to have the social prescribing program and contracted Community Connector in place to launch in early 2025, and run for a three year pilot project, funded by the Saskatchewan Senior Mechanism.
