Our Work
What We Do
The work in our lab is focused on community mobility, people, and places. We work with clinicians, students, and older people to understand their perspectives and identify practical solutions to remain engaged in community life. We work to re-imagine aging and support people to age well.
In the sections below, we provide an overview of a main focus in our lab, social prescribing.
What is Social Prescribing?
Connecting People to Community Resources – Building Bridges
Social prescribing is a health and social model of care which has its origins in the United Kingdom but is now available in many sites globally. It aims to work with people with non-medical unmet social needs and connect them with community resources and people. In many places there can be a person who helps to navigate community resources. Sometimes, this person is called a community link worker. In British Columbia, the role is called a Seniors Community Connector.
Social Prescriptions
Evidence for social prescribing is promising but there are still knowledge gaps to address. Below are some “social prescriptions” which may be suggested to address people’s unmet social needs. Outside of social prescribing, these activities have evidence to highlight their many benefits.
Arts-based Activities
A creative outlet to improve mental health and well-being.
Gardening
Improve health, reduce stress, and get a sense of accomplishment.
Libraries
Read or borrow a book, engage in courses, and connect with your community.
Museums
Opportunities for learning and socialization.
Physical Activity
Health and well-being benefits, opportunities to socialize.
Transportation
Active transportation (walking, biking) can improve physical fitness, while transportation, in general, provides access to community resources.
There are many groups and places to connect with others in the community. Socialization can also occur during everyday activities such as going to the grocery store. Sometimes, people have other needs related to housing, food access, etc. Social prescribing can act as a bridge to promote community connections, access to resources and improve the overall quality of life.
Using technology to support health and well-being
Creating acceptable and feasible solutions.
There are advantages to using technology in the delivery of health and social models of care. However, it is important to look at the challenges people face with technology and whenever possible reduce these barriers.
Reablement
Doing “with” not doing “for”
This is another health and social model of care, which focuses on helping a person to engage or re-engage with their usual life activities.
Mobilizing Knowledge
Read about our latest publications from our work. Also check out the blogs!
Social Prescribing
Grover S, Sandhu P, Nijjar GS, Percival A, Chudyk AM, Liang J, McArthur C, Miller WC, Mortenson WB, Mulligan K, Newton C, Park G, Pitman B, Rush KL, Sakakibara BM, Petrella RJ, Ashe MC. Older adults and social prescribing experience, outcomes, and processes: a meta-aggregation systematic review. Public Health. 2023 May;218:197-207. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.016.
Read MoreSocial Prescribing
Esfandiari E, Chudyk AM, Grover S, Lau EY, Hoppmann C, Mortenson WB, Mulligan K, Newton C, Pauly T, Pitman B, Rush KL, Sakakibara BM, Symes B, Tsuei S, Petrella RJ, Ashe MC. Social Prescribing Outcomes for Trials (SPOT): Protocol for a modified Delphi study on core outcomes. PLoS One. 2023 May 16;18(5):e0285182. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285182.
Read MoreReablement
Ashe MC, Azim FT, Ariza-Vega P, Burns J, Clemson L, Grover S, Hoppmann CA, Langford D, Fleig L, Burton E. Determinants of implementing reablement into research or practice: A concept mapping study. Physiotherapy Research International. 2022 Jul;27(3):e1949. doi: 10.1002/pri.1949.
Read MoreOur Work
We use participatory methods or approaches to understand and co-create solutions to practical problems.
See our Current Projects