Social Prescribing
A Lifeline to Community and Health
Two years ago Cathy Domenco felt like her world was shrinking. She was losing her eyesight and it was affecting every aspect of her life. She could no longer drive, and even walking outside by herself felt precarious. Her once-active and independent life was now in the shadows.
“I felt like I didn’t have any purpose, and lost confidence in myself,” said Cathy.
Cathy found the strength to share how she was feeling with her doctor, Dr. Krystal Montgomery, who as part of her treatment, wrote her a prescription. It wasn’t one Cathy could fill at her local pharmacy — it was a social prescription.
Social prescribing can take various forms and involves connecting a patient to resources in their community based on their individual needs. In Cathy’s case, she was referred to Colleen Tackaberry, the resource coordinator at the Transcona Council for Seniors. The not-for-profit organization provides driving, exercise, meal, and support programs.
Colleen invited Cathy to participate in a program designed for people experiencing vision loss. “I was nervous at first, and self-conscious,” said Cathy, but she soon realized people there were dealing with similar issues, and she could learn from their experience. After settling into the group, she began participating in other activities and making new friends. “They were so welcoming. It was easy to fit in.”
Cathy’s experience is not unique. “We live in an increasingly disconnected and isolating world, and it’s hard to both first feel comfortable asking for help and then find available services,” said Dr. Montgomery. “Social prescribing removes both of those barriers to seeking and finding connection.”
Risk factors and transitional life events, such as retirement, the death of family or friends, or changes in living arrangements may contribute to the risk of social isolation and loneliness of patients. Other contributing factors can include poverty, lack of transportation, gender and sexual identity, sexual orientation and ethnicity.
Health Implications
For older adults, loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as dementia, depression and overall decline. Loneliness and social isolation are also associated with an increased risk of death of 26% and 29% respectively, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, similar to the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol use disorder, according to a meta-analysis covering decades of studies on the issue.
“There are obvious benefits to mental health by combating isolation and loneliness,” said Dr. Montgomery. “Clinically though, I have even seen the beneficial effects go as far as reducing medication burden/dependency as a direct result of patients’ new engagement, support, and community connections.
How It Works Here
In Manitoba, social prescribing is led by the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities (MASC), an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors in the community.
Through social prescribing, a Manitoba health care provider will refer a patient/clinic to a Senior Resource Coordinator, who will work with the client to identify and consider community-based programs or services that can improve the client’s social connections, health and well-being.
Five health regions in the province have started the process of approving and uploading a Social Prescribing Seniors Referral form into local electronic medical record systems. When primary healthcare providers meet with patients and observe they may need support from the community, the provider completes the referral form and sends it to the SRC, who meets directly with the referred person.
The introduction of social prescribing in Manitoba aligns with broader national and global trends of promoting holistic care and preventive measures, said Dr. Michael Routledge, Medical Advisor for MASC.
“As a public health physician, my work involves addressing the overall health and well-being of older adults. Social prescribing connects individuals to community resources that improve their quality of life, reduce isolation, and enhance their health outcomes. This approach is especially important for our aging population, as it has the potential to reduce strain on our healthcare system while supporting seniors in living healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
Communities are healthier places when health and care systems are seamlessly connected and collaborate to address the social determinants of health.
Doctor to Doctors
Dr. Montgomery encourages other physicians to consider social prescribing.
“It’s impossible for us as clinicians to keep up with all the things going on in our communities that might help our patients. This is a fast, easy referral form (with two clicks!) to someone who acts as the in-the-know “coordinator” to match patients to ALL the services, programs, social gatherings and more in the community.
“When asked about services I used to feel lost and unable to help. Now I tell patients that I don’t know, but I know the person who knows! And I additionally have something to offer when invariably part of the presenting problem is the isolation itself.”
Ripple Effects
“Families trying to support their aging loved ones also benefit from the service as it helps reduce their care burden. I have many multigenerational families where I have seen this effect,” said Dr. Montgomery.
What is Social Prescribing?
Social Prescribing is a Global movement with initiatives in over 20 countries. While it can take various forms, all involve connecting a patient, based on their individual needs, to resources in their community. Health care professionals and social service providers work collaboratively with clients to connect them with services that support basic needs, social and emotional.
Impacts of Social Prescribing
The Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing engaged KPMG LLP to assess impacts of Social Prescribing in Canada. They found that:
Every dollar invested into social prescribing programs may return $4.43 to society through improved well-being and reduced costs incurred on the health system and government.
Social prescribing leads to better health outcomes for two key populations in Canada — older adults and youth — improving overall well-being with significant reductions in healthcare utilization.
Social prescribing supports aging at home, and can lead to fewer hospital admissions, emergency visits, and ambulance calls — resulting in improved quality of life and $268 million per year in healthcare cost savings.
Social prescribing can support the mental health of young people, improve education attainment, and result in an additional $59 million in employment income per year.
Learn more
The Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) at socialprescribing.ca is a new national hub to link people and share practices that connect people to community-based supports and services that can help improve their health and wellbeing.
Social Prescribing: a Resource for Health Professionals is also available here. This resource is designed to support health professionals working in the primary care sector to implement social prescribing into their practice. It includes practical tips, talking points, and tangible next steps to integrate social prescribing into practice.