A new partnership in Windsor-Essex is designed to steer people through often very severe difficulties.
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County has launched a social prescription strategy -- an innovation meant to improve the well-being of those who are dealing with these difficulties. The hospice has secured the sponsorship of Caesars Windsor through its community service branch, Caesars Cares. It has also partnered up with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO), the Art Gallery of Windsor, and the YMCA.
Social prescription is defined as a program that seeks to improve the physical and mental health of those experiencing social, physical, and psychological challenges. Rather than a traditional "written" prescription coming from a physician for medication, a social prescription encourages people with these challenges to establish new relationships and find meaning.
The strategy works by empowering hospice physicians to refer patients to non-clinical services that are based locally. These services cover a wide range of disciplines, such as sports, fitness, arts, entertainment and culture. The WSO, for example, will offer free vouchers to those with social prescriptions, which are suitable for a selection of shows throughout the orchestra's season.
Michael Bennett, a social worker with the hospice, said this concept is not new.
"Although this program is the most recent addition to our services, it isn't a new idea. Programs like this picked up steam in the United Kingdom, and are now doing the same in parts of Canada," said Bennett. "This program is about community partners coming together to remove barriers and offer health teams alternatives to traditional prescriptions."
According to the hospice, research has suggested that getting people out into the community helps cut back on the need for patients to see a doctor, and patients who received social prescriptions have reported a positive change in their health and an increase in their social connections.
The hospice hopes to have 150 patients using the strategy by this coming spring.
For complete information about The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, visit its official website.