Description

In this thought-provoking episode, pharmacist Jenny Kirschner shares her personal experience of loneliness and the powerful benefits of addressing social isolation via pharmacy practice. As founder of PALS (Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation), Jenny is leading an international initiative to embed social health as a core part of pharmaceutical care.

Jenny highlights the profound health impacts of loneliness and shares how pharmacists are uniquely placed to support their clients, through everyday moments of connection. From simple gestures like a warm greeting to structured social prescribing, Jenny illustrates how pharmacists and others can play a vital role in reducing loneliness, especially among older Australians.

In this episode:

• Discussing loneliness can be uncomfortable at first
• Loneliness looks and feels different for everyone
• Feeling lonely is not a mental health issue, it’s an emotion caused by your social needs not being met
• Loneliness is common and affects people of all ages
• Feeling lonely affects physical, mental and cognitive health
• In Australia, loneliness is the second highest risk factor for suicide
• The positive effects of social connection are profound
• Pharmacists see patients more often than many other health professionals, making them key players in social health
• The trusted relationships that pharmacists build with their patients allow them to be uniquely placed to address loneliness
• Social prescribing helps connect patients with meaningful activities and community supports
• Jenny developed the pharmacist training program on loneliness, a world first
• Simple actions you can offer an older person who might be lonely

Resources mentioned:

• PALS website
• Live Up website
• Ending loneliness together website
• WHO article about social connections and improved health
• WHO report "From loneliness to social connection"

Connect with Jenny Kirschner and PALS:

• LinkedIn - Jenny
• LinkedIn - PALS

Connect with Coral Wilkinson: 

• Instagram 
• LinkedIn 

Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:

• See Me ACN website
• Facebook
• Instagram

More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast: 

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