Toronto Public Library Receives $7 Million for Senior Resources

A significant financial boost for the Toronto Public Library Foundation aims to enhance resources and programming for seniors in the city. The $7 million investment from the Waltons Trust, announced last week, marks the largest gift ever received by the foundation. This funding will support a five-year initiative focused on improving social connections for seniors, according to Nan Davies, the manager of learning and community engagement at the Toronto Public Library.

Toronto has a notably high population of seniors, many of whom experience loneliness and social isolation more acutely than other age groups. Davies emphasized the importance of addressing these issues: “Many of them do face things such as loneliness and social isolation to an even greater degree than other age groups in Toronto.”

New Initiatives to Foster Community Engagement

The initiative will introduce community librarians and resources directly to senior housing through outreach vans, which will help bridge the gap between the library and its older patrons. Additionally, programming will be expanded to raise awareness of the health risks associated with loneliness and social isolation.

Funding will also facilitate the development of a social prescription service model. This model will educate healthcare providers about the library’s offerings for seniors, enabling them to recommend library resources when they encounter patients expressing feelings of isolation. “While in conversation with a primary care provider or a doctor, seniors who are expressing feelings of isolation or loneliness can have those conversations with their healthcare providers who will then say, ‘there are many resources and programming opportunities and engagement opportunities that are available through your local library,'” Davies explained.

The Health Impacts of Loneliness

The detrimental effects of loneliness on health are well-documented. Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician and co-chair of the City of Toronto’s senior strategy, highlighted the severity of these issues. “Extreme loneliness has been associated with smoking the equivalent of 15 cigarettes a day,” he stated. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for initiatives that address social isolation among seniors.

Dr. Sinha further noted the potential benefits of the library as a resource. “The opportunity to prescribe the library, if you will, as a way for people to become more connected, more engaged in their local communities can be a huge lift for a person’s overall health and well-being,” he said.

The library has traditionally served as a vital gathering space for seniors, particularly during the pandemic when librarians proactively reached out to isolated individuals. “It just shows you the power that our library can have,” Dr. Sinha added.

As the number of unhoused seniors in Toronto continues to rise, organizations like Haven Toronto are also mobilizing efforts to raise awareness and funds for their programming. The increasing challenges faced by seniors, particularly in light of the cost of living, contribute to the urgency of expanding support services.

Davies pointed out that third places—social environments outside of home and work—are becoming increasingly rare. “The library kind of represents one of those last remaining third spaces where folks like seniors can come with no expectation of spending money or having to leave after a certain amount of time,” she said.

By enhancing senior-focused programming, the Toronto Public Library aims to ensure that seniors feel supported and connected within their communities. “We really don’t want anyone to feel that they are suddenly cut off from that very important touch point to community,” Davies concluded.