The Oasis Story & Oasis in the Media
Oasis in an innovative aging-in-place model that integrates health and supportive services for older adults living in a NORC (naturally occurring retirement community). The Oasis model was first developed in 2011 by a group of older adults living in a Kingston, Ontario apartment building. See below for the stories of Oasis sites and programs across Canada that EVERYONE is talking about!
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Neighbours helping neighbours age well at home
We often take the idea of community—and the health benefits of belonging to one—for granted. However, Dr. Catherine Donnelly would tell you that community becomes even more important to your overall health as you age. In her talk, you’ll hear about her research exploring a simple idea that has spawned a movement helping older adults age well within their homes, among neighbours.
"The Cinq à Sept is an opportunity to tell the compelling stories of our research – research that is changing the world"
Jane Philpott, Dean, Queen’s Health Sciences
Oasis in the media - coast to coast
Exciting and innovative programming is popping up at numerous Oasis sites. All programming is member driven, ensuring the 3 Pillars (nutrition, physical movement and social engagement) support the foundation of all Oasis'.​
Oasis Media Features
2024
CTV News. (2024, July 23). Family doctors: Seniors with no doctors offered medical clinic in Ottawa's west-end | CTV News
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CTV News. (2024, June 6). New wellness clinic for seniors
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CBC News. (2024, June 2). Growing older, staying at home
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CBC The National. (2024, May 24). What aging in place can look like: Golden Girls and NORCs
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Philpott, Jane. (2024, April 3). Health for All - A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada
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The Social. (2024, March 1). Golden Years Series: Aging in Place
2023
Thunder Bay News Watch. (2023, October 9). Thunder Bay gets first Oasis program for seniors
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CBC All in a Day. (2023, July 31). How Oasis programs support Ottawa seniors to age well at home
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CBC News. (2023, October 22). Halifax seniors eager for new aging in place program at their apartment building. Halifax seniors eager for new aging in place program at their apartment building | CBC News
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Citizens letters. (2023, March 8). Today's letters: Great to see Oasis program for seniors expand in Ottawa. Ottawa Citizen https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/todays-letters-great-to-see-oasis-program-for-seniors-expand-in-ottawa
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Donnelly, C. (2023, October 16). We need tangible solutions to loneliness to age well at home. https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/catherine-donnelly-we-need-tangible-solutions-to-loneliness-to-age-well-at-home
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Laucius, P. (2023, March 6). All by ourselves: Growing numbers of Canadians are aging without a partner or children nearby. Ottawa Citizen. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/kinless-growing-numbers-of-canadians-are-aging-without-a-partner-or-children
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Letts, L. (2023, June 25). Help and support for naturally occurring retirement community residents. The Hamilton Spectator. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/help-and-support-for-naturally-occurring-retirement-community-residents/article_282f33bb-2f9b-52f5-a946-15a2fae2d88d.html
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Ontario Morning from CBC Radio. (2023, September 15). A new program designed to combat loneliness in men. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-112-ontario-morning-from-cbc-radio/clip/16009699-a-program-designed-combat-loneliness-men
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Queen’s Gazette. (2023, September 28). Healthy aging: It takes a village. http://www.queensu.ca:443/gazette/stories/it-takes-village
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Queen’s Health Sciences 5 á 7 Research Talks. (2023, June 25). Dr. Catherine Donnelly: Neighbours helping neighbours age well at home [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gM2p9VF9CLg
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Queen’s University (2023, June 1). Queen’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Advancing Social Impact. https://www.queensu.ca/social-impact/
Recknagel, J. (2023, February 28). The Big Idea: Help seniors age at home. Maclean’s magazine. https://macleans.ca/society/health/big-idea-long-term-care-senior-age/
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Reza, Z. (2023) What is the future of aging? [Audio podcast]. Saint Elizabeth Health. https://sehc.com/future-of-aging/what-is-the-future-of-aging-podcast-episode
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Semple-Kloke, J. (2023). Local program activates the community: Oasis. The Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team. https://flaoht.ca/blogs/news/local-program-activates-the-community-oasis
2022
National Institute on Ageing and NORC Innovation Centre. (2022). It’s Time to Unleash the Power of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in Canada. https://norcinnovationcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/NORC-Report-FINAL.pdf
Global News. (2022, June 29). Seniors program wins Queen’s University art of research contest. Global News Morning Kingston. https://globalnews.ca/video/9024770/seniors-program-wins-queens-university-art-of-research-contest/
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Welsh, M. (2022, November 4). Canada hasn’t embraced ‘natural’ retirement communities. Why these High Park condos should succeed. The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/canada-hasn-t-embraced-natural-retirement-communities-why-these-high-park-condos-could-succeed-where/article_8fa870e3-4fe4-54e6-ada8-f978ee129c8e.html
Queen's Health Sciences. (2022, March 31). Study shows QHS plays key role in Queen’s economic and social impact
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Queen's University. (2022, June 14). The Art of Research: Photo Gallery 2022
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Waterloo Region Record. (2022, March 1). Natural supports can help older adults age with grace
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Queen's Health Sciences. (2022, January 25). Queen’s mobile vaccine partnership creates an Oasis for Kingston seniors | Faculty of Health Sciences | Queen's University
2021
CKWS Kingston. (2021, December 16). ‘Vaccine Express’ brings booster shots to people in need in Kingston, Ont. - Kingston | Globalnews.ca
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CBC's The Current. (2021, May 12). Bringing services to where seniors already live could be an alternative to long-term care, experts say | CBC Radio
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Reader's Digest Canada. (2021, April 6). These Seniors Beat Loneliness With Their Own Retirement Community
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Ottawa Citizen. (2021, April 2). The Danish model, plus 5 more alternatives to LTC as we know it | Ottawa Citizen
2020
Huffington Post. (2020, December 25). Long-Term Care Is 'Dangerous.' What’s Ontario’s Plan For Alternatives? | HuffPost News
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Each for All. (2020, July 30). Oasis Active Aging in Place - A Preventive Alternative to Long-Term Care - Part 2 – Each For All
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Each for All. (2020, July 14 ). Oasis Active Aging in Place - A Preventive Alternative to Long-Term Care - Part 1 – Each For All
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Queen's Gazette. (2020, July 21). An oasis during the pandemic: Oasis Without Walls program provides vital virtual support for seniors
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CKWS Kingston. (2020, March 9). Oasis Senior Supportive Living visits Global News Morning
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The Belleville Intelligencer. (2020, March 6). Oasis program fosters friendship between seniors
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Western News. (2020, January 6). Senior independent living at centre of research.
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Kingston Whig Standard. (2018, November 23). Oasis program for seniors expanding to other Ontario communities
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Queen's Gazette. (2018, November 18). A seniors' oasis: Unique model of active aging in place expands from Kingston to other parts of Ontario