Staying connected as you age

When you connect with others, it can:

• protect you from depression and anxiety
• lower your risk of cardiovascular disease
• reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
• promote physical activity
• help protect your cognitive health and reduce your risk of dementia
• improve your ability to cope with stress
• improve your sleep, wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Research suggests that social isolation and loneliness can be more harmful to your health than other well-known risk factors such as smoking and being a heavier weight.

As you age, it’s normal for relationships to change and you may find it’s harder to stay socially connected.

Friendships

You may drift away from friends as life takes you in different directions. Over time, some friends may even pass away, leaving a space that’s hard to fill.

Health conditions and mobility

Health conditions and reduced mobility might make it hard to catch up with people in your life. If you’re in pain, you may not feel motivated to socialise.

Low self-confidence

If you’re shy, have low self-confidence or social anxiety, it can be difficult to interact with other people, especially if you’re trying new things on your own.

Where you live

You may downsize your home and move to a new suburb. It can take time to get to know your community and connect with new social groups.

If you live in remote or rural locations, it can be hard to get around and meet new people.

There are many ways to build social connections as you get older. You can:

• walk your dog (or someone else’s)
• pop in to see someone you know
• learn a new sport (e.g. golf, tennis, cycling, bowls)
• join walking or bushwalking groups
• enrol in a short course
• start a new hobby (e.g. singing, craft, gardening, art, yoga).
• invite people over for regular catch-ups (e.g. card games)
• travel with a group
• visit your local community centre
• join a local cultural or religious group.

You can also try volunteering. It’s enjoyable, rewarding and a great way to make friends. You could help out in your local community through:

• homeless support
• community visits
• library book deliveries
• Meals on Wheels.

To explore volunteering opportunities, visit the Volunteering Australia website.

Tips to make new social connections

Here are some ways to make new social connections:

• Introduce yourself to different people at social events.
• Keep going to regular activities, such as classes or catch-ups, so people get to know you.
• Be willing to talk about yourself and listen to others.
• Exchange contact information with people you connect with.
• Suggest meeting up again if you enjoyed someone’s company.

Apps and social platforms

You can connect with people via apps and social platforms. For example:

• Amintro – connects you to people aged over 50 with similar interests.
• Stitch – helps people aged over 50 to connect and make friends.
• Meetup – has a list of events you can join in your local area.

Cultural connection

Cultural connection and participation in cultural activities are an important part of health and wellbeing for many people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

You can learn more about staying connected to culture as you age at community centres, and services such as My Aged Care.

Explore First Nations resources.

Local community groups

Find a local community group that has activities you enjoy. You can explore these resources:

• Your local council – for community programs.
• Clubs of Australia – lists over 36,000 clubs around Australia.
• Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA) – to find a Neighbourhood House or Community Centre near you.
• Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) – to find multicultural community services.
• My Aged Care – for social connection support, including transport to events.
• LiveUp – a free healthy ageing guide.
• Adult Learning Australia – for local learning courses.
• U3A – for online courses.
• Rotary International – to get involved in meaningful community projects
• Heart Foundation Walking – to find local walking groups.