The power of social connection

Are you among the one-third of older individuals experiencing loneliness?

According to Australian Loneliness Report, people experiencing higher levels of loneliness report more health issues including colds and infections, headaches, sleeping difficulties and stomach complaints.

Others suggest that loneliness can have the same effect on our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and can directly impact our wellbeing and longevity.

From loneliness to togetherness

We’ve come up with some simple steps on how you can stay connected with your community.

Become a volunteer

Finding the right volunteering opportunity could help you feel less lonely. Not only will you have a chance to meet like-minded people and make new friends, you can feel more fulfilled and happier in life.

Volunteering is a great way to contribute your knowledge, experience and skills to help others

Volunteering is often flexible in hours so you can spend time doing things you love as well as making a difference to others.

There are endless benefits to volunteering. In fact, volunteering can make you happier and healthier.

Volunteering also gives you a sense of belonging and promotes a strong social connection with others which helps you build positive relationships with those in your community.

Use smart technology to stay connected

Smart technology could be a useful tool to help stay connected with family and friends. In addition, smart technology can assist you to live safely and independently at home with devices that are matched to your needs.

There are many ways smart technology can help: video call, online chat, online video chat, email and so on. While learning how to use technology could be challenging at first, once you become used to it, the possibilities are endless.

Video calls can help you stay connected with your friends, families and loved ones. Apps like Zoom, FaceTime or Skype allow you to virtually make calls with others anytime of the day.

If you’re active on Facebook, using Messenger to chat or play online games with your friends could help you feel more connected and can be lots of fun!

Expert Tech Coaching can help you learn how to use technology and make sure you get the most out of your devices.

Join group social experiences

While feeling socially isolated may have lasting negative effects on your health, there is good news: there are plenty of opportunities to beat loneliness through social experiences.

The aim of all of our social experiences is to encourage you to connect with your local community, discover new interests and meet like-minded friendly people.

We recognise that not everyone is interested in doing the same thing

There’s a variety of social experiences available that will let you reconnect with past interests and hobbies, such as lawn bowls, golf or going to the movies, or opportunities to try something new like using a computer, join an art class or sing in a choir. If exploring South Australia is one of your passions, join one of our SA Tours and Getaways.

“When you’re feeling your most lonely, you doubt yourself, feel anxious, or are just unmotivated and want to be on your own.”

“But, while it’s almost counterintuitive to interact with others, that’s exactly what you need to do. Take the first step today.”

Experiences can be as part of a group, one-on-one, online or via the phone

“We offer practical support to help you participate, including transport. No experience or prior knowledge is required to get involved – it’s all about trying something new and engaging with your community to live a good life”, said Katey, Head of Social.

ACH Group offers a range of social experiences designed to connect you with whatever your passion is in life. Whether you have an interest in art, love to sing, there’s an experience to match your interest.