In light of Loneliness Awareness Week earlier this month, KompleteCare explores loneliness, its impact on mental and physical health, and why social connection is vital.
Maintaining social connections and getting out in the community play a crucial role in our physical and mental health, but many factors can affect our ability to maintain these connections, especially for those who are elderly or living with an illness, injury, or disability. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering impacts have led to many Australians experiencing loneliness and isolation, particularly those who are more vulnerable, such as the elderly and disabled.
When left unaddressed, loneliness and a lack of social connection can seriously impact our health. Loneliness Awareness Week understands this and aims to spark conversations about loneliness while encouraging all Australians to build and create a culture of connection at home, work, school, and in the community.
What is Loneliness Awareness Week?
Loneliness Awareness Week (5-11 August 2024) sheds light on the often-unspoken issue of loneliness in Australia. Research indicates that nearly 1 in 3 Australians experience loneliness, a problem that often goes unaddressed. Loneliness Awareness Week is giving people the spotlight to speak about their experiences of feeling lonely and isolated. The campaign, led by Ending Loneliness Together, aims to halve the number of people experiencing chronic loneliness by 2030.
What is Loneliness?
Loneliness is feeling alone or disconnected, even when you’re with others. It is a negative feeling that arises when our social needs are unmet by our relationships. According to the Black Dog Institute, loneliness can be caused by lacking quality or quantity of social connections and relationships. Living with a disability, financial challenges, age, and loss of loved ones can hinder building and maintaining meaningful connections and relationships. Meaningful social connections are healthy relationships with friends, family members, colleagues and community members that make you feel seen, heard and valued.
How Does Being Lonely Impact Me?
The longer we feel lonely, the more impact this has on our physical health and mental wellbeing. Research shows that feeling connected and supported can reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and improve cognition. On the other hand, a lack of social connection and interaction has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, mental health issues, dementia, and other health conditions. Depending on whether you live with a disability or are older, you may build social connections in slightly different ways.
Signs of Loneliness
Loneliness can look and feel different for everybody and is often hard to identify. There are some signs to look out for that might indicate you are feeling lonely, including:
- Feeling you lack social connection – including feeling left out, even when you are with others. Your social relationships may not feel fulfilling or supportive.
- Feeling like you do not have people you can turn to.
- Feeling isolated – Feeling disconnected or not “in tune” with those around you.
- Low mood and social isolation – Feelings of sadness, depression and wanting to withdraw from social situations or events, even ones you may have used to enjoy.
KompleteCare’s Top Tips for Beating Loneliness
We’ve put together some tips to help you build meaningful social connections and combat loneliness.
- Volunteering – check out local volunteering opportunities for the causes you care about.
- Hobbies – Keeping up with existing hobbies or trying new ones. You can even sign up for a class at your local library or community centre.
- Online and community forums – connecting online with people with the same interests or experiences.
- Phone services like FriendLine or The G’day Line offer a chance to chat and connect over the phone.
- Getting out and about – where possible, getting out of the home and into the community.
- Spending time with animals – animals are a great source of companionship when you are feeling lonely.
- Stay connected with loved ones – schedule time each day to stay in touch with family, friends, or neighbours.
- In-home and community support – KompleteCare‘s support staff can offer a great way to help you stay connected.
- GP – Speak to your GP if you are experiencing ongoing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
How can KompleteCare help?
KompleteCare‘s dedicated Home Support Workers offer a range of social support services. These services include everything from sharing a cup of tea together in your home to taking you out into the community. KompleteCare goes a step further with our unique Day Options/Social program, available throughout the year. This program features a variety of activities designed to foster social connections and enjoyment. You can join coffee catchups, participate in cooking groups, explore arts and crafts, enjoy movie outings, and participate in other exciting excursions.
At KompleteCare, we are committed to putting our hearts into your home. Our goal is to help you build meaningful social connections and stay engaged with your community, ensuring you feel valued and connected daily. To learn more about how KompleteCare can help you stay connected, contact our friendly team at (08) 2865 5696 or enquire online.