Living with loneliness and social isolation

Feeling lonely or isolated isn’t always a sign of something more serious. But if you’ve felt like this for a long time, or find it impacting your daily life, it’s a good idea to seek some help.  

This page looks at loneliness and social isolation in more detail, and what support is available.

Feeling lonely or socially isolated 

Loneliness and social isolation can put your physical and mental health at risk. In older people, it can be influenced by changes in your life, such as:

• poor physical health, such as a loss of mobility or hearing, vision or memory loss
• social factors, such as the death of those we care about or language barriers
• emotional factors, such as feeling unsafe or insecure
• situational problems, such as living remotely, money issues or giving up driving
• experiencing discrimination based on age, racial or ethnic background, or sexual orientation.

You can feel a stronger sense of loneliness during major holidays, anniversaries and other occasions where there’s a personal connection or where other people celebrate together. Whatever the cause, loneliness is a very personal experience. 

What support is available? 

What aged care services can help

Help at home

If you’re feeling isolated and need to connect with people online or in the community, you can access help through My Aged Care. Depending on your care needs, you can access services through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) or the Support at Home program.

Some services will help you connect directly, such as: 

• social support and community engagement: this service could include transportation and support with community, social or cultural events.
• transport: help to get you to appointments, events or everyday errands, either through a driver or through transport vouchers.

Some services offer mental health support, such as:

• allied health and therapy: healthcare professionals such as social workers, counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists.
• therapeutic services for everyday living: this includes diversional and art therapists.

Other services may give you an opportunity to socialise through respire care, such as:

• home or community general respite: at home, in a centre or an aged care home.
• community cottage respite: overnight, weekend or longer respite at a cottage service.

Aged care homes

If you feel you’ve reached the stage where you need to move into an aged care home (residential aged care), you may have mixed feelings about it. If you’ve been feeling lonely or isolated, you may welcome the support and social connection of living with others. You might also have worries about fitting in, or feeling like you need to fit in.

Aged care homes will help you adjust to your new living environment, and work to ensure you have choice and control, by:

• facilitating a wide variety of social activities within the home and out in the community
• allowing you to choose what you participate in and when
• hosting events and activities which respect and celebrate different cultures and backgrounds
• supporting you to connect with your family or other people  
• arranging professional support services, if required.

You can also suggest to your aged care home activities they may like to facilitate. Aged care homes will welcome suggestions and try to accommodate these, wherever possible.