Sometimes, making a new friend or rediscovering an old hobby can make an enormous difference to how we feel.
And a new program involving retirement village and aged care residents has shown just how powerful those small changes can be.
BaptistCare has trialled a six-week program called ReConnecTo, based on Meaningful Ageing Australia’s ConnectTo spiritual assessment tool, designed to help older Australians build friendships, find purpose and overcome loneliness.
Thirty residents participated, including 11 from retirement living communities and 19 from residential aged care.
Finding joy in everyday activities
Rather than simply encouraging residents to socialise, ReConnecTo asked them to think about what brings meaning and happiness to their lives.
Each week explored different ways of connecting, including:
- Nature and the outdoors;
- Creativity and favourite hobbies;
- Friendships and relationships;
- Personal wellbeing;
- Spirituality and finding purpose.
One participant decided to start playing guitar again, much to the amusement of neighbours who were relieved the chosen instrument wasn’t drums.
Others rediscovered activities they had stopped enjoying because of health problems or changing circumstances.
The group sessions encouraged residents to share experiences, support one another and try something different.
The results surprised researchers
BaptistCare reported a statistically significant reduction in loneliness among participants, with average scores falling from 1.76 to 1.14.
Residents said they valued having a welcoming, non-judgemental environment where they could talk openly and develop friendships.
They also reported feeling more confident about pursuing activities and relationships beyond the program.
BaptistCare hopes to expand the program to more aged care communities and community support services.
For anyone considering retirement living, the results offer a reminder that feeling connected isn’t necessarily about having a busy social calendar.
Sometimes it begins with a conversation, an old hobby or the confidence to try something new.