Loneliness isn’t just a passing feeling – for many older Australians, it’s part of everyday life. As family members move interstate, long-time friends drift away, and partners pass on, countless seniors find themselves spending days, even weeks, without a single meaningful conversation.
This Loneliness Awareness Week, Uniting is calling for greater awareness – and action – on one of the most pressing, yet often unseen, issues facing older Australians.
A new report from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness has laid bare what many already know: seniors are among the most at risk of isolation, and the effects are profound.
“We meet so many older people who have lived alone for years, who’ve lost partners, or whose children and friends now live far away,” Simon Furness, Uniting NSW.ACT’s Director of Property and Housing said.
“For many, the silence is deafening. They tell us about going days without speaking to anyone. That’s the heartbreaking reality for so many seniors – and it’s something we must address as a community.”
A recent report from the Council on the Ageing NSW (COTA NSW) shows that 60% of older adults in NSW feel lonely, and one in four experience extreme loneliness. Half are socially isolated, meaning they have very little, if any, regular contact with others.
Uniting believes that helping older Australians stay connected begins with enabling them to remain in the neighbourhoods they know and love. Seniors want to stay close to the places and people that form the fabric of their lives – the local supermarket, their GP, the pharmacist who knows their name, the parks and streets they’ve walked for decades.
But for many, even in these familiar surroundings, the walls of their own home have become isolating over time. Neighbours they once knew have moved away, streets feel less connected, and busy lives mean fewer people stop for a chat. In a world where so much interaction now happens online, real-life connections have quietly slipped away.
“We know so many older people want to stay in their own communities, but they’re increasingly isolated in their homes,” Simon said.
“It’s about creating welcoming communities and opportunities for connection – spaces and moments where friendships can grow, and where people can rediscover the joy of being part of something again.”
At Uniting, the results of those small but meaningful moments are seen every day. Residents across Uniting’s seniors’ communities run their own book clubs, art classes, men’s sheds, walking groups, gardening groups, trivia and bingo nights, and social outings.
Pauline, a resident of Hawkins Place in Leichhardt, said those connections changed her life: “When deciding to move into Hawkins Place, the community of residents was not on our radar. But soon there was a book club, knitting group, gardening group, Tai Chi, a singing group, and events like Easter, Melbourne Cup and Christmas.
“The monthly calendar is full of activities created by and for residents – and I found friends, laughter, and a reason to look forward to each day.”
Research released last year by the Property Council of Australia found that compared to older people who don’t live in a retirement community, independent living residents are 15% more physically active, 41% happier, 5 times more socially active, twice as likely to catch up with family or friends and have reduced levels of depression and loneliness.
Uniting is calling for a whole-of-community response to loneliness – including government, health services, businesses, and individuals.
“This isn’t about buildings or programs,” Simon said.
“It’s about people. It’s about making sure no older Australian feels forgotten or invisible. Because every conversation, every smile, every new friendship – those are the moments that truly matter.”
About Uniting retirement living
Uniting is committed to developing retirement and independent living solutions for older people across NSW and the ACT. As the largest not-for-profit provider of seniors' services in NSW and the ACT, Uniting currently has over 3,700 residents living independently across 24 independent living communities. Residents embrace an active lifestyle with care available when needed. Over the next decade Uniting will continue to invest in new retirement and independent living communities that generate financial returns that can assist to deliver social impact through concessional aged care, low-cost rental housing and social impact projects across the organisation.
