Over the past two years, there have been continued reports on the intense loneliness and social isolation many older people are experiencing in aged care, exacerbated by the global pandemic. According to the Australian Psychology Society, 1 in 4 people experienced an episode of loneliness, and 1 in 2 reported feeling lonely at least once a week.
Next Tuesday (22 February, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm), the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) will host a workshop on strategies for tackling loneliness in aged care.
The workshop will hear from experts in the field and foster insightful conversation with aged care workers, aimed at developing and providing strategies to support emotional wellbeing in older people.
NARI is Australia’s only independent national research institute dedicated to ageing. NARI is committed to improving the life and health of older people through research and its translation into evidence-based practice.
The workshop will draw on experiences of those working in aged care and health settings, and also focus on:
- The psychology behind loneliness — what it is related to, how common it is, what causes it,
- Strategies to prevent loneliness and social isolation in people living in residential aged care and those receiving home care, and
- Expanding social connections for emotional wellbeing
The workshop will be led by NARI researchers Professor Colleen Doyle and Marcia Fearn.
You can be lonely in a packed room.
Nursing home residents don’t always have attentive families, residents with out family aren’t alone really. They have the company of other residents, staff, cleaners, maintenance guys etc etc. Most every visitor that comes through the door has a quick chat with other residents as well.
If they were alone at home living on a level 2-3 home care package then THAT’S WHAT LONELY WOULD LOOK LIKE. A half hour here and there and TV … That’s not progress.