Current location
You are here: help with health > health and wellbeing > keeping in touchHelp with health
Keeping in touch
Social contact is an important part of life for everyone. It may involve meeting or having contact with your family, friends, social group or club on a regular basis. Keeping in touch can also help fight boredom, loneliness, and depression.
Would you or someone you know like to be more involved? If so you could:
- make a list of people you want to keep in touch with and for each person decide the best way to maintain that contact
- join an arts and craft class
- join a gardening group
- phone at least one old/new friend each week
- ask a friend to join you on an outing such as a meal at the local club, or the local museum
- try volunteering
- join an adult education program or reading circle
- join a walking or swimming group
- invite family or friends over for a meal
- use new technologies such as the Internet to link you to the community. Your local library may help with access to a computer and training
- join a team sport
- join a day club
- join an exercise class, or
- start your own club.
Seniors Card
Having a Seniors Card, available from your state or territory government, can also help you enjoy leisure activities and other services at reduced cost. Some museums, theatres and cinemas offer low-cost or free admission to seniors, for instance. Some vets provide discount services for pet owners with a Seniors Card.
Volunteering
If you'd like to volunteer, there are many activities to be involved in -- community organisations such as ‘Op shops’ and the local primary school, helping care for those less able than you, supporting the environment or even repairing toys for needy children.
For information, visit the Seniors Portal or Volunteering Australia,
If you'd like to visit older people in nursing homes and hospitals, call the Community Visitor's Scheme on 1800 048 998.
Home and Community Care program
The Home and Community Care program, as well as providing you help around the home can also provide information on social support such as clubs, groups and outings.
Also, if you are living in an aged care home community visitors are available to visit with residents who are lonely or have little social contact (Community Visitors Scheme)
Read more: About the Home and Community Care program
Read more:About the Community Visitors Scheme
Loneliness and depression
If you’re having difficulty dealing with feelings of loneliness and depression, you can talk to a counsellor, general practitioner or local pastor or go online and visit beyondblue, a one-stop resource for people with depression that provides a range of information and web links. Please be aware that beyondblue does not provide referral or treatment services.
Read more: About depression and anxiety
Common questions on this topic:
See all common questions
