LONELINESS can affect us all, and at any time.
Right now, it could be a friend, neighbour, parent, partner, child, or colleague feeling lonely.
It is less about how many people you’re surrounded by, and more about how connected you feel to those people.
This week is the first Loneliness Awareness Week Australia and a new national report reveals that one in three Australians consider themselves to be lonely.
It is worth considering that despite how common loneliness is, one in two people are too embarrassed to talk about it due to misconceptions and stigma within our community.
It can be difficult for us to attach and trust.
But we need to. Persistent loneliness can lead to heart conditions, mental ill health, dementia, and premature death.
According to Centacare, many vulnerable people in our community are falling through the safety net due to loneliness and social isolation.
“Loneliness is a personal measure. It is an outcome of something missing,” Centacare Aged Care and Disability Services general manager Peter Loughnane, said pointing to US research that concludes that we all have a desire for strong social connections.
“We seek a purpose in life – being part of community.
“Our (Centacare) programs are group-based to try and foster a sense of community with a supportive network.
“We try to understand what gives people a sense of joy and belonging and ask how we can help them achieve that.”
Mr Loughnane said Centacare had a particular focus on “meeting people where they are and journeying with them”.
“People who are lonely won’t pick up a phone – you have to go out and find them,” he said.
“Our challenge is how can we best respond to create a sense of community.”
Centacare has more than 15 hubs across south east Queensland providing services and meeting points for a whole range of activities.
Home visits are also an essential service offered by Centacare.
