By Tanya Faulkner
As one gets older, it can become lonely after kids leave home, friends move away, or life just gets in the way.
However, a group of local residents are banding together to give elderly Hills residents more opportunities for social connections, and to make new friends in their own backyard.
The CHAOS Network are bringing locals together in conversation through their social prescribing project – Living Our Best Life.
Research in Australia showed around 1 in 10 or 1.8 million Australians aged 15 and over reported lacking social support, and around 1 in 4 reported that they are currently experiencing an episode of loneliness.
CHAOS community connector Gary Cantwell said the network’s program was inspired by a concept adopted in the United Kingdom.
“There’s a concept known as social prescribing that has been successfully used in communities to improve the health outcomes of people experiencing loneliness.
“It has been so successful over there that we’ve adopted it over here,” he said.
Over the past three years the Neighbourhood Houses in the outer-east has trialled a local version of social prescribing with people aged 60 and over, with great success.
CHAOS currently has ten groups across the south-east, with a vast majority in the Hills.
The project includes Community Connectors trained to support individuals referred by
Health Practitioners to join in community activities.
They help them learn about their choices for local social activities and provide introductions to community agencies including accompanying the participant for their first visit to ensure that they feel supported and Confident.
The project also includes Talking Cafés, where locals can meet for one hour weekly in a local Café and make new connections.
Mr Cantwell, along with Healesville attendees Kaye Ambrose, Evelyn Burin and Dianne Firth all said it was a great tool to get reconnected with others in the community, and reduce the loneliness that can be experienced in the later years of life.
Cantwell, who was one of the first volunteers with the program in 2020, said there are several ways for locals to get involved.
“People either get referred from doctors or allied health professionals, or they can self refer or come with a friend.
“We bring them along to one of our talking cafes close to them, or if they don’t want that, we help them to find other things in the community, like getting involved in sport or connected to a community house,” he said.
For Mr Cantwell, the best part of the experience is when new people come along.
“The best part is meeting new people like this.
“Sometimes when new people come along they’re quite shy, so we like to tell them a story about what the group is, and they tend to open up a bit more,” he said.
The weekly groups have been designed to help locals have regular conversations and connections with others in the community.
Mr Cantwell said other groups have tried fortnightly sessions, however people just don’t tend to show up with the irregularity.
“Having these sessions each week means that people don’t have to think about it.
“They just think “I’ll go to Healesville at 2pm, and have a good time.
“Our sessions are only meant to go for an hour, but sometimes we stay longer for almost two hours,” he said.
Ms Burin said it’s a great tool to encourage older locals to find something to do in the community.
“I find it really good for those living on their own
“I live in a village, but we still don’t see each other every day, people as they get older stay inside more.
“It’s good for people to get dressed up, buy a cup of coffee, and talk to people,” she said.
Ms Firth said most of the time the talking cafe is more than just a chance to chat.
“I find the people very supportive in the group.
“If you don’t know something you can ask someone in the group and get a personal recommendation
“It becomes a bit of an information centre too, unofficially, like more of a support group,” she said.
Other participants said the groups have made such a difference to their lives since attending.
“My volunteers’ enthusiasm has made such a difference. I felt like a dried out sponge; she gave me the water and I’ve soaked it up.
“My health has changed greatly, its chalk and cheese, everybody needs some kind of purpose and I had nothing, and now I have found one or a few!
“Making some good friends out of this, meeting some nice people,” they said.
For Yarra Ranges locals, a new talking cafe has recently started in Yarra Junction, alongside sessions in Seville, Lilydale, Healesville, Boronia, Knox, Heathmont and Vermont South.
For more information email the Project Worker – livingourbestlifeproject@gmail.com or phone 0457 646 384
