Social and community links: Drivers of healthy and active ageing

Australia’s population, like that of other developed nations, is ageing. Strong social and community connections in later life are associated with wellness and functionality, which can lead to an overall improvement in quality of life (Dionigi & Lyons, 2010). The prevalence and impact of social isolation and loneliness in regional areas may be more dramatic than in metropolitan areas, and older people in particular, typically face different barriers to accessing services in regional areas compared with major cities. The Ability Links program has been successful in supporting people with disability and their carers by improving access to services and developing networks within the local community. Similarly, this project seeks to connect community organisations and seniors, reduce barriers to social participation in order to maintain and improve the social and community links contributing to healthy and active ageing. The end result provides a framework for developing a better support mechanism for promoting the benefits of social and community networking for older people in regional Australia, indirectly resulting in decreased dependency on the health care system.