Loneliness in Aged Care: What’s the Solution?
By Jeff Gibbs
A new initiative to tackle loneliness among older Australians is being pioneered by Silverchain and Federation University Australia. With research showing that 28% of older people in high-income countries like Australia experience loneliness, the partnership aims to develop practical, evidence-based solutions to improve the quality of life for those in in-home aged care.
A PhD candidate, co-supervised by researchers from Federation University and Silverchain, will lead the project, working closely with practitioners and older Australians to explore and implement scalable interventions. The research will be embedded within Silverchain and focus on delivering real-world outcomes for aged care clients.
Loneliness: A Growing Public Health Concern
Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison, Silverchain’s Director of Research Discovery, described loneliness as an epidemic and a major public health risk.
“While this analysis from PLOS One focuses on older adults in general, risk factors for loneliness—such as partner loss, limited social networks, poor perceived health, and depressed mood—are often heightened among people receiving in-home aged care,” Prof. Davison said. “This underscores the need for targeted research and intervention for this vulnerable group.”
Silverchain has already invested in innovative support programs like Enhanced Management of Home-Based Elders with Depression, which aims to reduce symptoms of depression in older Australians receiving care at home. The new PhD project, funded by the Silverchain Foundation, builds on this work and represents an exciting opportunity to combine academic excellence with practical innovation.
Developing Scalable Solutions
Federation University’s Distinguished Professor Colette Browning said that while general awareness of loneliness is increasing, the specific needs of in-home aged care clients have been overlooked in policymaking.
“It is crucial to explore innovative strategies to mitigate loneliness and enhance mental health in this population,” Prof. Browning said. “This partnership allows us to develop evidence-based interventions that can be widely implemented across the aged care system.”
The project will include a series of studies to explore the experience of loneliness among in-home aged care clients, with the goal of developing scalable solutions that can enhance mental health and wellbeing across the sector.
By combining academic research and practical interventions, the partnership between Silverchain and Federation University aims to set a new standard in addressing one of the most pressing challenges in aged care.
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