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Connecting with your community to enhance wellbeing Acute isolation has the same effect as hunger on the body from Aged Care New Zealand Issue 1 2022 As the pandemic has swept through countries around the world, life as we know it has been shaken up in unprecedented ways. Constraints on our daily activities to keep ourselves and each other safe has come with not only an economic but also a social cost, as people deal with lockdown fatigue, anxiety around falling sick, and more. Social isolation and loneliness have been widespread issues for a long time, but it has become much more pronounced across a range of groups since the COVID pandemic arrived over two years ago. In fact, pre-pandemic surveys show that one in five pensioners in NZ living at home felt extreme loneliness. As bleak as these statistics are, the social isolation and restrictions on movement have also presented opportunities to take a more conscious approach to how we manage our wellbeing. About social isolation and loneliness Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there are two separate definitions for social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation describes the amount or quantity of social interaction one has while loneliness describes the quality of one’s social interactions. In essence, this means that it is possible to feel lonely even with regular social interaction and on the flipside, people who do not require and don’t have high levels of social interaction don’t always experience loneliness. However, it is common for social isolation to be a precursor to loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness have been shown to be detrimental to both physical and mental health. During the pandemic, loss of face-to-face interaction, including family time, religious services and social clubs has been felt acutely, particularly by older populations. In addition to the emotional pain of loneliness, research is exploring the impact on physical health as well. Some of the adverse effects linked to loneliness include increased risk of diseases and disorders such as dementia, heart disease, stroke, cancer and functional decline. One study showed that acute isolation has the same effect as hunger on the body. Because loneliness can cause stress, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol has been observed in people who experience prolonged loneliness. This in turn causes inflammation in the body and leads to increased risk to physical health. These harmful effects of social isolation and loneliness are the rationale for taking action to improve our wellbeing. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to change things up and reach a happier, more fulfilling mental state. Looking after wellbeing during a pandemic During the pandemic, many places turned to technology to connect with loved ones from afar. Religious services and healthcare have also gone digital, and many older people adapted well to these changes. Even if newer technologies such as video calling may not be everyone’s forte, phone calls are still a great alternative. Lockdowns and social distancing have compelled us to be creative about the ways we connect with each other and to take stock of the ways we keep ourselves happy and healthy. A more holistic way of taking care of our wellbeing comes from the Māori health model Te Whare Tapa Whā, devised by Sir Mason Durie. This model uses a whare (house) to describe four pillars of wellbeing: taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family wellbeing and social wellbeing. Our connection with the whenua/land forms the foundation. When the pillars and foundation of the house are strong, so is our wellbeing.  Some ideas for tending to each pillar:
While it may seem daunting initially to incorporate new changes into our lives, it can also be an exciting opportunity to extend ourselves and see what benefits can occur from stepping out of our comfort zone. How others are connecting since COVID Over the last two years the Mental Health Foundation and All Right? have been working on developing the Getting Through Together campaign to spread wellbeing messages during the pandemic. As part of the campaign several people shared their stories of how they were connecting with each other from afar. Sharing the love At level three of lockdown Steven would drive to the rest home, where his wife resided. He parked up below her window and displayed hand painted signs. “It wasn’t easy, but the hardest thing was rattling around at home all by myself and knowing she was less than five minutes drive down the road.” John and Jill At 83 and 81 respectively, John and Jill say the COVID 19 crisis was unlike anything they have experienced. The modern conveniences of 2020 meant that the pair managed to create online versions of their normal day to day life. Their 10 grandchildren and three step grandchildren all kept in touch via FaceTime, “at a higher rate than they might normally have heard from them,” Jill grins. Jill also has wine group that’s been meeting every second Friday for the past 30 years, and there was no way COVID 19 was slowing that down, with the group reconvening over Zoom every fortnight instead. John’s weekly walks with his group of friends, followed by a long lunch turned into frequent phone calls and email chains, and he even found a solution to missing his trips to the Christchurch art gallery – overseas galleries like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York offered virtual tours around their exhibitions. More support
While we always recommend that you speak to your family doctor or GP for any health-related concerns, if you’re looking for more resources, support, and further information, here are some useful places to start. To chat with a trained counsellor 24/7, free call or text 1737. The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. Resources and information are available from the web shop at shop.mentalhealth.org.nz or call 09 623 4812. Age Concern New Zealand is a charity providing expert information and support services in response to older people’s needs. There are many local branches throughout the country to service local communities. To get in touch, you can visit the website www.ageconcern.org.nz or freephone the national office at 0800 652 105. Yellow Brick Road (formerly Supporting Families) is a charity that provides mental health support for families who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges. They are experienced in supporting carers. Visit their website at yellowbrickroad.org.nz. Let’s End Loneliness is a project to tackle loneliness and create communities in which New Zealanders have the relationships they need to thrive. Their website letsendloneliness.co.nz features resources and create communities in which New Zealanders have the relationships they need to thrive. Their website letsendloneliness.co.nz features resources and initiatives to foster social connection. Mental Health Foundation Ref: Aged care Issue 1 2022. Comments are closed.
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AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
December 2025
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