When it comes to loneliness, village professionals realise they are not alone

We know now that loneliness isn’t just a passing feeling. It’s a serious risk factor. Research continues to show its links to poor mental health, depression, and even the progression of dementia. It affects how people experience their daily lives, how they age, and how well they respond to support. In other words, loneliness isn’t peripheral to our work, it’s central to it.

Earlier this week we brought a group of Village Professionals together for a networking morning tea at Anglicare’s Gordon Quarter. As the discussion turned to the topic of loneliness, one thing I was blown away by – those in attendance weren’t alone with their concerns.

Roger Pallant from the NSW Retirement Village Residents Association recently reminded us in The Age of Loneliness that simply living in a community doesn’t make someone feel connected. His message was clear: loneliness can’t be solved by proximity. It requires attention, intention, and above all, human connection.

At our networking event, Village Managers from RetireAustralia shared the results of a major resident engagement project. Independent RNs visited every resident across their NSW villages to ask a few short, consistent questions. Over 80% participated.

The headline? Loneliness is widespread, even among those we’d assume are “well connected.”

This kind of insight is gold. It cuts through assumptions and gives us something concrete to respond to. RetireAustralia didn’t undertake this project for data’s sake. They did this piece of work from an underlying commitment to confirm that a resident’s sense of wellbeing doesn’t begin with services. It begins with feeling seen.

Here is our challenge: loneliness isn’t always visible. Residents might show up to activities, greet others politely, and still go home feeling invisible. That’s why we can’t rely solely on calendars or headcounts. We need to create space for meaningful connection, not just attendance.

We are expected to understand and respond to something as complex and personal as loneliness. Often without formal training, clear guidance, or a playbook. That’s why spaces like our Village Professional Networking opportunities matter. They give us the chance to share ideas, compare notes, and realise we’re not solving this alone.

This isn’t about one operator. Village Professionals everywhere are grappling with the same daily realities, and loneliness is just one of them.

What matters is that we’re not facing these challenges in isolation. When we share what works , like the proactive steps taken by RetireAustralia, we strengthen our collective ability to support the most important person in our business, the resident.

Resident wellbeing is why we show up. And if there’s one thing these conversations make clear, it’s that while the work is never done, none of us have to do it alone.