{"id":1416,"date":"2025-06-13T02:15:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T02:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/yourlife\/?p=1416"},"modified":"2026-02-27T05:04:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T05:04:07","slug":"how-to-stay-connected-with-friends-while-living-in-aged-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/yourlife\/how-to-stay-connected-with-friends-while-living-in-aged-care\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stay Connected with Friends While Living in Aged Care"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Moving into a residential aged care home is a significant transition, but it does not mean your social life ends. At Whiddon, we are passionate about enriching lives and keeping people connected to the things that matter to them.<\/p>\n<p>While the health benefits of social support are well-documented, this guide focuses on practical, actionable ways to stay social. Whether you are a resident looking to make new friends or a family member supporting a loved one, these tips will help maintain vital social bonds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttons\" style=\"margin-bottom: 40px;text-align: center\"><a class=\"cta-orange-btn fixed\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/contact\/\">Talk to our Team<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Tips for Residents: Building New Connections<\/h2>\n<p>Building deep relationships with those around you is at the heart of the Whiddon experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Start with small interactions:<\/strong> You do not need to attend a large event to be social. Simple gestures, such as a friendly hello in the hallway or striking up a conversation during meal times, are effective ways to begin building rapport with your neighbours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join a hobby group:<\/strong> Aged care providers like Whiddon offer a variety of interest-based groups, from gardening and cooking to technology classes. Joining a group centred on a shared passion is one of the easiest ways to meet like-minded people.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Explore Creative Ageing programs:<\/strong> Participate in our award-winning Creative Ageing and Wellness programs. These activities are designed to be social catalysts, helping residents engage with one another through shared creativity and expression.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Invite others to your space: <\/strong>Once you feel settled, consider inviting a neighbour for a cup of tea or a walk through the gardens. Taking the initiative can help break the ice and establish a more personal connection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tips for Families: Supporting Social Bonds<\/h2>\n<p>Maintaining strong relationships with family and friends is essential for a resident&#8217;s wellbeing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Participate in activities together:<\/strong> Instead of a standard visit in a resident&#8217;s room, join your loved one in a communal activity or a Whiddon event. Shared experiences help create new memories and provide fresh topics for conversation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage small gestures:<\/strong> Remind extended family and friends that even small gestures have a significant impact. A weekly phone call, a random card, or a short video message helps a resident feel loved by their wider circle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Utilise communal spaces:<\/strong> Our homes are designed to make visits feel comfortable and natural. Meeting in the caf\u00e9 or garden areas can change the environment and encourage more relaxed social interaction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Share social interests with staff:<\/strong> Our care teams take the time to deeply understand each person&#8217;s history and preferences. Sharing details about your loved one\u2019s hobbies helps us facilitate meaningful connections within the home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bringing the Distance with Technology<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/yourlife\/use-technology-to-reduce-loneliness\/\"><strong>Technology can help bridge the gap<\/strong><\/a> when family and friends are not nearby, helping older people feel more connected.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Schedule regular video calls:\u00a0<\/strong>Messaging apps like\u00a0FaceTime or WhatsApp calls allow for face-to-face interaction. Setting a regular time each week gives your loved one a social milestone to look forward to.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Share real-time updates:<\/strong> Use messaging groups to share photos and short videos of daily life, such as a grandchild\u2019s sporting event. This helps residents feel part of the family\u2019s everyday rhythm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Whiddon\u2019s support with technology:<\/strong> Our employees are on hand to provide guidance and encouragement. Whether it is helping a resident join a video call or showing them how to navigate a tablet, we ensure technology remains a tool for connection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Whiddon Builds Connection into Everyday Care<\/h2>\n<p>Supporting social wellbeing is central to how we deliver aged care. Guided by our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/creative-ageing\/mylife\/\"><strong>relationship-based care model<\/strong><\/a>, our teams take the time to get to know each person, including their background, interests and preferences.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about how we prioritise wellbeing and connection in all our services, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/contact\/\"><strong>contact our friendly team<\/strong><\/a> today.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttons\" style=\"margin-bottom: 40px;text-align: center\"><a class=\"cta-orange-btn fixed\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whiddon.com.au\/contact\/\">Talk to our Team<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moving into a residential aged care home is a significant transition, but it does not&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":1419,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-ageing","category-keeping-connected"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tips to Stay Connected While Living in Aged Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover practical tips for residents and families to stay social and connected in aged care. 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