Hornsby Village Hub: A year of improving social connections for older Australians

Hornsby Village Hub celebrates its 1-year anniversary and enhances social connections to improve health and well-being for older Australians.

A year since the launch of the Hornsby Village Hub on 22 March 2022, older Australians who live or work in Hornsby and have participated in the community-led social connectedness program are sharing insights into how it is improving their health and well-being.   

Since its inception, 170 people have signed up to become a part of the Hornsby Village Hub, which provides participants with access to community groups, active aged care activities and health literacy talks at no financial cost.

In its short time, the Hub has increased opportunities for social connection with over 100 events and activities including coffee mornings, gentle chair yoga, digital technology classes, health literacy talks and board game groups held in and around the Hornsby Shire.   

1 in 4 Australians aged 65 and over lives alone, and many older Australians face health issues that make them less inclined to get out and about. The Hornsby Village Hub was designed to bring people aged 55 years and over together to improve social connection and support active ageing while tackling social isolation and loneliness.   

Loneliness is a growing global public health emergency and enormously impacts our physical and mental health, education, productivity, and overall happiness and well-being. In people aged 50 and older, for example, chronic loneliness is associated with an 80% greater risk of death than those who report loneliness experienced within a situational context (56%).2  

One participant of the program shared the positive effects the Hub has had on her quality of life, relationship and mental health.  

“My husband and I have found joining the Hub very positive. It has improved our relationship and quality of life. Being part of the coffee groups, card-making, dancing, Zumba, and the relaxation techniques including yoga, mindfulness and body scan techniques, have all been great for my mental health,” Jane Pritchard said.  

Recognising the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness, Sydney North Health Network launched the Hornsby Village Hub in 2022 in partnership with the Hornsby Shire Council and community partners, Fusion, Rotary Club of Hornsby District, PCYC, Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District Aboriginal Health Services, IABBV Hindi School, Women’s Shed and Ku-ring-gai NSW Police Force.  

The Hub is a community-led initiative aimed at nurturing and supporting people as they age through a connected ‘Compassionate Community’ approach.      

“A huge part of ageing well is the opportunity to participate in events and social and cultural activities, which also gives you chance to make friends. When you age well, you stay healthy and engaged with life, which is so critical,” says Hornsby Village Hub Spokesperson Brooke Grimsted, Community Connections Officer.   

Hornsby Shire LGA is one of 12 communities across Australia to establish a Seniors Village Hub through an Australian Government Department of Social Services grant.    

This article was originally published in the Third Sector.

Ritchelle Drilon

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Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.

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