Five tips for making older people feel more connected

Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year for many older people. In the latest edition of Advantage magazine, our health and wellbeing officer, Rebekah Ballantyne, has shared five steps we can take to help older people feel more connected, at Christmas and beyond.

Share a compliment

If you're thinking something nice about someone, share it! It might feel a bit embarrassing or unfamiliar at first, but it is likely to make you both smile and might really brighten both of your days.

Show gratitude

Say thank you and really mean it. Taking a moment to smile and share eye contact gives our brains a boost when we have micro-interactions like this.

Offer help

If someone is struggling with something, for example lifting shopping bags, offer to help. They might decline, but you will feel good for offering and your kindness will likely be paid forward.

Call a friend or send a message

We often think about people in our lives, even when we've not seen or spoken to them in a while. Letting them know that they are in your mind can make you feel closer and more connected.

Ask questions

Ask open-ended questions to spark conversation, like 'anything interesting on today?' or 'is your day going well?'

You can read the latest edition of Advantage magazine here.