Good social connections in later life help maintain physical and mental health as we age including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression and dementia. There is a photo of two older women hugging and smiling.
People aged 65 and over are the most likely to volunteer, volunteering boosts individual wellbeing, but is also vital for strengthening community bonds, delivering community services and improving our local environments. There is a photo of an older person in an exercise class.
Easy access to community facilities supports social interaction for older people however, between 201-/11 and 2023/24 local authority spending on community centres and public halls declined by 19% and on libraries by 46%. There is a photo of an older woman smiling on a bus.
Older people are more likely to have a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood than younger age groups, but in more deprived areas this gap is smaller. There is a photo of two older people chatting on a beach with their bikes.
Today we are celebrating International Day of Older People! Let us know your plans to mark the day.
We will be celebrating the power that social connections have in shaping our lives and communities with this year's UK theme: Building Belonging: Celebrating the power of our social connections.