I was reading a report on the impacts of loneliness in Australia by KPMG and the Groundswell Foundation. According to the report, 25% of Australians are lonely, and 54% of Australians feel lonelier after the pandemic, with lonely people suffering a 26% increased risk of death! These are alarming statistics. The report goes on to discuss the opportunities that exist within government, community and health organisations to create interventions and highlight the importance of addressing the issue.

Having built and operated Lifestyle Villages for over 20 years has given me a unique perspective on the lives of the over 50s when they move into a Lifestyle Village and how loneliness affects people before and after moving into the Village.

When you share facilities and feel part of a community in a Village like ours, the social interaction that develops cannot be underestimated. It’s easier to make friends when you regularly see the same people collecting the mail, at water aerobics, taking an art class or celebrating at Christmas, sporting or social functions or at a leisurely Sunday breakfast.

We have so much anecdotal evidence of people transforming from a subdued and almost fearful demeanour when moving in to becoming outgoing, full of life people, laughing with friends at the games table or joining in our Friday night singalong – it’s a remarkable and heart-warming thing to see.

Psychologist Susan Pinker did a wonderful TED Talk (https://shorturl.at/9W16t) called ‘The secret to living longer may be your social life’. She studied why there are some places in the world where the number of people who live past 100 years is much higher than anywhere else. These places have been called “Blue Zones” and extensive research has been done to understand why. Perhaps surprisingly, the top two predictors of longevity were factors of social life: ‘Close Relationships’, and the number one factor being ‘Social Integration’. This means how many people you interact with each day, with both strong and weak bonds. Not just the people you feel close to, but do you talk to the barista who makes your coffee just the way you like it? Do you chat to the delivery guy, or nod and smile to the people you walk past on the way to the clubhouse, the arts and crafts room, or the hobby workshop?

She goes on to say that creating those social connections is what she calls ‘building your village’ and that building it and sustaining it is, quite literally, a matter of life or death.

That’s a powerful statement and one that resonates deeply with us because we witness this transformation time and time again. If you’re reading this article, chances are you either already call our Village home or you’re considering making that life-changing move. Based on everything we’ve experienced, and what science now confirms, we can’t recommend it highly enough. The connections, the community, the friendships that truly matter – they’re all here waiting for you.

The Value of

  • 25% of Australians are lonely
  • 54% of Australians reported feeling lonelier after the pandemic
  • 37% of young people are lonely
  • 26% increased risk of death for lonely people
  • Loneliness costs the Australian economy $2.7b annually

Susan Pinker’s chart of predictors of longevity:
Social Integration, Close Relationships, Quit Smoking, Flu Vaccine, Exercise, Hypertension Rx, Quit Boozing, Cardiac Rehab, Lean vs. Overweight, Clean Air

Source: Connections Matter, A report on the impacts of loneliness in Australia, KPMG & Groundswell Foundation

Information in this article is true and correct as of 22 September 2025.

Back to Newsroom