New Zealand pilots care villages, community partnerships to battle loneliness in older people

The United Kingdom recognized social isolation as a key issue facing its population and appointed a Minister for Loneliness. In New Zealand, a university study found more than one in five frail elderly identified being lonely. The study was completed during assessments of elderly people who needed home services or were being considered for entry into care. The country introduced countermeasures, such as:

• The Care Village, which resembles a small town where seniors live with others in one of 13 homes that each have a different style to reflect the lives people are familiar with;
• Baby Buddies program, where new mothers bring their babies for a play date with the elderly;
• Cycling Without Age, which offers free bike rides to elderly people; and
• Origami Pen Pal Project, where Japanese seniors send origami to New Zealand seniors. In return they send handmade cards.