Social prescribing can help older Australians stay connected and healthy
01 Sep 2026
Many health concerns faced by older adults are linked to factors outside traditional medical care. Loneliness, loss of mobility, caregiving pressures and changes in life circumstances can all affect a person’s health and wellbeing.
Social prescribing offers another way to support patients by connecting them with community activities, services and programs that address these needs.
Research has found that a significant share of primary care visits are linked to non-medical needs (Percival et al., 2022).
A 2024 systematic review also found that group-based programs can help reduce loneliness, with moderate-certainty evidence supporting their use. Digital and skills-based programs may also help reduce loneliness (Shekelle et al., 2024).
GPs can explore local social prescribing options and refer patients to suitable community programs.
For practices working in the Liverpool Local Government Area (LGA), there is also an opportunity to contribute to a local social prescribing pilot.
This is part of a nine-part series on social prescribing in general practice, provided by the Lurnea Community Hub through its pilot Social Prescribing Program.
Social prescribing can help older Australians stay connected and healthy
Source: South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (Practice Pulse), 2 September 2026.