Social Prescribing Can Help Older Australians Stay Connected and Well
01 Sep 2026
Social prescribing offers general practices another way to support patients by connecting them with community-based services and activities that address these wider needs.
Looking beyond clinical care
A number of primary care visits are linked to social or practical concerns rather than medical conditions alone.
For older adults, this may include feeling isolated, having difficulty staying active, managing caring responsibilities or adjusting to significant life changes.
Social prescribing can provide a pathway for patients to access support that is better suited to these circumstances.
What the evidence shows
Research supports the role of community-based approaches in improving social wellbeing.
A 2022 study found that a substantial share of primary care presentations involved non-medical needs.
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 were also identified as beneficial.
Connecting patients with local support
Social prescribing can help general practices link patients with programs available in their local communities.
Healthcare professionals can find local programs and refer patients through Active and Healthy NSW.
Practices working in the Liverpool Local Government Area can also contribute to the development of the local social prescribing pilot.
This article forms part of a nine-part series on social prescribing in general practice. The series is provided by the Lurnea Community Hub through its pilot Social Prescribing Program.
Social Prescribing Can Help Older Australians Stay Connected and Well
Source: South Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Practice Pulse