Rae Celia, Byles Julie, Denholm Susan, Holford Jemma, Chojenta Catherine
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
Australas J Ageing. 2025 Jun;44(2):e70035. doi: 10.1111/ajag.70035.
Social connection is important for healthy ageing, yet the ability of older people to participate in community and social activities can be limited. Connections for Ageing Well was a program for older people delivered within the community that enabled participants to select information topics and activities to meet their individual needs and preferences. It aimed to promote social connection with a focus on learning and being active. The evaluation of the program measured its success in meeting its objectives.
Program attendees were invited to complete a questionnaire at the conclusion of the program (postprogram evaluation survey) and to participate in a focus group. Data collected by the questionnaire were analysed descriptively, and data from the focus group were analysed through a phenomenological lens and coded thematically.
Although participants reported high levels of social connectedness before the program, almost all met someone new (96%) and some of these friendships continued after the program. Nearly half (46%) of survey respondents reported a greater knowledge of how to access community programs and services. Participants described learning something new and sharing this knowledge with others. Others reported enjoying the active fresh air sessions and having a renewed interest in physical activity. All evaluation participants agreed they would recommend the program to others and focus group attendees expressed overwhelming positivity about the program.
The program was successful in achieving its objectives and provided new evidence of the effectiveness of an intervention designed to foster social connectedness that enabled participants to select program components to suit their individual needs and preferences.
社会联系对健康老龄化很重要，但老年人参与社区和社会活动的能力可能有限。“健康老龄化联系”是一项在社区内为老年人开展的项目，该项目使参与者能够选择信息主题和活动以满足他们的个人需求和偏好。其旨在促进以学习和积极参与为重点的社会联系。该项目的评估衡量了其在实现目标方面的成功程度。
项目参与者被邀请在项目结束时填写一份问卷（项目后评估调查）并参加一个焦点小组。通过描述性分析问卷收集的数据，通过现象学视角分析焦点小组的数据并进行主题编码。
尽管参与者在项目开始前报告了较高水平的社会联系，但几乎所有人都结识了新朋友（96%），其中一些友谊在项目结束后仍在延续。近一半（46%）的调查受访者表示对如何获取社区项目和服务有了更多了解。参与者描述了学到新东西并与他人分享这些知识。其他人报告说喜欢积极的户外空气清新活动，并且对体育活动有了新的兴趣。所有评估参与者都同意他们会向其他人推荐该项目，焦点小组参与者对该项目表达了压倒性的积极态度。
该项目成功实现了其目标，并为一项旨在促进社会联系的干预措施的有效性提供了新的证据，该干预措施使参与者能够选择适合其个人需求和偏好的项目组成部分。
