R U OK? Day serves as an annual reminder to stay connected as a community and check up on those around us, not only today, but every day. At Oak Tree, we are passionate about empowering and encouraging our residents to have these important conversations, because something as small as asking someone if they’re okay can be powerful enough to change their life.
This year, on R U OK? Day, we hosted a morning tea in our City Hub office and across all Oak Tree villages, where our residents and Village Managers had the opportunity to connect and check in with each other.
We also held a Zoom call which allowed residents from different Oak Tree communities to virtually connect, serving as a reminder that although our villages are scattered across the eastern seaboard, we all form part of a larger Oak Tree community that support each other and genuinely care.
Sadly, many people in their later years’ experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, worthlessness, and depression.
This can be due to a number of factors including living alone or far away from family, the loss of a partner or loved ones, major life changes, cognitive decline, illness, and loss of purpose after retiring from the workforce.
At Oak Tree, we are passionate about providing our residents with a lifestyle that deeply enriches their quality of life and boosts their happiness, at a time when they need and deserve it most. Although it’s common to experience feelings of uncertainty and fear of the unknown at this time of your life, at Oak Tree, we strive to empower our residents to view it as the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Often once our residents make the move to Oak Tree, they gain a new lease on life as they’re surrounded by likeminded neighbours who they form connections with quickly, they’re in a beautiful new home that’s manageable, functional, and built to suit their changing needs, and they no longer have maintenance responsibilities to worry about.
While prioritising your mental wellbeing is crucial at any age, later in life when you’re navigating a lot of major life changes, it’s especially important. Having the support of likeminded people around you during this time who understand and are also experiencing it firsthand can make the world of difference.
If you live alone and don’t have a lot of support around you, there are alternate ways you can connect with others – join a community club or group, begin taking group classes, or take a trip with a senior travel group. Chances are, there are a number of other people in your area who are looking to form friendships too!
Raising awareness around mental health is incredibly important in removing the stigma around it. Know that if you’re struggling, there is support available, and you should never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.
Check in on those close to you and know that something as small as a conversation is powerful enough to change a life!
If you need immediate support:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
