Companionship for older Australians: why social connection is a health need

Companionship is one of the quietest but most powerful forms of support. For older Australians who live alone, or whose Family lives far away, that contact can be the difference between a good week and a hard one.

What is companionship care?

Companionship care is non-clinical support focused on a person's social and emotional well-being rather than their medical needs. At its simplest, companionship means having someone to talk to, share an activity with, and rely on for regular, friendly contact.

In an aged care setting, companion care usually involves a Support Worker visiting on a regular schedule to spend time with the person: chatting over a cup of tea, playing cards or a board game, sharing a hobby, going for a walk, or helping them get out to the shops, an appointment, or a community event. It sits alongside practical help like domestic assistance and personal care, but its purpose is connection.

It helps to separate two related ideas. Social isolation is the objective state of having little contact with others. Loneliness is the subjective feeling of lacking companionship or close relationships, and the two are not always synonymous. Someone can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely or live alone and feel perfectly content. Good companionship care responds to both.

It is also worth being clear about how this works in practice. In the Australian aged care system, companionship care is not a funded service in its own right. Instead, companionship results from social support services that bring people together. The connection is the point, and it is very real, even if it is not an official service you book by that name.

Why is social connection a health need?

Social connections are not just good for morale. It is one of the most significant factors in healthy ageing, and the data are clear.

Loneliness and social isolation in older people are linked to poorer physical and mental health, a higher risk of depression, cognitive decline, and poorer health outcomes. Some research has compared the mortality risk of chronic loneliness to that of smoking or obesity.

This is why companionship is increasingly understood as part of health and aged care, not separate from it. Regular, meaningful contact can lift mood, support memory and thinking, encourage people to stay active and eat well, and provide an early warning when something is not quite right.

Social support and community engagement services

Companionship is built around the person and, in a funded setting, is provided through social support and community engagement services. These sit within the Independence category of Australia's aged care system, and can include:

• Individual social support: one-to-one visits at home for conversation, shared activities and company
• Group social support: outings, social groups and shared activities with others
• Accompanied activities: support to attend appointments, events, shopping and community activities
• Cultural support: help to stay connected to your culture, language and community
• Digital education and support: help to use technology to keep in touch with Family and friends
• Assistance with personal affairs: practical help with the everyday tasks that keep life running smoothly

At Just Better Care, this is delivered through social and community support services, often combined with personal care and transport to appointments and outings, so the whole visit is centred on the person. For many customers who live alone, their regular Support Worker becomes one of the most valued points of contact in the week.

How does companionship fit into the Support at Home program?

Companionship is not a standalone funded service in the Australian aged care system. What is funded is the social support and community engagement that creates it. These services fall under the Independence category of Support at Home, which helps older Australians manage daily life, remain independent, and stay socially connected.

In practice, that can include individual and group social support, accompanied activities, community outings, and transport to appointments and events. The Support at Home program provides eligible older Australians with a budget allocated across support categories, with the Independence category funding these social supports. An aged care assessor determines your eligibility. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), which offers entry-level support, is scheduled to move into Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.

CHSP vs Support at Home

There is also the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, a separate Commonwealth-funded program that matches a trained volunteer with an older person who is lonely or at risk of social isolation, to provide friendship, social connection and companionship. It is complementary to Support at Home and other government-funded aged care, rather than part of them. It is delivered by volunteers, provided at no cost, and is not funded through your Support at Home budget or arranged by your in-home care provider. To find out more, contact My Aged Care.

Private in-home care

To access government-funded aged care, you register with My Aged Care (call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au) and complete an assessment. If you are not yet eligible, need support while your assessment is underway, or were not granted social support at the time of your assessment, you can get started with private in-home care, which is self-funded and can be purchased for as little as a few hours a week with no long-term commitment.

Companion Card and how it differs from companionship care

Because the names sound alike, companionship care is often confused with the Companion Card (sometimes searched for as a companionship card). They are two different things, and both can be useful. Companionship care is the ongoing support itself: the person who visits, shares the activity and provides the connection. A Companion Card is for people with a significant and permanent disability who are unable to take part in most community activities without attendant care support, and who need that level of support lifelong. The Companion Card is a government concession card that allows a Carer or companion to accompany the cardholder into participating venues and events free of charge, helping to remove one of the practical barriers to community participation. It is available in every state and territory, with no income or asset test, and the two often work well together.

For the application links in your state, see our state-by-state Companion Card guide.

Getting started with companionship care

If you or someone you love would benefit from more company and connection, a good first step is to think about what would make the biggest difference, whether that is a regular weekly visit or help getting to a social group.

Choosing the right provider matters too. Our guide to choosing a home care provider walks through the questions to ask. From there, your local Just Better Care team can help you understand your options.