Friendships after 50, Boost your Longevity!

Discover how social connection can reduce your risk of premature death by 50% while boosting wellbeing through community engagement. Join host Ros Lindsey, a registered nurse with a Masters of Public Health, as she explores the vital role of social connection in healthy aging with Andrew Dowling, founder of Stitch. This episode reveals how loneliness impacts health and provides actionable strategies to build meaningful friendships after 50. This podcast is for you if you're interested in: • Making friends after 50 and midlife connections • Preventing loneliness and social isolation • Healthy aging and longevity strategies • Community building and social wellness • Technology-assisted friendship formation • Mental health and wellbeing after 50 • Lifestyle medicine and preventive health • Living your best life • Healthier Living • Natural health Sound Bites "Friendships are formed, not found." "Stitch literally saved my life." "We have a 63% reduction in loneliness." Key Points • Loneliness increases premature death risk by 50% and is worse for health than smoking 15 cigarettes daily • Social isolation leads to 24% more emergency room visits and 46% more GP consultations, creating massive healthcare costs • Friendships are formed, not found - they require repeated actions, shared experiences, and consistent engagement over time • Being part of a community reduces loneliness by 63% and makes people 40% more likely to be physically active • Technology can help initiate connections, but real-world activities and face-to-face interactions build lasting friendships ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 0:00 Introduction to social connection and loneliness epidemic 2:43 Andrew Dowling introduces the scope of loneliness in Australia 6:23 Practical advice for overcoming loneliness and isolation 8:41 Breaking the cycle of loneliness through community engagement 13:23 Andrew's personal journey and the founding of Stitch 18:06 The transformative power of community support 22:26 Safety features and protection systems within Stitch 27:40 Christmas strategies for preventing seasonal loneliness 30:00 Supporting multicultural seniors in building connections 32:13 Success stories and life transformations through Stitch 39:27 Real-world steps to nurture mental fitness and friendships 41:17 How to find and join the Stitch community Resources Mentioned • Stitch Community Platform: Stitch.net - Social connection platform for adults over 50 • The Wellness Roadmap Online Course: roslindsey.com/wellness - Comprehensive lifestyle medicine course covering social connection, nutrition, sleep, and stress management and avoiding risky substances • Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 - Crisis support and suicide prevention • United Nations Award: Stitch received recognition for impact on member wellbeing in 2024 What to do next Consider how you can improve your social connections. Stitch is one avenue available to form new social connections. https://www.stitch.net/ Purchase The Wellness Roadmap at roslindsey.com/wellness for overall better health and longevity. Learn how to self assess and improve your health across social connection, movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management and avoiding risky substances. Working with Ros Lindsey Personal Wellness Consultations Transform your health with personalised guidance from Ros Lindsey through 1:1 online consultations at roslindsey.com/bookings. These sessions focus on assessment and implementing the six pillars of lifestyle medicine including social connection, nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and avoiding risky substances. Corporate Wellness Programs Boost your team's wellbeing and productivity by booking a Wellness Workshop for your employees. [email protected] Online Learning Access comprehensive health education through Ros's online wellness course at roslindsey.com/wellness, covering all aspects of preventive health with practical tools for living longer and healthier. Connect with Ros Lindsey • Website: roslindsey.com and subscribe to the Blog • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslindseylife/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellnessNurse/videos • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ • Email: [email protected] Subscribe & Share Help us inspire and educate more Australians to live longer and healthier lives! Please subscribe to The Wellness Nurse Podcast, like this episode, and share with anyone who could benefit from building stronger social connections. Your support helps spread evidence-based wellness information to those who need it most. Disclaimer The information discussed in this podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical or psychological advice. Although Ros Lindsey is a registered nurse, the content shared reflects personal opinions and lived experiences and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace consultation with your healthcare professional. If you or someone you know is struggling with loneliness, mental health concerns, or thoughts of self-harm, please seek support from a qualified health provider, contact your local support services, or call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.