The power of friendship
This month will see an international celebration of connections between people of all ages and across generations.
Join one of our branches!
Becoming a member of National Seniors Australia (NSA) offers a range of benefits, including the chance to make new friendships.
In many places around the country, you can attend NSA branch meetings. You can come along simply to enjoy the company of other seniors, or you can volunteer to help run the regular meetings and other activities our branches conduct. Find a branch near you here.
Read more about the advantages of NSA membership, including access to excellent shopping and dining discounts through our EAT | PLAY | SAVE app, here.
Each year on 30 July, the world marks International Day of Friendship, a global observance established by the United Nations in 2011.
This day is a celebration of the relationships that unite people across borders, cultures, and generations. It serves as a timely reminder of the power of empathy, mutual understanding, and solidarity in a world often divided by difference.
Friendship is important at every stage of life, but it takes on an even deeper significance as we age. For older Australians, meaningful friendships can be vital to maintaining good health and a positive outlook.
Research consistently shows that staying socially connected reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and chronic illness. In contrast, social isolation and loneliness are linked to serious health issues, including weakened immune systems and heart disease.
Friendships offer more than companionship; they provide purpose, joy, and a sense of belonging. For those navigating retirement, health challenges, or the loss of a spouse or friends, a simple coffee with a neighbour or a weekly chat with an old mate can lift the spirit and remind us that we are not alone.
While friendships with peers offer shared memories and understanding, intergenerational friendships can add a unique and enriching dimension to later life.
Connecting with younger people can reinvigorate older adults with fresh ideas, energy, and a renewed sense of curiosity. Whether it’s learning how to use a new app, discussing current social issues, or simply seeing the world through younger eyes, these relationships can keep seniors mentally and emotionally engaged.
In return, seniors have much to offer, including life experience, wisdom, and stories that can only come with time. Intergenerational friendships become a two-way street of learning and growth. They can even help foster greater understanding across age groups, challenging stereotypes and assumptions along the way.
Of course, bridging generational gaps isn’t always easy. Differences in communication styles, cultural references, or life priorities can cause friction.
Older adults may feel out of step with younger friends who are focused on careers, raising families, or building futures that seem far away from their own experiences. But rather than becoming barriers, these differences can spark conversations that encourage empathy, patience, and deeper understanding.
Maintaining strong friendships at any age requires intentionality. Joining clubs, attending community events, volunteering, or participating in hobby groups can create opportunities to form new bonds.
Digital tools like messaging apps and video calls also make it easier than ever to keep in touch, even across distances. But beyond technology, it’s the simple acts, such as checking in on a friend, remembering a birthday, or sharing a laugh, that truly sustain lasting connections.
Perhaps the most powerful message of the International Day of Friendship is that friendship doesn’t have to be limited by age, geography, or background. Whether you’re reconnecting with an old friend, making a new one, or finding common ground with someone much younger or older, friendship is one of life’s most enduring gifts.
But you don’t have to wait until 30 July, to celebrate the friends who walk beside us and be open to those who might not yet have entered our lives.
Making and maintaining friendships is a lifelong project that helps build a more compassionate, understanding world.
