Fighting seniors isolation with presence, patience and care

April 13, 2026

After running a successful real estate business for many years, Philip sold the company three years ago and began looking for ways to contribute to his local community. At 56 and semi-retired, he wasn’t ready to slow down completely. Looking for a way to stay engaged, he explored volunteer opportunities – eventually finding his way to CatholicCare’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), where he began his journey with Jan and Trish.

Philip describes feeling drawn to work with older people – an often overlooked group facing growing isolation. “I knew it was an area of need,” Philip says. “But until I met people experiencing loneliness, I never fully understood the extent of the problem. These elderly people are extremely lonely.”

That sense of need became clear when Philip began visiting Jan, a woman in her late 70s. “She has family around and she would like to see more of them, but like all families they have their own lives,” Philip says.

Although Jan has a carer and a close friend nearby, her daily social interactions are limited. For her, Philip’s weekly visits offer an important connection. His visits provide stimulation mentally, and he finds out what’s going on for her in her life.

Jan reflects on what Philip’s visits have meant to her. “He’s very caring and thoughtful – he always brings something. If he comes in the morning, he will bring morning tea. We both love the AFL and we talk about everything. Nothing is too much trouble. He takes us to restaurants and pays for our dinner.”

Philip explains that his visits give Jan space to share how she’s really feeling. “Since I’m not part of her close social circle, I can be a neutral listener where she feels comfortable letting off steam and expressing herself,” Philip says.

After almost two years of visiting Jan, Philip received an unexpected phone call.

“I was away at the time, and I got a phone call from an unknown number,” Philip recalls. “It was an elderly lady called Trish. She said, ‘Hi, I am a friend of Jan’s. I heard you visit her and take her out. Can you come to me too?’”

Trish lives alone in the house she shared with her late husband. Her story is marked by profound loss and disconnection from her remaining family. 

“Aside from a weekly bingo outing on Wednesdays, she rarely leaves home,” Philip says. “Two of her four children have died, and while one son lives in Queensland and stays in touch about once a month, her other son lives locally but they are estranged. She hasn’t seen him in years. Trish also has numerous grandchildren in their early 20s, but unfortunately, she has no contact with any of them.” 

Philip is gently working to reconnect Trish with her family. 

“I asked Trish why her son doesn’t talk to her, and she has no idea,” he says. “I’ve reached out to her grandkids – one of them responded, and I’m supporting them as they take steps toward reconnecting. 

Trish has also asked me to speak with her son directly. I’ll be visiting him soon to introduce myself, let him know I’m from CatholicCare and have been spending time with his mum, and see where the conversation leads.”

But Trish’s vulnerability also makes her a target – particularly for scammers, who exploit her loneliness. “When she first told me what was happening, she said, ‘I’ve got this person who’s trying to ring me …’ and that’s when I realised what was going on,” Philip says. “The scammers maintain contact with her for weeks, essentially filling the deep need she has for connection. She often asks them about their lives and where they’re from.”

It’s a difficult situation that Philip is working to change through support and education. “In some cases, Trish initiates contact with scammers. They stroke her ego. I have been educating Trish about scammers and told her not to give them anything. One day when I was out at lunch with Trish and Jan, Trish showed me her phone and it was full of viruses so I helped her buy a new phone.”

For Philip, it’s clear that loneliness can drive people to take risks, just to feel seen. “She has little to occupy her days,” Philip says. “Many older people are so lonely that, even if they lose some money to scammers, the sense of connection makes it worthwhile for them.”

With loneliness surging and vulnerable seniors turning to scammers just to feel a connection, Philip’s role is more important than ever.