The healing power of community in later life
Getting older often brings major life changes. Retirement, bereavement, shifting relationships, and health issues can leave many feeling like the world has quietly moved on without them.
In late 2024, Age UK released a report titled “You are not alone in feeling lonely”, revealing that around 940,000 older people in the UK often feel lonely. That’s a shocking 7% of all over-65s.
And loneliness isn’t just emotionally painful, it’s a public health issue. Chronic loneliness has been linked to a range of health issues including:
● Heart disease
● Strokes
● Dementia
● Depression
● Anxiety
By tackling loneliness, we can improve the overall health and wellbeing of our older neighbours. Age UK’s report also found that loneliness isn’t experienced equally. It hits harder for people on low incomes, for those living alone or with health issues, and in communities where services aren’t inclusive or accessible to everyone. Where you live, your housing situation, and even your ethnicity can all influence how isolated you feel and how likely you are to get help.
In Tower Hamlets – where two-thirds of older residents live with long-term health conditions and the need for adult social care is the highest in the country – the risk of isolation is especially stark.
That’s where we come in…
Learning to live well after 60
At Globe Community Project, we believe everyone deserves to feel connected, valued and supported, especially as they age. Our Wellbeing for Over 60s course helps older people build confidence, connection and practical skills to face life’s changes with compassion and resilience.
Each session explores a different theme, from physical and emotional wellbeing to healthy relationship boundaries, through group conversation, interactive activities, guided meditation and gentle movement. Importantly, it offers older residents in Tower Hamlets a safe space to share stories and feel heard.
“I’m more aware now” – Thomas’ story
Thomas, 60, lives with several health conditions that mean he can’t work anymore. He joined one of our recent courses after feeling increasingly isolated.
“I liked the focus and how the course was facilitated. There was time for everyone to share something and to listen to each other.”
He told us about how the course helped him identify and respond to his difficulties with social communication. “I can get myself into difficult situations because I laugh or joke or say something in the moment that is offensive,” he says. “I’m more aware of it now.”
When asked what he learned on the course, Thomas talked about a simple but powerful tool called the traffic light technique. Introduced in a week focused on “kindly communication,” it helps participants pause before reacting and works like this:
Red: Stop. Take a breath.
Amber: Notice what’s going on inside—your feelings, your thoughts.
Green: Choose how you want to respond, with care and kindness.
“I’m more able now to give myself time to respond differently to people and to sometimes not say anything,” Thomas reflects.
It’s these kinds of shifts – small yet meaningful changes – that ripple outward. When one person learns to slow down and respond with compassion, it often creates space for others to do the same.
Can you help further our reach?
We’re on a mission to make sure no one is left behind. With your help, we can reach even more people across Tower Hamlets in 2025 and beyond.
If you’d like to support programmes like Wellbeing for Over 60s, please consider setting up a monthly donation to Globe Community Project.
Together, we can make ageing a time of connection, not isolation.
