In November 2025, the Support at Home program will become the new foundation for in-home aged care across Australia. This shift will bring renewed focus to what meaningful care looks like—not just in services delivered, but in the human relationships that support wellbeing. That’s why the International Day of Friendship 2025 is more than just a date on the calendar.
The event is a reminder that friendship is a form of care, one that matters just as much as assistive technology or domestic support. For older Australians living independently at home, and for their families and care partners, friendship is often the invisible thread that holds care together.
Friendship in the Support at Home community
Under the Support at Home program, clients will work with care partners and care coordinators to build a flexible care plan, funded by quarterly budgets and tailored to individual goals. But beyond those structures, there’s something deeply human at play: the connections we build with those around us.
Friends in aged care settings can take many forms:
• A companion who joins you on a morning walk
• A neighbour who checks in with a friendly smile
• A support worker who remembers your stories and makes time for a chat
• A fellow client you see at community group activities
These relationships don’t just fill time. They build trust, reduce loneliness, and support emotional and cognitive health. In fact, studies show that strong social networks among older people are linked to slower functional decline, reduced hospital admissions and improved overall wellbeing. As we celebrate International Day of Friendship we are reminded of how important community and friendships are in our lives.
For families and caregivers: friendship provides comfort and continuity
For families supporting someone receiving aged care, peace of mind is often tied to connection. It’s not just about knowing your loved one is safe—it’s about knowing they’re seen, heard, and emotionally supported.
When aged care friendships are present, whether it’s a familiar care worker or a social group that feels like family, families feel more confident. They know their loved one is part of a wider Support at Home community, not navigating ageing in isolation.
This is especially true for clients who live alone or have limited family contact. For them, friendship may come through regular check-ins, phone conversations, or the consistent presence of a support worker who becomes a trusted part of daily life.
The role of friendship in healthy ageing
From an aged care perspective, friendship aligns closely with the goals of Support at Home and Home Care Packages. The program is designed to help older Australians live independently for longer, but that independence isn’t just physical, it’s social and emotional too.
International Day of Friendship 2025 reminds us that friendship supports:
• Confidence to engage in the community
• Reduced feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression
• A greater sense of purpose and motivation
• Better adherence to routines, including appointments and self-care
These are not fringe benefits, they’re essential outcomes. And they’re often delivered not through services, but through the relationships built around those services.
Friendship is a form of care at Trilogy Care
At Trilogy Care, we believe care is most powerful when it’s personal. That’s why we support every client’s right to build meaningful relationships, whether through social support visits, transport to group events, or simply allowing time for conversation during care routines.
Our team understands that friends in aged care aren’t an ‘extra’ but rather a core part of ageing well at home. We encourage families and care partners to talk with us about how connection and companionship can be included in the care plan.
This International Day of Friendship, we celebrate the carers who show kindness, the neighbours who drop by, the old friends who still call, and the new connections waiting to be made.
Because at every stage of life, friendship is care.
If you’re looking to connect more with your community and the people around you, get in touch with Trilogy Care today on 1300 459 190.
