UniSA and SportsUnited look to combat loneliness through sport nostalgia

Working with SportsUnited, a study by the University of South Australia is exploring the experiences and benefits of older people involved in a community reminiscence program - Sporting Memories Australia - tapping into their memories and experiences of sport in a move to address loneliness and social isolation.

SportsUnited is a not-for-profit organisation based in Adelaide that seeks to provide opportunities for people at risk of social exclusion to participate in organised sport at no cost. 

From Australia's historic victory in the 1983 America's Cup to Freeman's gold-medal sprint at the Sydney Olympics, sport has the unique ability to captivate and inspire us all.

The collaborative program is actively connecting people over the age of 65 (many living with dementia) to discuss historic sporting events, participate in activities, and share memories from past decades. A knowledgeable facilitator guides the group and promotes inclusivity.

Initial results from the study indicate wide-ranging positive impacts, with participants reporting that it helps them feel included, socially connected, and engaged.

Participants say that the program lets them talk freely about any topic, presenting them with opportunities to share and learn with others, a proven factor that stimulates cognitive functioning and social engagement.

It's a valuable finding given Australia's ageing population, where current estimates indicate that 4.2 million Australians (16% of the population) are aged 65+.

UniSA researcher Robert Laidlaw says the Sporting Memories Australia program is helping address the challenges of ageing by providing a group setting for older people to develop new friendships through sharing memories.

Laidlaw notes "social isolation and loneliness have become a public health concern as people age. But while individual approaches such as psychological interventions and medications have been trialled, their effectiveness is limited.

"Community group reminiscence programs have been developed as a novel approach to combat social isolation. In the Sporting Memories Australia program, we bring a group of older people together to talk about past sporting events.

"Some of the participants may be socially isolated or lonely, while others struggle with anxiety, depression or even have mild cognitive changes. But together, we engage everyone though a range of inclusive and fun activities including games, quizzes, memorabilia, guest speakers and trips to sporting venues."

The program, originally developed in the United Kingdom, aims to attract people with an interest in sport who are living with cognitive changes, loneliness, and/or depression.

Co-researcher, UniSA's Dr Richard McGrath, says that in addition to the health and social benefits, participants value the opportunity to learn about and from each other as they play games and share stories.

Dr McGrath adds "learning is important for older people because it fosters an active and enquiring mind while promoting social interaction and broadening their horizons.

"The benefits of the Sporting Memories Australia program can do wonders for a person's general quality of life - mentally, socially, and physically. And anything that support a positive mind and spirit is good for our health and wellbeing - and that goes regardless of our age."

Sporting Memories Australia holds fortnightly and monthly sessions across seven South Australian locations. To find out more

The full paper -'A qualitative study of a Sporting Memories program in South Australia: belonging, participation, and social connection' is published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health with contributions from: Robert Laidlaw, Dr Richard McGrath, Prof Saravana Kumar, Dr Caroline Adams and Dr Carolyn M. Murray.

More information on SportsUnited