Loneliness and Parkinson’s, reminders for keeping connected with your community
Aug. 04, 2025
This week is Loneliness Awareness Week, and while a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be confronting, it should never leave you feeling alone.
Loneliness Awareness Week shines a light on loneliness and what we can do in our day-to-day lives to help reduce the feeling and look for meaningful connection.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis can cause people to retreat from their social circles or lead them to self-isolate, exacerbating feelings of loneliness. Changes in mobility functions and impact on hobbies can lead to further isolation.
There are simple things you can do to help keep connected to the things and people you love and continue to live positively with Parkinson’s.
Make social plans
Making plans to spend time with your friends and loved ones is important to ensuring you keep connected to them. Being strategic about your social plans can make them easier for you.
Consider the times that you take your medications and what time of day you feel fatigued. If you’re at your best during the morning, consider making brunch plans instead of dinner plans.
Be open with your friends and family about how you are travelling. Parkinson’s is not linear, and some days can feel harder than others. Meeting times and places can be fluid, communicating your needs can help keep you connected.
Building social activity into your weekly routine can also be beneficial.
Join a Peer Support Group
Living with Parkinson’s can be challenging, but you don’t have to feel alone. Joining a Fight Parkinson’s Peer Support Group can be a welcomed opportunity to connect with others experiencing similar challenges.
Parkinson’s peer support offers information, social connection, hope and support through group meetings, over the phone, online communities and educational seminars.
Attending a Peer Support Group can be a difficult decision to make, but most people find these meetings helpful and supportive. Peer Support Groups are not a replacement for medical treatment, professional counselling, or family and friends, but they are useful tools in finding a community with similar experiences.
If you would like to join your local Peer Support Group, the Fight Parkinson’s team can help you find the right group for you.
Seek support from your health team
Many people living with Parkinson’s experience anxiety and/or depression at some stage of their journey.
Anxiety and depression can result from grief at being diagnosed with Parkinson’s and from loss of mobility and independence. They are also direct symptoms of chemical changes in the brain that happen with Parkinson’s.
These experiences can lead individuals to isolate themselves from their friends, family, and community.
If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression, speak with your GP. They can refer you to a psychologist for further assistance and prescribe medication if required.
The fact sheet ‘Parkinson’s disease, anxiety and depression’ provides further information on anxiety and depression and how they can be managed in Parkinson’s
Stay connected to your hobbies
Parkinson’s may change how you interact with your hobbies, but it shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you enjoy.
Explore ways to adapt your hobbies, you will find most things can be adapted to suit your changing needs. You might look at walking sports, Painting with Parkinson’s, or Online Singing.
People – and our hobbies – are incredibly adaptable, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Be patient with yourself
Parkinson’s is a life-long diagnosis, and some days will be harder than others.
Try to be patient with yourself and allow time to ride the ups and downs of diagnosis. Remember to check in with yourself and when possible be proactive to keep engaged.
If you need support Fight Parkinson’s provides a free and confidential information service providing support to anyone affected by Parkinson’s. The Information Line is staffed by Fight Parkinson’s' multi-disciplinary health team from Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm (except public holidays) on (03) 8809 0400.