10/09/2026
R U OK? doesn’t have an age limit. 💛
Getting older can bring wonderful things... perspective, experience, freedom and time.
But it can also bring changes that aren’t always easy to talk about.
The loss of a partner or friends.
Changes to our health or independence.
Retirement and the loss of a familiar role.
Less connection with the people and communities that once surrounded us.
And sometimes, the feeling that we are no longer as needed, purposeful or inspired as we once were.
These things matter.
Around 15% of Australians aged 65+ experienced loneliness in 2024, and we know that loneliness and social isolation can have significant effects on both physical and mental wellbeing. And there is another statistic worth talking about. In 2024, 575 Australians aged 65 and over died by su***de — 77% of them men. In fact, men aged 85+ recorded the highest age-specific su***de rate of any age group that year.
These statistics aren't shared to make ageing something to fear. They're a reminder that mental wellbeing continues to matter at every stage of life.
We believe ageing should still contain opportunities to connect, contribute, learn, laugh, belong and have something to look forward to... so sometimes the simple act of asking "Are you OK"? is a great way to minimise the gap, and really take the time to hear the answer. This R U OK? Day, check in with an older person in your life. Have a cuppa. Make the phone call. Invite them along. Ask their opinion. Ask them about their story.
Because getting older should never mean becoming invisible.
Connection matters. Purpose matters. People matter — at every age.
