Companionship and Befriending: How Social Connection Supports Older Adults Living Alone in Belfast

For many families in Belfast, supporting an ageing parent at home is becoming a natural and important part of life. As people move into their late eighties and beyond, their world can grow quieter. Confidence to go out may fade, mobility becomes more limited, and days can blend into one another. Older adults often want to remain in the home they love — and families deeply want that for them — but loneliness can quietly become one of the biggest challenges.

This is often when adult children, usually in their fifties or sixties, begin asking the same question: “How can we help Mum or Dad stay independent at home, and still feel connected and supported?”

Befriending services across Northern Ireland — including the Belfast Central Mission Befriending Scheme, which provides friendly volunteer visits for older adults living alone — offer a lovely first step. A weekly visit or friendly chat can brighten a day, lift mood, and give an older person something warm to look forward to. Even a short visit can provide meaningful connection when most days are quiet.

Still, for many older adults — especially those who no longer leave the house independently — the return to silence after the visitor leaves can feel long. Evenings can stretch out. Confidence can shrink. And routine social contact becomes more important than ever.

Over the past ten years working with families across Ireland, and having been a home share companion myself, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable small, everyday interactions can be. When an older adult isn’t getting out anymore, life can narrow very quickly. A weekly visit through a befriending scheme such as the Belfast Central Mission Befriending Scheme becomes a genuine highlight — something warm and meaningful to anticipate. But I’ve also seen how the regular touchpoints that happen through home sharing — hearing someone come home in the evening, chatting while the kettle boils, receiving a little practical help — create a deeper sense of connection and reassurance, for both the older adult and their families.

One recent family who used Elder Home Share in the South of Ireland said: “Elder Home Share was recommended to us from a few people. It proved to be a complete game changer for us as a family. From the very first contact with Saoirse she acted in a friendly and professional manner. We matched quickly with Rosa who became invaluable in our late Mother’s care. Our lives changed for the better because of Elder Home Share. We can highly recommend Elder Home Share and wish them the very best for the future. It is such a great idea for everybody involved.” Although Elder Home Share is new to Belfast, stories like this reflect the real value of companionship and consistent presence in the home.

For some families in Belfast, a weekly befriending visit is exactly what’s needed. For others — especially when their parent is over eighty-five, living alone, and no longer going out — a little more regular companionship can make a significant difference. This does not mean the person requires care or that a nursing home is the next option. It simply means they benefit from routine company, gentle support, and someone in the home during the times of day that feel longest.

Home sharing, which Elder Home Share is now introducing to Belfast, offers that consistency in a natural, relationship-based way. An older adult with a spare bedroom welcomes a carefully vetted home share companion into their home. In exchange for affordable accommodation, the companion offers company, evening and overnight presence, and a helping hand with the simple everyday things that make life easier and more comforting. It is companionship — not care — and it supports independence rather than replacing it.

This model has already transformed the lives of many families in the South of Ireland over the past decade. It restores ease in the home. Older adults feel more secure and connected. Adult children gain peace of mind knowing someone is present in the evenings and overnight. Many families say they only wish they had heard about it sooner.

Befriending and home sharing are not alternatives to each other — they complement each other. Befriending lifts the week. Home sharing supports the days and evenings. Together, they offer a gentle, human response to the real-life needs of older adults, especially those over eighty-five who wish to stay in the home they love while remaining socially connected.

If you are supporting an ageing parent in Belfast and wondering what might help them stay at home safely and happily, know that you’re already doing an exceptional job. A small amount of companionship — whether through a befriending scheme, a neighbourly visit, or eventually through home sharing — can make your parent’s world feel brighter and more secure. And it can bring you peace of mind too.

As Elder Home Share begins working with families in Belfast, we are here to guide you gently and clearly, bringing ten years of experience supporting older adults across Ireland. To learn more about elder home share click here.