Supporting Isolated Older People: It's All About Them
Kanika has visited isolated older people more than 100 times in 2 years
June 30, 2025
After moving to the UK from Australia, Kanika and her partner were looking for something “good for our health and to start making connections”. Settling in East London for a time, they searched for something they’d both like that could get them up, active and social. Once they stumbled across GoodGym it was decided, they loved the concept instantly.
there’s many things to get involved with people for people with different interests
Starting with group sessions the pair became acquainted with the group, how GoodGym sessions work and made some new friends - it was going great. Kanika's partner later signed up for a coach pairing - we call the isolated older people we support our ‘coaches’ because they help motivate us to get out and work towards our fitness goals. Kanika, short on time because of her office job, decided to stick with group sessions after work for the time being.
After their time in London came to a close they moved to Maidenhead, a now bustling GoodGym community which was yet to be launched. GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead burst into life mid-covid, the country flooded with cries to help isolating and vulnerable adults, and the desire to get outside stronger than ever. It’s no surprise then that Kanika joined the new GoodGym group, GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead, rekindling her love for doing good and getting fit - the group have gone from strength to strength ever since. Kanika reflects on the position the group now finds itself in, “Windsor and Maidenhead is such a lovely group with some amazing people. It’s great because we have a good variety of tasks, so there’s many things to get involved with people for people with different interests".
Getting started with social visits
Post covid, Kanika was working from home and feeling more flush with time that he office job has allowed. Having put off visiting isolated older people in the past, now felt like the right time to finally give it a go. In doing so she tried it all, from weekly social visits, odd jobs, shopping trips and furniture builds, she even found a mission sewing trousers back together - Kanika was experiencing a whole new side to GoodGym and she loved it!
If I had more time I’d do even more social visits.
Kanika recalls getting started, becoming comfortable visiting someone she didn’t know and how to break down the barriers to build trust.* “For me it was important to build that relationship and trust. The more I did it, the better the conversation got”. On reflection, Kanika admits her visits are “always good… If I had more time I’d do even more social visits”.
Social visits are regular, often weekly, visits to the same person. The goal is to build the trust and relationship Kanika mentioned and allow friendships to form over time. There’s no task, it’s just a friendly visit to pop in and say hello. Anything from helping with the crossword in the paper you picked up en route, to eating your weight in biscuits and tea as you talk the afternoon away.
“Interesting. Remarkable. Gentleman”
Kanika describes Ms B as “an interesting and remarkable lady”, bed-bound and reliant on carers but still “very sharp”. Brimming with interests, jokes and opinions, Kanika finds it a joy to visit Ms B and offer some company once a week - even the weeks she can’t make it in person, the pair make sure they talk on the phone.
To date, Kanika has visited Ms B nearly 100 times across the last 2 years - most visits lasting close to an hour. There’s no obligation to stay for this long, but as can be the case when friends get together, there’s often lots to catch up on!
Recently, Kanika has started visiting another isolated older person, Mr H. Mr H lives closer to Kanika, making it easier to walk or cycle over. Kanika describes Mr H as “a proper gentleman”, full of interesting stories and personal history which he loves to share. Although cautious to begin with as Kanika had only visited women in the past, Kanika was adamant she wanted to mix things up. Combined, their friendly demeanours and curious natures meant they got off to a flying start, quickly getting to know each other and setting the foundation for many more visits to come.
Why get involved?
Kanika feels disappointed that older people are so often forgotten and neglected by their families, and society, despite brimming with interesting stories and lived experience of vastly different times. She reflects on the noticable difference she makes on even short visits, “the biggest thing I get out of it is seeing I made a difference to their day, and how grateful they are for that. If I’m able to give an hour of my time to make that much of a difference to someone’s day, then I should. It’s not even a trade off in my mind. Time is something I’m able to give easily”. Understandably, people don’t always live close to parents/grandparents, and this is part of what motivated Kanika to visit older people in this situation.
I’ve made such a difference to their day they are feeling good about life itself
Most of all, it’s the satisfaction of making someone’s day by doing nothing other than turning up. The 30 minutes a GoodGymer sits with someone could be the only 30 minutes of social contact they get all week. Kanika describes the difference she makes every week, “I’ve made such a difference to their day they are feeling good about life itself”.
A note from Kanika
“My advice would be if you feel retistent for some reason, just go and try it. I am someone who wouldn't even talk to a stranger and I feel I've gained so much from doing visits, it’s enriched my life so much. You’d think, how can one visit do this, but it can - just give it a go!”.
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Find out more about weekly visits to isolated older people, GoodGym Social Visits