Connect the 40% launches Christmas gift drive to support isolated aged care residents
This Christmas, Connect the 40% is calling on Australians to help brighten the lives of lonely aged care residents. The annual gift drive invites the community to send thoughtful presents and messages to older people who may otherwise spend the holidays without visitors or companionship.
As Christmas nears, many older Australians living in residential aged care will feel the sting of isolation and loneliness. That’s why Connect the 40% is calling on kindness from the wider community to make this festive season brighter for those who rarely get visitors. Their 2025 Christmas gift drive invites people to send thoughtful gifts or experiences to residents who might otherwise be forgotten.
Why the gift drive matters
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Up to 40 % of older people in residential aged care don’t get regular visits – meaning many spend the holidays without company or anything to open on Christmas Day.
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Loneliness and social isolation are major issues in aged care: psychological studies show depression, anxiety, and other mental-health conditions are far more prevalent among older people in care than those living in the community.
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Thoughtful gifts – and even more, the knowledge someone remembered them – can lift spirits, help residents feel valued, and reduce the heavy emotional weight of loneliness.
In short: a small act of kindness can have an outsized impact on someone’s sense of connection, belonging, and dignity.
How Connect the 40% works
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Aged care home staff identify residents who are socially isolated or rarely receive visitors, then work with Connect the 40% to compile a “wish list” for each resident: gifts or experiences they might enjoy or appreciate.
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The public – that’s you – browses residents’ profiles on the website, selects a gift or experience, and adds an optional personal message. Gifts may be simple, everyday comforts, or things designed to bring joy, nostalgia, connection or stimulation.
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The Connect the 40% team bundles the chosen gift or experience (and message) and delivers it to the resident’s home.
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Recipients gain more than a present – they receive connection, recognition, and the sense that someone cared enough to remember them.
Though Connect the 40% is still in the process of becoming an official not-for-profit, it already operates as one: every gift or experience is managed with the goal of boosting wellbeing for older people living in care.
What kinds of gifts make a difference
Connect the 40% encourages gifts that bring comfort, joy, or engagement, and are easy for older people to enjoy. Some popular examples include:
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Cozy items like soft socks, blankets or slippers to help with warmth and comfort.
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Activities that engage the mind or spark creativity – puzzles, art kits, painting sets (for those living with dementia), memory-stimulating games or music.
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Simple sensory pleasures: chocolate hampers or comforting treats.
The point isn’t luxury – it’s human connection. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to mean something.
How you can help this Christmas
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Visit www.connectthe40.com, browse the residents’ wish lists, and select a gift or experience to purchase.
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Add a short personal message when you send your gift. A few kind words can sometimes mean more than the gift itself.
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Share the gift drive with friends, family, workmates – spread the word so more lonely older Australians get a little cheer this holiday season.
Pay it forward
This Christmas, imagine the difference you could make with a small act of kindness. For many older Australians living in aged care, a gift isn’t just a “present” – it’s proof they are not forgotten. It’s a moment of connection, a spark of joy, and a reminder that someone out there cares about them.
If you’re able, consider joining Connect the 40% and help brighten the holiday for someone who really needs it. Their smiles, and their gratitude, will speak for themselves.
