Stan's 'Age Well, Together' Story

Meet Stan, one of the devoted volunteers at Whiddon's Casino Mens Shed. Before the Men’s Shed inception, Stan spent many mornings at visiting his wife in Whiddon's Casino Care Home. Noticing a gap in activities for men at the home, Stan, and the team at Whiddon set out to establish a shared community space for residents and members of the extended Casino community to connect and engage in activities. ​

Five years later, Stan attends the Whiddon Men's Shed every week and is integral to the program's ongoing success and work to bridge loneliness and foster greater social connections between those who attend the Men’s Shed. Each week, with the help of Whiddon's lifestyle and wellbeing team, Stan assists fellow Men’s Shed members as they enjoy hobbies such as crafting and woodworking in an environment that allows these men to reignite old passions, form friendships, and encourage men to age well together.

"I love coming in because the other men love coming down and having a chat and a joke in morning when we are together. Even after my wife passed away, I still make sure to come here every week. When they asked me if I would keep showing up, I didn't hesitate to say yes. The sense of community and belonging I feel here is important to me, and it gives me a reason to get up and out of bed each week” says Stan.

His commitment to visiting the Men’s Shed has continued even after his wife's passing, and he encourages other men to join similar groups to stay active and engaged. Throughout his time at the Men’s Shed, Stan has become an advocate for men his age to come down explore new hobbies and find new passions.

“I always encourage my mates to come down to the Men’s Shed and try out all the activities we’ve got to offer. Staying active and engaged is so important as we get older. It keeps us busy and mobile, which is important at our age,” said Stan.

"Through our Men's Shed program, we aim to help our elderly residents feel less alone and provide a space for them to connect with others and explore new hobbies. Many residents come here, and they feel so useless after having a lifelong of work and raising a family, and now they're in a nursing home. So, we try our best to make things different for them, to make them feel part of an important community” says Whiddon’s Lifestyle and Wellbeing Manager, Jeremy Watson-Bell.

During International Men's Health Week, Stan's story highlights the importance of camaraderie, community, and volunteering in promoting men's health and tackling loneliness as we grow older.

About 'Age Well, Together'

In celebration of International Men's Health Week (12^th – 18^th June), award-winning innovative care provider Whiddon has launched the ‘Age Well, Together’ campaign, encouraging Australian men to improve their health and wellbeing by connecting through shared interests, camaraderie and community involvement.

The ‘Age Well, Together’ campaign seeks to raise awareness around healthy ageing for men and the importance of engaging in meaningful activities and staying socially connected. This International Men’s Health Week also coincides with Loneliness Awareness Week making the timing of the ‘Age Well, Together’ campaign even more impactful.

Let’s Age Well, Together this International Men’s Health Week.

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