Community & Business
10 February, 2026
Wanted: Friends and fun
Director of Nursing at Oakey Hospital Matthew Boyd is asking individuals and community groups to consider visiting McDonald Residential Aged Care once a week to make the lives of residents friendlier and more fun.
New faces are needed to reverse a gradual decline in outside visits to McDonald Home in recent years.
Check-ins have slowed to just an occasional visit from one group and interactions from a handful of volunteers and chaplains.
Social interaction is a proven way to combat loneliness, an ongoing problem for Australians in their twilight years.
Director of Nursing at McDonald Residential Aged Care, Matt Boyd is asking the community if recreational and social groups can make time in their schedules for a visit.
“There’s lots of little things that can be done,” Mr Boyd said.
“Whether it’s a dance or school group, or even a group of people who like playing cards.
“Our residents are desperate to play cards...
“If there’s a person out there who can run a game of 500, let us know!”
Mr Boyd says members of the community can make a huge difference to someone’s day simply by visiting for a chat.
“It can be just talking and reminiscing, or reading a book out loud to a resident,” he said.
Programs delivered by diversional and recreational officers at McDonald Residential Aged Care go some way towards making the lives of residents better and more fulfilling.
Currently, for example, residents are preparing art and craft entries for the Oakey Show.
But not every individual social need and desire can be met through these programs.
“We know that loneliness is one of the highest risk factors for poorer mental health outcomes,” Mr Boyd said.
“Outside visits and connection meet needs.”
Residents such as Mick Haddy and Betty Arlott are some of the colourful characters you’ll get to meet if you visit.
Mick was once a guitar player before a stroke set him back. These days he plays the kazoo.
Betty is great fun and always up for a chat.
Volunteering not only benefits the residents, but has great outcomes for volunteers too.
A 2007 study led by Arthur Brooks of Syracuse University showed that givers were 42 per cent more likely than non-givers to say they were “very happy”.
USYD Lecturer in Psychological Statistics Dr Rebecca Pinkus says: “Volunteering keeps you in a positive mood and can help lift you out of a negative mood.”
Want to know where to get started at McDonald?
Give Matt a call on 4691 4802 or chat to the diversional and recreational officers Kanomi Chou, Jamie Wright, and Chloe Cherry by emailing oakeylifestyle@health.qld.gov.au
