"During our first small group meet-up at my local senior center, I remember asking everyone if they felt like they had anyone to talk to. When only half of the attendees raised their hands, it just broke my heart. I knew we needed to do more to foster social interactions. I was inspired to start organizing meetups at my local senior center in Seattle in 2023 after Vivek Murthy, the former Surgeon General, declared loneliness an epidemic."
"However, the group meant even more to me than that. As a retired teacher, I no longer saw people at work every day, and the social interactions I had grown to value were no longer guaranteed. My small group inspired me to help people across the country start small groups in their own communities through AARP's "Create the Good" forum."
Joe Lamy, a 77-year-old in Seattle, began holding small-group meetups at a local senior center to address widespread loneliness. He asked attendees if they had anyone to talk to and found only half did, prompting more social interaction efforts. As a retired teacher, he missed daily workplace social contact and sought belonging through regular gatherings. Meetings started with structured online question prompts and evolved into free-flowing, inclusive conversations that avoided divisive political topics. Lamy expanded the model through AARP's Create the Good forum, and community activities such as pickleball and singing helped participants form lasting social connections.
Read at Business Insider
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