As households collect throughout Higher Boston this vacation season —sharing meals, laughter, and dialog — hundreds of older adults will spend the season alone. For a lot of, days move and not using a go to, a cellphone name, or a pleasant voice. This isn’t only a matter of loneliness; it’s a matter of public well being.
In his 2023 Advisory on the Therapeutic Results of Social Connection and Neighborhood, U.S. Surgeon Basic Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a transparent warning: isolation and disconnection are as dangerous to our well being as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The proof is simple — when persons are reduce off from group, their threat of coronary heart illness, dementia, melancholy, and untimely dying rises dramatically.
That’s why organizations like FriendshipWorks and the YMCA of Higher Boston are working collectively to make connection a citywide precedence. Throughout neighborhoods — from Jamaica Plain to Roxbury to Dorchester and past — we see how friendship can rework lives. The YMCA of Higher Boston has constructed a coalition to double down on invitation, entry, and connection in inter-generational areas for tens of hundreds of households and people in our “See You on the Y” marketing campaign. The YMCA additionally made a current determination to make sure it has areas open day by day of the 12 months figuring out that it might be a spot of refuge, routine, and connection even on holidays for a lot of with out household or locations to go.
FriendshipWorks and the YMCA run applications that interact older adults, create human connection, and activate volunteers to type significant relationships. We all know {that a} weekly go to from a volunteer, a shared stroll, a bunch train class, or a easy dialog over a board recreation can flip isolation into belonging. We’re dedicated to not solely present impactful applications and providers however to catalyze a motion that empowers communities with the instruments, sources, and assist to deal with this vital subject.
Boston has lengthy been a metropolis of innovation and compassion. We additionally know that we might want to enhance our efforts as a result of in keeping with a Metropolis of Boston research by the Age Sturdy Fee, the inhabitants 60 and older in Boston grew by 61% from 2000 to 2025, reaching 18.1% of the town’s inhabitants. We consider Boston can proceed to be a mannequin metropolis for wholesome ageing via intentional and considerate connection — a spot the place neighbors look out for and assist each other, the place group is a part of our well being and civic infrastructure, and the place everybody, no matter age, feels seen and valued.
This vacation season and into the brand new 12 months, we invite all Bostonians to make connections with older adults as our shared decision. All of us could make a optimistic distinction in somebody’s life and intergenerational relationships provide a singular richness. You’ll be able to:
Volunteer with applications that join neighbors of all ages.
Test in on an older neighbor — a knock on the door, a pleasant dialog, or a serving to hand can imply the world to them.
Become involved with organizations that foster friendship and social inclusion for all ages.
Study how one can transfer the dialog from “Social isolation is simply what occurs to older adults in our society” to “Social isolation is one thing we will stop – collectively.”
Fostering connections shouldn’t be a charitable objective — it’s a public well being necessity and a social justice subject. Collectively, we will be certain that older adults have the chance to thrive of their group and contribute to our civic life. As a result of connection isn’t solely a present for the vacations — it’s the muse of a wholesome, caring, thriving metropolis.
Kyle Robidoux is the Government Director of FriendshipWorks and lives in Roxbury.
David Shapiro is the Chief Government Officer of the YMCA of Higher Boston and lives in Jamaica Plain.
