- Rick Grossman, 70, has struggled with loneliness most of his life.
- That changed when he joined a “senior village” that connected him with virtual and in-person resources.
- He wants to build lasting friendships and bring more focus to loneliness in the elderly.
Rick Grossman, 70, thought it was ridiculous that at the beginning of the pandemic he kept receiving emails advising him not to quarantine.
“I thought this was about as helpful as saying, 'Don't grow a tail,'” Grossman told Business Insider. “This is advice, but there is no further substantiation.”
Mr. Grossman described himself as a “12-second activist” who had held jobs as a school teacher, computer technology support, corporate sales, corporate communications and toy store owner. And those employment opportunities took him to Pennsylvania, Texas. California, New Jersey, and Seattle, where I currently live.
Moving around made it difficult for him to maintain relationships. Grossman also said that growing up as a gay man on the autism spectrum made it difficult for him to find a community in which he felt like he belonged.
“A lot of gay people my age have big problems with their families as they grow up, and either their families kick them out or they don't accept them or they completely separate from them,” Grossman said. “Things will change in the future, but there are many single people in the LGBTQIA community who don't have the support and friendships they need.”
That all changed about three years ago. Grossman was having trouble finding friends in Seattle and tried joining groups to meet new people, but nothing seemed to stick. But when someone mentioned Seattle's “Senior Village” to him, he decided to give it a try. Since then, he has found a community and developed close friendships.
Senior Village is part of a national network of community-based nonprofit organizations that connect older adults with others in their communities through resources and activities. There are more than 400 senior villages in the United States, and as opposed to retirement communities, these villages allow seniors to live in a location of their choice while taking advantage of the virtual and in-person resources the village provides. It is unique in that it is accessible. I'll make an offer.
“All of a sudden, there were so many opportunities and activities where I could be with people that I trusted, people that knew me and cared about me,” Grossman said. “And if I signed up for something and I didn't go, someone would call me and say, 'What happened?'
Grants, donations and dues fund senior villages, and village members can pay between $150 and $425 a year, depending on their circumstances. their Level of involvement. For Grossman, the cost is worth it.
“There were a lot of times when I was just home alone, but now I do some of the things I used to do, like go to the movies and go out to dinner,” Grossman said. “It's like family.”
“We need to be more considerate of others.”
Loneliness has hit Americans of all ages, especially in recent years. In May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the problem an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” that, if left unaddressed, can negatively impact a person's physical and mental health. Ta.
Among Generation Z, Older people spend money on various activities to meet new people and develop friendships, but older people There tends to be fewer options. A national poll on healthy aging conducted by the University of Michigan in January found that one in three adults between the ages of 50 and 80 said they felt isolated.
Grossman said we need to talk more about this.
“When COVID-19 hit and everyone was isolated, I became more aware that something really needed to be done,” he said.
“What if I fall here and get hurt? No one will know, and how long will it take? And what if I go shopping for sale items and get too many at the supermarket? 'If I do that, I'll be able to share that with people,' Grossman continued. “All of this made me realize that being single can be very lonely.”
Senior villages are one way seniors can get involved in the community and meet others. The Village to Village Network has resources where interested people can search for villages in their area to join.
Other seniors are also working on innovative ways to build connections later in life. BI previously spoke to Joe Ramey, a 75-year-old retiree. He began holding regular meetings at the senior center. People can sit in a room and talk to each other for free.
Mr Grossman said he hoped the government would take further steps to tackle the loneliness epidemic and pay more attention to the challenges faced by older people.
“This is a matter of being human, and we need to be more considerate of others,” Grossman said. “You can't simply abandon people just because they're old.”
Have you found the solution to loneliness? To contact this reporter, please contact: [email protected].
Editor's note: February 5, 2024 — A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the source of funding for senior villages. They are supported by gAbusive language, donations, membership fees.
