Combating Social Isolation: Evaluating the Impact of an Intergenerational Program ‘Perfect Pair’

TL;DR

A program called Perfect Pair connects college students and older adults to reduce loneliness and improve mental health through weekly meetings.

Contribution

The study evaluates the effectiveness of an intergenerational program in reducing social isolation and improving mental health for both older and younger adults.

Findings

100% of older adults felt they gained a companion, and 83.3% felt less lonely after participating in the program.

96.7% of college students learned something new and felt happier after meetings with older adults.

Both groups reported improved mental health and stronger intergenerational connections after participating in the program.

Abstract

Social isolation and loneliness are growing public health concerns that negatively impact older and younger adults. A national report found that one in four adults aged 65+ is socially isolated, while a 2023 survey revealed that 44% of college students experience depression and 37% struggle with anxiety. Perfect Pair, a national nonprofit, combats these issues by fostering intergenerational relationships between college students and older adults. Participants are paired based on shared backgrounds and interests, meeting weekly to share stories and participate in activities like language learning and painting. A retrospective survey of participants with at least 12 meeting hours demonstrated significant benefits. Among older adult respondents (N = 39), 100% felt they gained a companion/friend, 83.3% felt less lonely, 97.2% looked forward to meetings, and 81.1% felt they have closer ties to the younger generation. Additionally, 91.9% felt increased happiness after meetings and 73% reported an improvement in their mental health. Among younger adult respondents (N = 67), 96.7% learned something new from their pair, 96.7% felt an increase in happiness after meetings, 91.8% felt they better understand aging/long-term care communities, 95.1% felt they have closer ties to the older generation, and 73.4% reported an improvement in their mental health. Perfect Pair participation led to a reduction in loneliness, increased intergenerational connection, and improved mental health for both older and younger adults. Intergenerational programming like Perfect Pair demonstrates a valuable potential to combat social isolation and loneliness through building meaningful connections.