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Student-Senior Friendships Combat Isolation
8 May
Summary
- Perfect Pair connects students with older adults in assisted living.
- The program aims to reduce social isolation for both age groups.
- A new grant will fund expansion to more cities and campuses.
Perfect Pair, a nonprofit initiative started in 2020, addresses social isolation by fostering friendships between college students and seniors in assisted living. The program has successfully expanded to 35 campuses across 23 states, with over 40 "pairs" actively meeting.
A new grant from the Government Employees Health Association, Inc. will significantly boost Perfect Pair's growth. This funding is earmarked for strengthening existing chapters in Ann Arbor, Boston, Columbus, Denver, and Seattle, and for establishing new chapters in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Miami, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
Student Alyssa Jaster, involved with the University of Michigan chapter, described the positive impact, noting her friendship with retiree Anita Rochefort as a weekly highlight. Jaster, who is pre-med, matches students with residents based on shared interests and backgrounds, highlighting how these cross-generational connections benefit everyone involved.
