BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
Andrea Levitt, 82, was feeling lonely when she met Angelo Williams, 16, at a cookies-and-tea gathering in New York City. Her son and his family had moved away, leaving her days quieter than she wanted. But Angelo’s sense of humor instantly lightened her spirits.
“I remember being at the table with Angelo, and he was so funny, it completely got me out of my depression,” she says. And the best part? They discovered a shared passion for basketball, rapidly bridging the decades between them.
Angelo was likewise impressed. “We really just hit it off,” he says. Their conversations ranged in topics, covering everything from Andrea’s youth experiences meeting celebrities to Angelo’s anecdotes about his family.
Their friendship began through Dorot, a charity organization whose name translates to “generations” in Hebrew. For decades, Dorot has brought together young people and older folks, fostering partnerships that benefit both parties.
A cure for loneliness: the power of connection
Loneliness is more than just an unpleasant feeling; it is a public health issue. According to US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s 2023 advisory report, loneliness raises death risk to the same degree as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. The pandemic exacerbated this situation, making many elders even more alone.
Programs like Dorot address this issue straight on. For Andrea, they’ve filled a vacuum created by her family’s relocation. “It’s been great to get out and meet teenagers like Angelo,” she says.
However, the benefits extend beyond simple friendship. Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, highlights the importance of developing intergenerational ties in bridging societal differences.
“When you think about the way we create communities—policies, services, infrastructure—they’re often segregated by age,” says Butts. She defines this as “artificial silos” that separate generations. “Breaking those barriers is essential, especially as the U.S. demographics shift.”
Building bonds across screens and tea tables
While in-person activities such as as Dorot’s cookies-and-tea parties foster connections, technology is also helping to bridge generations.
Dana Griffin founded Eldera in 2020, a platform where older people tutor children ages 6 to 17 via weekly Zoom sessions. The initiative originated as a response to COVID-19 isolation, but it has since evolved into a meaningful opportunity for the elderly and children to interact.
Griffin shows how virtual meetups provide older people with a feeling of purpose. “They shower, they brush their hair, they get dressed up,” she says. “When they feel valuable to a kid, it often changes their whole day.”
According to Eldera’s findings, these associations can grow to be extremely significant. Many teenagers retain mentor relationships throughout college, spending an average of two hours each week consulting with their elder advisors about anything from roommates to dating.
Youth benefit greatly from having someone other than their own family to confide in. “They really need to talk about everything,” Griffin says.
Learn, share, and grow together
These partnerships are more than just ways to relieve loneliness or mentor others. There is also potential for reciprocal learning.
Angelo acknowledges that he first joined Dorot’s summer internship program expecting he’d be the one delivering assistance. Instead, he finds himself learning from Andrea and others. “You get to learn a lot about somebody else and also keep their stories with you,” he says.
Andrea agrees. “I find that I have things in common with them, and we can have some really good discussions,” she adds.
Griffin believes that these ties remind older people of their significance in a world that often underestimates them. “When a kid chews them out for being five minutes late to Zoom, they feel seen,” she jokes.
Breaking down age barriers as a team effort
Programs like Dorot and Eldera are developing new kinds of communities, challenging old concepts of age segregation.
“Older adults are more likely to be white, and younger people are more likely to be of color,” Butts observes. Connecting these groups is critical for increasing mutual understanding and investment in one another’s futures.
Andrea and Angelo’s friendship continues to grow. The two intend to go to a basketball game together soon, demonstrating how these activities foster not only friendships but also enduring memories.
A model for the future
Programs like Dorot and Eldera demonstrate that uniting generations is not just heartwarming, but also revolutionary. These partnerships help to alleviate loneliness, encourage empathy, and create spaces where wisdom and youth can coexist and thrive.
As Griffin puts it, “These relationships remind older adults of their worth and teach younger generations lessons they can carry forward. Everyone benefits.”
