Connecting generations changes lives and communities.

The U.S. government estimates that 162,000 Americans die every year from loneliness and social isolation. That is greater than the number of Americans who die annually from lung cancer or stroke. 

More than 60% of Americans report feeling lonely. That's more than 200 million people. And in Connecticut alone, that's 2.1 million people. Those same people lack the opportunity for meaningful social interactions on a regular basis. 

Our communities have become segregated by age over the past 50 years, which has resulted in an increase in isolation and loneliness among older adults. And young adults are now feeling more lonely than older adults. 

Isolation and loneliness have been identified as key social determinants of overall health; they negatively impact the mental and physical health of people of all ages. 

Loneliness and social isolation are associated with a reduced lifespan of 15 years! That's equal to someone smoking 15 cigarettes/day - and greater than someone with obesity. Loneliness is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide. Loneliness also reduces student academic performance. And loneliness and isolation increase the risk of financial exploitation and fraud.

Social health is the dimension of our health that comes from connection and community. We are social beings. We are meant to be together, to connect with one another in positive ways that offer comfort and a sense of belonging. 

Harvard University's 90-year-study on happiness demonstrates that it is our relationships that determine how well - and how long - we live. Social health influences and interacts with our mental and physical health to determine our overall health. 

Reuniting the generations improves the mental, physical, and social health of individuals and increases community cohesion. And it changes perceptions of aging.