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Germany is experiencing significant population aging. The proportion of older adults is increasing, leading to a rise in the number of very elderly people and in needs related to the loss of independence.
This demographic aging is accompanied by a major challenge of loneliness and social isolation, particularly among the very elderly. Reduced mobility, the death of a spouse or loved ones, and living far from family can gradually diminish social connections.
In this context, establishing and maintaining lasting social relationships is essential to enabling older adults to remain integrated into their communities and to preserve their quality of life.
Freunde alter Menschen e.V. is a German nonprofit organization founded in Berlin in 1991, stemming from the Little Brothers of the Poor movement. Today, it operates in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich.
The organization primarily works with isolated older adults, particularly the very elderly with limited mobility. Its goal is to combat loneliness by fostering personal, regular, and lasting relationships between older adults and volunteers.
Its approach is based primarily on visiting partnerships (Besuchspartnerschaften). The organization matches an older adult with a volunteer, taking into account their personalities and interests to foster the development of a genuine relationship. These regular meetings can take the form of conversations, walks, or simply time spent together.
The goal thus goes beyond a one-time visit: the organization seeks to foster relationships based on trust, mutual respect, and continuity.
These one-on-one connections are complemented by group gatherings and events, telephone friendships, and the intergenerational program “Generation Nachbarschaft,” which builds neighborhood networks across generations.
Visiting partnerships are at the heart of Freunde alter Menschen’s work. They are primarily aimed at people over the age of 75 who live alone, have limited mobility, and have few social connections. The organization matches each person with a volunteer, seeking a good fit between their personalities and expectations.
Meetings generally take place every two to three weeks and allow a lasting relationship to develop over time. They may take the form of a conversation at home, a walk, or an outing. The goal is to create a relationship based on mutual support and friendship, rather than simply providing companionship.
Generation Nachbarschaft is an intergenerational community program aimed at preventing isolation before it sets in. It fosters connections between neighbors of different generations and helps create neighborhoods that are better suited to an aging population.
Monthly gatherings and various activities are organized in neighborhoods so that residents can meet, develop their own initiatives, and create local support networks. The program is currently being rolled out in Hamburg and Berlin, among other cities.