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Greece is one of the European countries most affected by demographic aging. Due to the combined effects of rising life expectancy, a low birth rate, and the aging of large cohorts, the proportion of people aged 65 and older has risen from 17% of the population in 2000 to 23% in 2024. According to projections, this figure could reach 34% by 2050, one of the highest proportions in the European Union.
Population aging is also increasingly affecting the very elderly: in 2025, people aged 80 and older will account for about 7% of the Greek population, compared with an average of 6% in the European Union. Greece is among the European countries where this proportion has increased the most over the past twenty years. Furthermore, the median age of the population will reach 47.2 years in 2025, compared to 44.9 years across the EU as a whole.
This demographic shift is leading to growing needs for support, maintaining independence, access to care, and combating social isolation among older adults, in a context where the number of very elderly people is expected to continue to rise over the coming decades.
The Prolepsis Institute of Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health was founded in 1990 by Professor Athena Linos. The Institute develops various prevention and health promotion programs for vulnerable populations.
In response to the growing challenges of loneliness and social isolation among older adults in Greece, Prolepsis partnered with Les Petits Frères des Pauvres in 2020 to develop the “Friendship at Any Age” (Φιλία σε κάθε Ηλικία) program. This program specifically aims to prevent and reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults.
The program is based primarily on fostering regular and lasting connections between volunteers and older adults. Volunteers visit the older adults they support in their homes or call them by phone, maintaining contact at least once a week. These relationships provide a regular presence, a listening ear, and moments of companionship for isolated older adults.
This one-on-one support is complemented by group gatherings, a free telephone helpline, and volunteer training, which helps volunteers better understand the needs of older adults and support them effectively.
The “Friendship at Any Age” program is the Prolepsis Institute’s flagship initiative dedicated to combating loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Volunteers are matched with older adults to build regular, lasting friendships. Support takes the form of home visits or phone calls, arranged at least once a week.
The goal is to provide older adults with regular companionship, encourage interaction, and strengthen their sense of belonging and social integration.
The Prolepsis Institute has developed a free helpline for people suffering from loneliness. In particular, it provides older adults with a safe space to talk to trained professionals.
The helpline operates Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Since its launch, it has received 15,000 calls, underscoring the importance of an easily accessible resource for people experiencing isolation.