Friendships forming in a pandemic and carrying on thereafter

Friendships forming in a pandemic and carrying on thereafter
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No matter your age, making friends is never easy, but as you get older, it can become even more challenging. Loneliness is a common experience at different stages of life; a recent survey of 20,000 Americans found that nearly half of them (47%) are suffering from feelings of loneliness. However, not all age groups experience loneliness in the same way.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine surveyed 340 people aged 27-101 and found that severe loneliness occurred during three distinct age periods: the late-20s, mid-50s, and late-80s.

How GetSetUp Helps Combat Loneliness

While loneliness has increased during social isolation across all age brackets, many people have discovered a new world of virtual friendships through platforms like GetSetUp. These friendships, which often start online, are carrying over into real life, offering significant benefits for health and wellbeing. The National Institute of Health’s research on Friendship in Later Life emphasized the importance of maintaining friendships for improving overall health, especially in older age.

“The likelihood of older adults continuing to enjoy and benefit from interactions with friends, combined with the potential for social isolation in old age, suggests the importance of investigating friendship in creative new ways to advance understanding of friendship structure, processes, and phases along with their implications for health and well-being.”

Real-Life Friendship Stories from GetSetUp Learners

Rose B. and Mary Ellen Z. Met to Walk and Bird Watch


“Mary Ellen and I met on Norman's Good Morning America session. This weekday morning video call is similar to morning shows on television, but the great part is that we are not watching celebrities, we are talking to each other! Everyone gets the opportunity to discuss their weekend, their day, their plans, etc. On one call I mentioned attending a bird-watching event at McGinnis Slough on the outskirts of Chicago. We had seen eagles, hawks, herons, pelicans, and osprey, among other shorebirds. Mary Ellen was amazed to hear that it was near her house. We saw each other a few more times on Norman's call and then exchanged email addresses via chat. We then started communicating and made arrangements to meet on a nature walk at Oak Forest Heritage Preserve, another trail not too far from either of us. Mary Ellen is a natural storyteller and we had a great time. It was a delight for us to meet each other, and a friendship was born!”

Joanne and Frank K. Meet GetSetUp Guide Russ for a Coffee

“Frank and I participated in Russ’s program on the Camino De Santiago walk. We had visited the Cathedral on one of our trips to Spain and chatted with Russ about our experience. We were traveling south... and mentioned that we would be in his territory. Russ suggested we meet at a local coffee shop, which we did. Our visit was terrific and cemented the fact that Russ was as delightful in person as in his broadcast. He is a top-notch guy. We are thankful to GetSetUp for the opportunity to connect with like-minded travelers."

Remote Co-workers and Friends Norman Reiss and Liz Miller Meet in NYC

“My co-worker Liz and I live in different parts of the world, Liz in Brazil and me in New York. But after nearly a year of working together, we’ve gotten to know each other by the many online meetings that we’ve attended—and sometimes led—together. When Liz recently planned a trip to several states in the US, one of her stops was in midtown Manhattan—an easy train ride away from where I live. So we arranged to meet for a rare opportunity to socialize in person over dinner. It was the first time I met anyone from GetSetUp on anything other than a computer or phone screen. Liz looked a bit different than online, but we quickly recognized our voices and spent a wonderful few hours together.”

Join the GetSetUp Community

Many older adults are turning to technology to stay connected to friends and make new ones. GetSetUp celebrates the friendships that have formed thanks to its lifelong learning platform. Join the community to meet like-minded people, share knowledge on topics that interest you, and maybe even find a new friend.