Although cities are full of people, loneliness is a growing concern. In our over-connected society, it is quite ironical to observe that we have never felt so alone : in the United States, 40% of people say they are lonely, a figure that has doubled in 30 years, while in Britain, one in ten people said they have no close friends. In France, about 36% of city dwellers feel solitude.
And loneliness particularly affects the more fragile urban populations, like the unemployed or the elderly. According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, 43% of aging Americans report “feeling lonely on a regular basis”.
As loneliness represents a concerning health issue, what can be done in our cities to fight it and create more socializing and human urban places? Here are some initiatives that could recreate human links in our neighbourhoods.
Everybody will agree with that: grandmas are the best cooks ever. But if you love her home-made meals, most of the time, your grandma cooks for herself, like many other senior citizens.
To fight this situation of isolation, a group of students from Hogeschool Rotterdam created the Oma’s Pop-up, a pop-up restaurant in Rotterdam where lonesome elderly people prepare and serve typical Dutch dishes.
During one day, the elderly join a workshop with a professional chef and then prepare meals for the restaurant’s guests, who have the possibility to meet them at the end of the dinner.
With this pop-up concept, Oma’s Pop-up offers a fun day to seniors, and helps them to re-connect with the rest of society. PopUp City
A social network to fight urban isolation
Did you know that one person out of ten in France has less than 3 personal conversations in a year? The French charity “Les Petits Frères des Pauvres” made this sad commentary, and decided to use the power of social networks to fight this situation.
Voisin-Age (“neighbourhood” in English with a play on the words neighbour and age in French) is a social network that connects lonesome elderly with their neighbours. The social network prioritizes proximity, and emphasizes that registering is not volunteering: active people spend time with seniors depending on their availability.
The social network is also based on reciprocity: the seniors can also provide services to their neighbours. They may be old and need company, but they can be more helpful and efficient than you think! Voisin-Age
Playgrounds are also for seniors citizens
Playgrounds aren’t just for kids. Some countries, like China, were already aware of that, and installed senior playgrounds across the country two decades ago, following a state-mandated fitness program.
But the trend is much more recent in Western countries, especially in the United States. Adult playgrounds interest local authorities, as they provide fitness activities in public spaces, while allowing the elderly to improve their balance, flexibility and coordination, fighting against weight and the loss of autonomy due to aging.
But these playgrounds also have an obvious social function. As they bring people together in shared places, seniors are more disposed to meet others and make friends locally. These playgrounds can also be multigenerational, allowing grandparents to stay active in the park by playing with their grandchildren. Shareable
The rise of “companionship businesses” serving lonely city dwellers
When so many adults report feeling lonely, it is not surprising to observe the rise of snugglers for hire. Are you new in a city where you have no friend to talk to ? You just have to rent one to take a walk or grab a coffee.
In the past few years, many companionship businesses have appeared in the United States, with clients coming from very diverse backgrounds and ages, both men and women. For the RentAFriend company, a lot of them are business travellers tired of eating alone. Cuddle Up to Me, a “cuddlers for hire” company, receives clients who regularly confess their deepest insecurities. Cuddling becomes a form of therapy, giving physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
As it appears that cuddles on-demand are good for health, will there be a Starbucks for hugs one day? CityLab