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Bridging the
Generational Gap
Fighting loneliness by fostering connections between
seniors and students
By ZACHARY AYOTTE Illustration NICK ROSS
DURING THE EARLY days of the COVID-19 pandemic,
when it became clear that senior citizens were especially
vulnerable to the virus, a secondary crisis was also rearing
its head: loneliness. The lockdowns imposed to help
protect at-risk communities from the virus also separated
seniors from visitors and loved ones. To many who were
paying heightened attention during COVID, the isolation
seniors were facing was a phenomenon brought on by
pandemic-era conditions. But for Debbie Sinclair, senior
isolation was not news.
Sinclair is the Executive Director of Linking Generations,
a charitable organization that has been working to lessen
senior isolation by creating opportunities for youth and
seniors to spend time together and become friends.
Established in 2004 by Carol Parsons, Linking
Generations began as a small not-for-profit that ran
programs pairing seniors with junior high and
high school-aged kids who share common
interests or life experiences. The students were
welcomed into senior facilities where they met
with their seniors for structured visits. “Every
visit there’s a planned activity,” Sinclair says.
“One visit will be led by the senior. One will be
led by the students.” From there, relationships
begin to form.
Sinclair started volunteering with Linking
Generations after retirement, when she
discovered that retired life wasn’t for her. A
few years later, when Parsons was ready to
retire, Sinclair looked at all the good work the
organization was doing and decided she needed
to keep it going. She stepped into the executive
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