An elderly woman who participated in the Sempre Acompanhados program stated that she was always cooped up at home and was already losing the ability to speak, highlighting the effects of isolation on the elderly. This testimony illustrates the reality of many elderly people who face loneliness as a growing problem in society.
The Sempre Acompanhados program brings together elderly people with the goal of combating social isolation and promoting new friendships in old age. Over an afternoon spent with the participants, stories were shared of overcoming loneliness and the possibility of forming bonds of friendship even at an advanced age. The initiative seeks to offer companionship and socializing to people who, otherwise, would remain isolated in their homes.
