Hundreds more care homes join Adopt A Grandparent during Loneliness Awareness Week

In the run-up to and throughout the awareness week, over 300 care homes joined the charity’s award-winning programme, opening the door to hundreds more residents being matched with volunteers from across the UK and beyond for regular, meaningful conversations.

This year’s theme, Meeting Loneliness Together, is about removing the stigma around loneliness - a universal feeling that affects people of all ages. For older adults in care, loneliness can be especially profound, with many having lost partners, moved away from lifelong communities, or living with dementia. Despite the outstanding support care teams provide daily, emotional isolation can still take hold.

That’s where Adopt A Grandparent steps in - not to replace the care, but to add something more: personal connection, companionship, and a weekly chat with someone who genuinely wants to listen.

“Loneliness doesn’t always announce itself; it can live quietly behind warm smiles and familiar routines, said Shaleeza Hasham, Founder and CEO of Adopt A Grandparent. "We know care homes work tirelessly to support their residents, but even with the best care, emotional isolation can still take root. At Adopt A Grandparent, we’re helping bring something very human back into focus: the joy of being seen, heard and valued. These intergenerational friendships don’t just fill time, they restore confidence, spark joy, and remind older people that their voices still matter. The fact that so many care homes are embracing this kind of connection not as an add-on, but as essential, is where real and lasting change begins. We are grateful to carehome.co.uk for helping us raise this awareness.”

The health stakes are also high. Research from the Campaign to End Loneliness shows that 60% of care home residents receive no visitors. The World Health Organisation has linked loneliness to a 25% higher risk of early death, 50% increased risk of dementia, and a 30% rise in heart disease and strokes.

Through short weekly phone or video calls, Adopt A Grandparent matches residents with volunteers based on shared interests, language or culture - with powerful results.

At The White House Nursing Home in Surrey, Chris - a quiet book-lover who rarely joined group activities - was paired with Georgia, a volunteer who shared his love of reading, classic cars and curry. Their conversations quickly became the highlight of his week, with team members noting a clear uplift in his engagement.

At CHD Living’s Surbiton Care Home, Gay, a resident living with dementia, blossomed after being paired with Jenny. Previously withdrawn, Gay began recognising Jenny after just a few calls and now smiles and chats during their weekly sessions. And for Jin, a Korean-speaking resident at the same home, being matched with a volunteer from LA who spoke his language helped him reconnect with his own identity and feel seen again.

The partnership with carehome.co.uk played a vital role in spreading the word.

Andrew Bennett, Marketing Manager at carehome.co.uk, said: “Feelings of isolation can impact care home residents even when receiving exceptional levels of care. The Adopt A Grandparent service directly tackles loneliness, and we wanted to help encourage care homes to register and engage their residents with volunteers. We are in the privileged position of speaking to thousands of care seekers and care homes every year, and this gave us the perfect opportunity work with the team at AAG and help raise awareness of their fantastic service.”

It’s not just residents who benefit. Many volunteers join the programme seeking connection themselves.

14-year-old, Daniel, a dedicated Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) volunteer working towards his Silver Award, joined Adopt A Grandparent with the hope of making a real difference in someone’s life. With family members living abroad, he understands the importance of connection and the impact of isolation.

Angela Martin, a Canadian volunteer living in Ontario, said: “I found Adopt a Grandparent when I was looking for an opportunity for my family to volunteer. My own grandparents were the most influential people in my life, and I wanted my children to have that same opportunity to connect with seniors, hear their perspectives, and learn from their experiences.”

If you’re a care home looking to give your residents something more, or a volunteer wanting to make a genuine difference, visit: www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk.

Loneliness is something we can all help solve, one chat at a time.