Perfect Pair started in 2020 with one college student’s realization: her friends and the older adults she loved spending time with could actually help each other. Six years later, that idea has grown into a nonprofit with 26 chapters across 17 states and 630 student volunteers. The concept is simple. Match college students with older adults in assisted living facilities or private homes, then let them talk. Most pairs skip the planned activities and just enjoy the conversation.
The results are measurable. Internal surveys show older adults report feeling less lonely, and students say they feel less isolated themselves. The University of Denver chapter, founded in 2023, is one of the most active in Colorado, a state aging faster than nearly every other in the country. Matches are made through shared-interest surveys, but the real magic happens in the simple act of showing up for each other.
What makes Perfect Pair stand out is how it handles the hard parts. The organization supports students through match transitions after graduation and when an older adult passes away. That emotional weight matters, and they don’t pretend it doesn’t. Programs like this raise real questions about how we sustain intergenerational friendships through major life changes, but the upside is clear: both sides walk away less alone.
Have you ever had a friendship with someone from a different generation? What did it teach you?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.