Germany: Single seniors seek connection amid winter chill

DW (English)

Can a simple meet-up spark friendship—and even love—at any stage of life? In Lübben, Germany, single older adults are stepping out of their homes to build new connections and share moments of joy.

Transcript

00:00Can friendship and maybe something more bloom at any age?

00:03In Lubben in Germany, older people are braving the chilly weather to find out.

00:08Why did I come here? To get away from loneliness.

00:12At home you only have four walls and here you're among people for once.

00:16This is Lubben's Older Singles Meetup,

00:19a monthly gathering started by Frank Grimm to help

00:23older people on their own break the cycle of loneliness.

00:28In Germany, more than one in five older people say they often feel lonely.

00:34When a life partner has died, many older people stay at home.

00:38We want to offer them a day where they can sit, chat and forget about everyday life.

00:4535 people came today, most of them women, much to Norbert's delight.

00:51For some, the main goal is not to find love, but community.

00:55We just want to have a cosy get-together and a chat,

00:59and if men were sitting here with us and laughing along, that wouldn't be a problem.

01:03But we're fine without that, too.

01:09No one has to walk out of there hand in hand.

01:12If you're just here for a chat, a piece of cake and a coffee, super, that's great.

01:15I'm happy and they're happy.

01:18For those still hoping for a match, there's always next time.

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