Two years ago, Rohin Nguyen, a fifth-year health science major, made a new friend. His name is Arthur Contois and he loves hiking, classical music and speaking German. He’s also 79 years old.
Perfect Pair is a student organization that aims to combat loneliness among older adults, particularly those residing in long-term care and assisted living facilities. The Northeastern chapter, established in 2022, facilitates one-on-one intergenerational connections by matching students like Nguyen with older adults like Contois.
“At this point, it’s not even service anymore; it’s actual friends in the community. It’s not volunteering. It’s people that I now know and I care about,” said Perfect Pair Co-President Audrey Newman, a fifth-year health sciences major, who has been a member of the club since its founding.
Perfect Pair was initially founded in 2020 by Emily Lerner, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan at the time. The program, which began virtually due to the pandemic, provided older adults at high risk of contracting COVID-19 a way to form virtual social connections. Today, the organization has 26 chapters at universities across the United States.
Programs that facilitate social connections and community building are essential for combating loneliness and isolation among older adults. Approximately 50% of adults over the age of 60 are at risk of social isolation, and one in three will experience some degree of loneliness. Connecting with young people can combat this, and 80% of individuals who have participated in a program fostering intergenerational connections reported an improvement in their mood.
“Through our programming, we want to help older adults connect with things that they love or haven’t maybe had a chance to do or have previously done, without that monetary concern,” Newman said.
The organization pairs older adults with students based on shared interests, who meet weekly to go for a stroll or hang out at a cafe. It also hosts community events at assisted living facilities, which are open to students and residents.
Northeastern’s chapter of Perfect Pair currently partners with five assisted living facilities in the Boston area. Community events through Perfect Pair include karaoke, crafts, trivia and games.
“We can tell how much they appreciate us being there, just by the little things and how they always tell us how much they’re thankful for us,” said Perfect Pair Co-President Christine Shin, a third-year biology major.
Many students in the organization are on a pre-medical school track and discover an interest in geriatric medicine through working with Perfect Pair.
“For us, it’s a break from school and kind of a step back from why we want to go into medicine, and how much of an effect these little community events that don’t really take too much time out of our lives really make a difference for the residents,” Shin added.
Perfect Pair is unique among intergenerational programs in that participants complete an application indicating their interests and background to be placed with a compatible pair. Nguyen, who serves as the fundraising chair for the club, has been matched with Contois, a resident at Susan Bailis Assisted Living Center, for the past two years.
“Knowing Arthur, in particular, has definitely allowed me to explore Boston more deeply since Arthur’s a longtime Massachusetts resident,” Nguyen said.
Cantois is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, having grown up in Canton, a town 20 miles outside of Boston, and loves hiking, which he and Nguyen often do together.
“It makes my life quite a bit more pleasant,” Cantois said. “I enjoy it very much.”
In May, Cantois and Nguyen were recipients of the Mary Grannan Award. Named after one of Perfect Pair’s first residents, this yearly award honors one pair with a meaningful connection across all national chapters and acknowledges their commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of one another.
“Mary, one of Perfect Pairs’ first match participants and longtime board adviser, exemplified wisdom, joy and a deep commitment to intergenerational connections,” Nguyen said. “Receiving an award in her name reinforced what Arthur has already taught me: Patient-centered care begins not with a diagnosis, but with authentic human connection.”
Aside from the event programming, the club also hosts tech cafes where volunteers can assist older adults with using technology. In club meetings, Perfect Pair also works with organizations like Letters Against Isolation to combat isolation in older adults worldwide.
“I think that as college students, we can get very hyper-focused on our immediate surroundings and our immediate goals. But when you’re connecting with the larger community, […] it helps put your life in perspective, and it puts you at ease, almost, that we’re really not all that different.” Newman said. “We share so many more similarities than differences.”
