Girl Scouts counter adult loneliness

Social connection is a fundamental human need. We all want to feel connected to people who care about us and to our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation was the order of the day, but as it faded, people continue to feel walled off. With as many as 33 percent of adults still reporting they feel lonely every day, Girl Scouts are reaching out to help.

Girl Scouts across New Hampshire and Vermont are taking action, visiting senior citizens, veterans and those in elder care facilities, finding that they benefit as well. Samantha Moulton leads Girl Scout Troop 65850 in Salem, NH, has her Girl Scouts regularly visit the residents at The Residence at Salem Woods.

“The girls really got a lot out of it,” she said in a recent talk she had with other Girl Scout volunteers. “It was really eye-opening for the girls to hear from people who are really looking forward to telling their experiences.”

For the Girl Scouts, Moulton says the visits build empathy and compassion; teach real-world social skills, leadership and confidence; provide community service and purpose; and allows them to learn history firsthand. Seniors often share stories from their past, making history come alive in a personal way.

For the seniors, Moulton finds that the visits reduce loneliness and isolation, boost their mood and mental health, gives them a sense of purpose when they can teach a skill or mentor younger generations, provide cognitive stimulation, and encourage them to move with light activities like crafts, dancing and simple games.

“We walk in and they’re all so excited to see us,” she said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, I was the first one on the signup this month – I wouldn’t miss it!’”

Moulton said many of these connections turn into meaningful friendships between young and old, building understanding and breaking down age-related stereotypes.

In Shaftsbury, VT, a small down outside Bennington, Girl Scouts from Troop 51726 paid a visit to 92-year-old Liz Putnam, a former Girl Scout leader and the founder of the Student Conservation Association. The visit was very meaningful to Putnam, who gave the Girl Scouts a tour of her home and shared stories of her conservation work around the U.S.

In Hudson, NH, Girl Scouts visited the residents of Fairview Senior Living, where they offered a special cookie tasting.

“The visit from Hudson Troop 12070 brought so much joy to our residents at The Inn,” said Elle Patti. “It was wonderful to see the meaningful connections formed between generations through something as simple as sharing cookies, conversation, and laughter. Visits like these truly brighten our residents’ days and help create a sense of community, connection, and belonging. We are so grateful to the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains for taking the time to spend with us.”

It’s not just these troops that makes the effort to reduce loneliness. For example:

·Girl Scouts visited the Rutland Center for Living and Rehabilitation in Vermont, doing crafts with the residents and making projects.

·For Valentine’s Day, many Girl Scouts participated in a card drive for seniors.

·In Nashua, NH, Troop 64322 of Merrimack brought some holiday joy to residents at Benchmark Senior Living at Nashua Crossings by helping them make ornaments.

·In Windham, NH, Troop 62087 visited the seniors at Warde Senior Living, helping them make crafts, distributing cards, and singing Christmas carols together.

·In Londonderry, NH, Troop 62053 visited All American Assisted Living as part of the Spirit of Caring card initiative run by the South Central New Hampshire Public Health Network, bringing smiles to many faces.

·In Tilton, NH, Girl Scout troops from Amherst spent time visiting with the residents of the New Hampshire Home for Veterans, playing games with them and sharing Girl Scout Cookies.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation supports her conclusions and encourages people to seek out opportunities to serve and support others, actively engage with people of different backgrounds and experiences, and to make time for civic engagement. Girl Scouts embraces this belief and provides opportunities for both its members and the community to connect.

The mission of Girl Scouts is to make the world a better place. You can be part of it. See more and join at www.girlscoutsgwm.org.

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We Are Girl Scouts 

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org. 

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.