The Golden Buddy project aims to put the buddy system to use by applying it directly for the elderly and the teenagers. It helps them by giving them a buddy they can open up to, so that they don’t feel lonely and are better equipped to work under difficult circumstances. The fundamental premise of the Golden Buddy project is that these engagements with children and young adults would over time help in alleviating the daily monotony and loneliness in the lives of seniors.
A program to address the issue of loneliness and mental health amongst the elderly..
The situation today is bad.
Lonely seniors have a 00 % higher risk of mental decline
00 % of them feel their loneliness is "out of control"
00 % of seniors living in residential care struggle with mental illness
Seniors who are lonely have 00 % higher risk of dementia
A depressive state in which the affected individuals may have an unpleasant experience due to lack of social interaction and networks
Leads to higher instances of impaired cognitive functions, dementia, Alzheimer disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases
Project Golden Buddy aims to reduce the negative effects of loneliness and mental health issues among our senior citizens by incorporating the buddy system. Our system gives elderly people a ‘Buddy’-- a role played by our teenage volunteers--to talk and open up to, so that they feel they have somebody to talk to and still have a voice in society. The fundamental premise of the Golden Buddy project is that these engagements with children and young adults would over time help in alleviating the daily monotony and loneliness in the lives of seniors.
To alleviate loneliness and related mental health issues of senior citizens & teenagers by increased mutual interaction through volunteer community based intervention centered around their symbiotic relationship.
Our mission is to expand the Golden Buddy Program to cover over 30 senior care homes in India by the year 2025, with volunteers from government & private school and colleges joining the movement.
We identified the states with the highest rates of depression as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi and therefore work mostly with Old age homes in them.
Our project identifies and enroles volunteers in the age bracket of 14 to 20 years. These volunteers are motivated to spend an hour each week dedicated to this program.
We have a panel of acclaimed psychologists aiding us in training the volunteers and ensuring the mental health of both parties in their interactions.