Would You Call an Older Adult Through a Payphone?

A social experiment called “Call A Boomer” is connecting two of the loneliest age groups: younger people and older adults.

The project, created by Matter Neuroscience, explores ways to measure happiness and build tools that help create more of it.

Using a payphone placed on a busy sidewalk in Boston, pedestrians, especially college students, can pick up the phone and be instantly connected to an older adult living in a senior community in Reno, Nevada.

One participant, Maria Jaynes, 73, said the experience made her feel young at heart. After two short conversations with college students, she described the five-minute calls with two young men to be wonderful.

While the project is more anecdotal than scientific and more of a "feel good" experiment, it highlights something deeper: how powerful even small moments of connection can be.

Why This Matters

A six-year study found that more than one-third of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 report feeling lonely, and nearly as many feel socially isolated.

For some, especially those managing physical or mental health challenges, these feelings can be even more intense.

As people age, staying socially connected can become more difficult.

Physical limitations, cognitive changes, and reduced mobility can make it harder to engage the way they once did.

There are also broader societal shifts at play.

As Dr. Caitlin Coyle explains, many of the everyday spaces that once encouraged connection have slowly disappeared.

Front porches, libraries, faith communities, and neighborhood gatherings used to create natural opportunities for interaction.

Today, those social grounds are less common.

Major life transitions, such as retirement or the loss of a loved one, can further shrink social circles.

What Caregivers Can Do

1. Encourage regular connection with loved ones

Support your loved one in staying in touch with friends and family.

This could be as simple as a weekly phone call or reconnecting with someone they haven't spoken to in a while.

You can also make it more fun by encouraging them to write letters or setting up video calls so they can see familiar faces.

2. Encourage casual, everyday conversations

Not every interaction needs to be deep.

Even small moments, such as greeting a neighbor, chatting with a cashier, or talking to someone while waiting in line, can help reduce feelings of loneliness.

Research from psychologist Gillian Sandstrom shows that people tend to feel happier on days when they have more casual social interactions than usual.

3. Support activities outside the home

If possible, encourage participation in activities that naturally create opportunities for connection.

This could include volunteer groups, hobby clubs, or exercise classes.

Group activities like tai chi are especially beneficial. They offer both social interaction and physical movement.

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