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.
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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.