Even before Covid came along, national health organizations were studying the health risks that social isolation and loneliness pose for older adults. Last spring, the U.S. Surgeon General sounded the alarm that this lack of connection is epidemic.

You might think isolation and loneliness are problems faced just by folks who live far away on country roads. Your close-by older neighbor could be lonely too—and plenty of life events can impact a person’s social connections: Death of a spouse, partner, sibling or friend. Loss of the ability to drive. A change in vision or hearing. A person can begin to feel they just aren’t noticed anymore.

But there is encouraging news: Del Ray’s perfect physical infrastructure—with a welcoming main street, sidewalks, cafes and restaurants, churches, parks, a library and local schools—lends itself to social connection. More important, Del Ray is full of compassionate people who appreciate the value of multigenerational interactions.

It’s against this backdrop that At Home in Alexandria (AHA) opened its doors thirteen years ago at 3139 Mount Vernon Ave. AHA is a nonprofit elder “village” of individuals who provide social, practical and emotional support to one another. AHA has a small staff of part-time employees, more than 40 volunteers and approximately 200 “members.” Individuals pay an annual fee, then can request any number of tasks: Need a ride to the doctor or salon? Need someone to shop for groceries? How about some one-on-one tech coaching? And, many of us will need help when we eventually face the daunting task of downsizing and decluttering.

But maybe the greatest benefit of being a member of a village like AHA is having an array of social opportunities where stronger connections and friendships can blossom. One of AHA’s Del Ray members said this recently: “Two volunteers from AHA walk with me each week. We have become close and caring friends.” Many of our volunteers speak about the joy they get from getting to know our members. One AHA volunteer regularly tells us, “I learn so much from these wonderful AHA members. They have led interesting lives and they’ve seen so much in their lifetimes.”

We are all social creatures and we are meant to be in this give-and-take, interdependent body called a community. If you have a neighbor whom you think could use some extra support and interaction, tell them about At Home in Alexandria. If you have a few hours each month to spare, consider volunteering with AHA. Together, let’s kick loneliness and isolation to the curb!