WASHINGTON—The U.S. Surgeon General warned of an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” and a “lack of connection” last year that is harming individual and societal health. AARP’s latest research echoes that sentiment, revealing that loneliness affects a significant number of people, particularly women 60 and older, with one in three (34%) grappling with loneliness in their lives.

In response to this trend, AARP created The Ethel® Facebook community - named for AARP’s founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus – to help older women find and connect with other women. A recent survey of the members of AARP’s The Ethel Facebook community found that more than 6 in 10 (67%) say they often or sometimes feel a lack companionship or feel isolated from others. Further, eight in ten (84%) of The Ethel private Facebook group members said they found it increasingly difficult to make friends as they grow older.

Since early 2024, AARP has turned its attention to helping women 60-plus connect in-person in their local communities through its Ethel Gathering Groups program. Completely free to join and led by AARP volunteers, the groups are a vibrant network of private, moderated Facebook communities hosting local, in-person events nationwide designed exclusively for older women.

Since its launch, the program has grown organically, with an average of 700 new members per week – an unprecedented membership growth for AARP private Facebook groups.

“AARP’s Ethel Gathering Groups bring women together to defy an all-too-common story. Many participants, affectionately calling themselves ‘Ethels,’ express that they feel lonely, unappreciated, or isolated,” said Heather Nawrocki, AARP VP of Fun & Fulfillment. “They are looking to make genuine, lasting connections with other women. Almost immediately after creating the first few communities, we saw a tremendous influx of women asking AARP to extend the Ethel Gathering Groups program to their community.”  

The Ethel Gathering Groups have amassed nearly 27,000 official “Ethels” nationwide since January 2024 who have planned thousands of in-person events across 44 states. Activities include potluck dinners, hikes, coffee meetups, volunteer outings and trips to museums and community events. Together, these groups are creating a movement across the country, offering women a chance to meet face-to-face and build strong communities of support and lasting friendships.

“They are connecting with each other in real, meaningful ways,” said Shelley Emling, AARP Executive Editor of Specialized Content, and moderator of The Ethel Circle^SM Facebook Group. “They look to the Ethel Gathering Groups for community and guidance on how to navigate life’s most difficult challenges as they age. They also celebrate each other, their sisterhood, and most poignantly, express gratitude for their fellow participants. The engagement, community, and growth have been beautiful to witness.”  

In a recent survey of 1,696 The Ethel private Facebook group members, two-thirds (64%) have met up with members in their area. Almost half (47%) say that their local Ethel Gathering Groups program has brought them real-life, in-person friendships. Find more survey results about The Ethel community and the importance of social connections among older women here.

The Ethel Gathering Groups are an extension of the popular weekly newsletter The Ethel® that launched in 2020. The newsletter currently reaches more than 450,000 readers and champions the idea of older women owning their age. Read testimonials from members of Ethel Gathering Groups and learn more about your local chapter of the Ethel Gathering Groups program at aarp.org/ethels.  

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About AARP:

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.