Two generations, one conversation

Program pairs students, seniors to combat social isolation and loneliness

At 78, Darlene Hunter, who put down roots and raised a family in Houston, now lives alone and no longer drives.

“I don’t get out as much as I used to,” she admitted. “I get lonely sometimes.” 

Darlene's experience reflects a growing crisis. The U.S. surgeon general declared loneliness an epidemic, with research showing that long-term social isolation in older adults increases the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and dementia by 50%.

To improve these statistics, the Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine in McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston launched Blue Book LIVE (Linking Individuals, Valued Engagement) in spring 2025, pairing Houston area seniors and students from McGovern Medical School.

“We understand the importance of social connection and, more importantly, the impact social disconnection has on older adults,” said Jason Burnett, PhD, associate professor of geriatric and palliative medicine and founder of the program.

Building bridges through conversation

The program emerged from Burnett’s observation of the mutual benefits that result when health professional students connect with older adults. As director of The Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Collaboratory and UTHealth Houston’s Social Connections Program, he recognized an opportunity to formalize these interactions.

For the program, McGovern Medical School students complete training in empathetic communication techniques and harm prevention. They then spend up to an hour each week talking with an older adult via telephone or videoconferencing, followed by reflective narrative writing about their conversations.

“What we want them to do is have a base understanding of these older adults and their plight and the things they are going through, which is different from labs or a medical chart. They need the whole picture,” Burnett explained.

Learning through listening

Second-year medical student Nicole Noto joined Blue Book LIVE as a next step from her Summer Research Program project, which involved calling homebound older adults to measure social isolation and loneliness.

“My patience, compassion, and understanding grew from this program and all the experiences I’ve had with Darlene,” she said.

The program identifies older adult participants through the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine’s existing social connection programs and direct requests. These one-on-one interactions fill a crucial gap in medical education by addressing loneliness and isolation in real-world contexts.

Noto said her interactions with Darlene taught her the value of listening. “After our calls, I would always feel more connected to my initial purpose and drive to pursue medicine. In times where I was worrying about studying or the next skills session, I felt grounded from the reminder that helping someone can be as easy as just listening.”

Transformative connections

These conversations can be life-changing, according to Burnett. “Especially when they’re going through something very difficult, they feel seen, heard, and valued, and I think that’s critical for our older adult population,” he said.

Having someone else to talk to, Darlene said, was important. “My kids don’t want to hear every little thing in my life sometime, and they were interested,” she said. “Just sharing and comparing, and the age difference just seemed to fade away, like we were friends.”

The relationship proved mutually beneficial. During her final call with Darlene, Noto shared her anxiety about her upcoming Step 1 exam, a concern that had weighed on her throughout the semester.

“I was anxious, ready to be done but not wanting my worries to bleed into our call,” Noto recalled. “When I asked her for advice, she kept it simple: Trust yourself. Knowing she was a successful student herself, I knew she understood the pressure and desire to do well. I felt less worried after our conversation and more prepared to take on the exam.”

Darlene said she enjoyed listening as well as sharing. “It was very entertaining, and I enjoyed hearing about their lives and the adventures they were going through. I remember those days,” she said.

The simple act of regular conversation created something precious for both participants. “They were a bright spot in my life,” Darlene said. “And I enjoyed it.”

Although Noto is finished with the program, and Darlene is now paired with a new student, the connection they made will last a lifetime.