Loneliness affects mental and physical health; it reduces social cohesion and weakens community trust. Loneliness should be considered both for its individual as well as societal consequences.
There are ways to tackle social isolation and solitude. One of it is the solidarity between people of different generations.
Networks of families have the availability to gather people from different households and different generations, who can help those in need or who struggle to connect with resourceful persons.
Family networks are places where experience-sharing and emotional support can give stronger resources to families facing difficulties. Stronger families make stronger communities, which makes stronger society. As FAFCE Board resolution mentionned “family networks are agents of change » and “family is the antidote to loneliness”. We have to mention the Commission’s Communication on Mental Health from 2023, in the view of the link between loneliness and mental health.

Furthermore, the pivotal role of elderly within families and as grandparents must be recognised. Grandparents are key in the knowledge transfer to youth, especially in soft skills such as communication and critical thinking. Many of us have received many soft skills and life lessons from grandparents.
Finally, grandparents have a crucial role in allowing parents to remain committed to work life.

FAFCE is the European Federation of Catholic Family Associations.