Inside NYC’s anti-loneliness club: Where seniors find connection and purpose—one story at a time
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In a fast-paced city that never stops moving, it's easy to feel like you're being left behind.
For many older adults, the quiet moments can feel too quiet—until someone asks the right question.
That’s exactly what one special club in New York is doing: sparking joy, laughter, and meaning through the simple act of sharing a story.
And for its members, it’s become far more than just small talk.
Inside the Life Story Club, New Yorkers over 60 are finding friendship, laughter, and even healing—one memory at a time.
From royal wardrobe mishaps to late-night chats with a future US Secretary of State, the stories are as unforgettable as the storytellers themselves.
Launched in Brooklyn in 2019, the Life Story Club offers free, in-person and virtual storytelling sessions for older adults across all five boroughs.
Its mission is simple: to create space for seniors to share life experiences, build friendships, and fight the epidemic of loneliness.
“This social club becomes their friends, their family, their lifeline,” says Stephanie Yanes, a facilitator who leads English and Spanish-language sessions.
Gatherings can happen over Zoom or over lunch at a local diner, but each one is designed to spark a real connection.
Facilitators, many of them younger adults, guide discussions using prompts that help participants dive into their past, from youthful adventures to quiet triumphs.
Take Ragaa Mussalli, an 89-year-old member from Queens who calls in every Friday without fail.
She has a loving family but limited mobility, and says, “This keeps me alive. I wish there were two Fridays in a week.”
Among her many stories is a moment she’ll never forget—accidentally showing up to a royal dinner in the exact same dress design as Princess Margaret.
“She wanted to kill me,” Ragaa laughs. “Of course I wasn’t sorry at all. I was very happy. I was young then. I had a good figure.”
Then there’s Ina Alfattah, 76, a self-proclaimed “borderline bah-humbug” who joined on her doctor’s recommendation.
She found herself stirring up gossip in the group after revealing a teenage friendship with a young Colin Powell.
Also read: This 81-year-old waitress can barely walk, yet she can't afford to retire—her story is sparking conversations across the nation
“We weren’t an item, but we were friends,” she said of their time in the South Bronx, recalling stoop chats and military drills.
After Powell’s passing in 2021, Ina realized just how much their bond had meant to her.
“Looking back now, I would probably say that I had a crush on him, but I was suppressed back then,” she said.
“I just liked being with him.”
These stories are heartwarming, but the issue they address is serious.
National surveys show over a third of Americans aged 50 to 80 feel lonely, and loneliness increases risk for heart disease, dementia, depression, and even early death.
Experts compare its health effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Financially, it costs Medicare an estimated $6.7 billion annually due to increased healthcare use among isolated seniors.
That’s why psychologist Jennifer Wong, the club’s interim executive director, says this work is essential: “We should be creating belonging and community for older adults.”
Today, the Life Story Club includes more than 400 members in 29 clubs citywide. Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin, with more languages in the works.
For members who aren’t comfortable with technology, facilitators will call in by phone to include them.
Several times a year, members come together in person for karaoke, holiday meals, or just a simple lunch out.
Partnerships with groups like Citymeals on Wheels, the NYC Housing Authority, and doctors through the StoryRX Project help connect more seniors who need social connection.
Also read: Struggling to make friends as an adult? Discover the surprising ways 7 people built meaningful connections!
Inclusivity is a key part of the club’s mission.
There are groups specifically for LGBTQ-identifying seniors, led by queer facilitators, and culturally specific circles where members can speak in their native language.
“For Latinos, having common ground is amazing because the stories are a little different… there’s a sense of camaraderie and understanding,” says Yanes.
Internal surveys show the impact clearly:
But they all have one thing in common: they matter.
Wong says, “The community is so safe that members can tell some of the stories that might have been shameful at one point in time to talk about.”
Each story can be recorded, transcribed, and added to the Life Story Library—a digital archive where members and their families can revisit and celebrate their lives.
Read next: This 90-year-old’s amazing piano skills will change your view of old age forever
Have you ever been part of a group that made you feel truly seen? Do you have a story that’s been waiting to be told, or advice for others seeking connection? Share it with us in the comments. Because at The GrayVine, we believe every story matters—and the best ones are often still waiting to be heard.
For many older adults, the quiet moments can feel too quiet—until someone asks the right question.
That’s exactly what one special club in New York is doing: sparking joy, laughter, and meaning through the simple act of sharing a story.
And for its members, it’s become far more than just small talk.
Inside the Life Story Club, New Yorkers over 60 are finding friendship, laughter, and even healing—one memory at a time.
For many older adults, the quiet moments can feel too quiet. Image Source: Julia Vivcharyk / Unsplash
From royal wardrobe mishaps to late-night chats with a future US Secretary of State, the stories are as unforgettable as the storytellers themselves.
Launched in Brooklyn in 2019, the Life Story Club offers free, in-person and virtual storytelling sessions for older adults across all five boroughs.
Its mission is simple: to create space for seniors to share life experiences, build friendships, and fight the epidemic of loneliness.
“This social club becomes their friends, their family, their lifeline,” says Stephanie Yanes, a facilitator who leads English and Spanish-language sessions.
Gatherings can happen over Zoom or over lunch at a local diner, but each one is designed to spark a real connection.
Facilitators, many of them younger adults, guide discussions using prompts that help participants dive into their past, from youthful adventures to quiet triumphs.
Take Ragaa Mussalli, an 89-year-old member from Queens who calls in every Friday without fail.
She has a loving family but limited mobility, and says, “This keeps me alive. I wish there were two Fridays in a week.”
Among her many stories is a moment she’ll never forget—accidentally showing up to a royal dinner in the exact same dress design as Princess Margaret.
Mussalli and Princess Margaret briefly crossed paths. Image Source: History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday / YouTube
“She wanted to kill me,” Ragaa laughs. “Of course I wasn’t sorry at all. I was very happy. I was young then. I had a good figure.”
Then there’s Ina Alfattah, 76, a self-proclaimed “borderline bah-humbug” who joined on her doctor’s recommendation.
She found herself stirring up gossip in the group after revealing a teenage friendship with a young Colin Powell.
Also read: This 81-year-old waitress can barely walk, yet she can't afford to retire—her story is sparking conversations across the nation
“We weren’t an item, but we were friends,” she said of their time in the South Bronx, recalling stoop chats and military drills.
After Powell’s passing in 2021, Ina realized just how much their bond had meant to her.
“Looking back now, I would probably say that I had a crush on him, but I was suppressed back then,” she said.
“I just liked being with him.”
These stories are heartwarming, but the issue they address is serious.
National surveys show over a third of Americans aged 50 to 80 feel lonely, and loneliness increases risk for heart disease, dementia, depression, and even early death.
Experts compare its health effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Financially, it costs Medicare an estimated $6.7 billion annually due to increased healthcare use among isolated seniors.
That’s why psychologist Jennifer Wong, the club’s interim executive director, says this work is essential: “We should be creating belonging and community for older adults.”
Today, the Life Story Club includes more than 400 members in 29 clubs citywide. Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin, with more languages in the works.
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Image Source: Life Story Club / Facebook
For members who aren’t comfortable with technology, facilitators will call in by phone to include them.
Several times a year, members come together in person for karaoke, holiday meals, or just a simple lunch out.
Partnerships with groups like Citymeals on Wheels, the NYC Housing Authority, and doctors through the StoryRX Project help connect more seniors who need social connection.
Also read: Struggling to make friends as an adult? Discover the surprising ways 7 people built meaningful connections!
Inclusivity is a key part of the club’s mission.
There are groups specifically for LGBTQ-identifying seniors, led by queer facilitators, and culturally specific circles where members can speak in their native language.
“For Latinos, having common ground is amazing because the stories are a little different… there’s a sense of camaraderie and understanding,” says Yanes.
Internal surveys show the impact clearly:
- 95% of members say they feel supported
- 92% report feeling a stronger sense of community
- 93% say their mood has improved since joining
But they all have one thing in common: they matter.
Wong says, “The community is so safe that members can tell some of the stories that might have been shameful at one point in time to talk about.”
Each story can be recorded, transcribed, and added to the Life Story Library—a digital archive where members and their families can revisit and celebrate their lives.
Read next: This 90-year-old’s amazing piano skills will change your view of old age forever
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