Fighting Older Adult Isolation, One Manicure at a Time

The nonprofit GlamourGals organization, which has a chapter at New York University (NYU), gathers student volunteers to give makeovers to residents at local senior care communities to counter social isolation, reports Washington Square News . NYU GlamourGals President Prianka Koya says her branch has about 100 students on its mailing list, and the group visits senior communities twice each month. "We aren't just like any other community service organization," adds NYU GlamourGals Vice President Rima Mazumdar. "We really focus on the idea of self-love at any age and allowing these seniors to feel pampered and heard and connected to the community, no matter the age gap." GlamourGals volunteer Jacob Swe says makeover sessions with seniors offer participants a way to give back to the community. "Here at NYU, we are so privileged," he notes. "It is valuable to me to be able to use my privilege to give back in some sort of way."