The Future of AgeTech: Social Fitness

Q&A with Doug Wenners, CEO Grouper

Q: Grouper’s mission is to encourage healthy living through activities that build meaningful social connections and shared experiences. You emphasize improving mental and physical health through “social fitness.” How does Grouper achieve this?

Doug: Aging adults crave connection and community, and that need intensifies as they grow older. Many life events — losing a spouse, adult children moving away, retirement, chronic illness, or disability — can significantly reduce social connections. Grouper creates a platform that helps aging adults rebuild and maintain those connections. The older people get, the more they value just the opportunity to connect.

Grouper helps aging adults rebuild and maintain those connections by facilitating group activities. These activities inherently provide both social and health benefits. Pickleball isn’t popular because of the exercise — it’s the social connection that makes it so appealing. The exercise is just a secondary benefit. Others, like bridge or mahjong, offer cognitive stimulation while fostering friendships. The key is that these activities provide a structured way for people to regularly engage with others, preventing isolation and its negative health impacts.

Q: How do you define and measure ‘social fitness,’ and why is it critical for overall health?

Doug: It’s important to distinguish between loneliness and social isolation. You can be socially active and still feel lonely. Loneliness is a subjective feeling; social isolation is an objective state. Loneliness is how someone feels; social isolation is a measurable lack of interaction with others. They are often used interchangeably, but they are different and have distinct health effects.

Research shows that social disconnection triggers biological responses, including inflammation and high blood pressure, which can contribute to serious health issues. For example, socially isolated older adults are more likely to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs), which, if unnoticed, can lead to sepsis. UTIs are one of the simplest medical issues to treat — until they aren’t. Socially isolated older adults don’t have anyone around to notice the early signs — like confusion or changes in behavior — something easily treatable can turn into sepsis in just a few days. The same applies to other health risks — social connection plays a critical role in maintaining both physical and cognitive well-being. This is why the Surgeon General has declared social isolation a public health crisis; it is one of the biggest drivers of poor health outcomes in aging adults.

Q: How does Grouper leverage technology, and what differentiates it from other solutions in the market?

Doug: Unlike many platforms that focus on reducing loneliness through individual engagement, Grouper is designed to help people get socially active in real-life settings. We’re not just helping people feel less lonely — we’re helping them get socially active in real life. Our goal is to facilitate face-to-face interactions — whether it’s through playing bridge, gardening, or joining an arts and crafts group.

We embed community-building features into our technology, helping members find and connect with others nearby. The number one reason people join Grouper is that they are actively seeking connection. We also provide access to a directory of over 27,000 organizations, from libraries to community centers, that offer social activities. This helps people find structured opportunities for engagement in their local areas. By prioritizing real-life engagement, we’re addressing the root issue, not just the symptoms of loneliness.

Q: Can you share an example of a success story where Grouper significantly improved someone’s quality of life or health outcomes?

Doug: One story that stands out is about a retired faculty member from a prestigious university. After retiring, she lost the daily interactions that had defined much of her life, leading to deep depression and even thoughts of suicide.

Through Grouper, she first engaged in virtual activities, starting with an arts and crafts group. This gave her the confidence to participate in in-person social activities, gradually rebuilding her social connections. Over time, she regained her sense of purpose, became healthier, and found joy again.

What many people don’t realize is that social skills, like muscles, need to be maintained. If you don’t use them, you lose them. We spend our early years learning to socialize and then decades practicing those skills in daily life. But after a major disruption like retirement or losing a spouse, those skills can atrophy. Just like getting back into physical shape, regaining social fitness takes effort — but it’s possible, and it can transform lives.

Q: How do you foresee the landscape evolving over the next 5–10 years regarding social fitness, aging, and Medicare? How is Grouper positioning itself for this future?

Doug: Predicting the future is always tricky, especially with shifting policies around aging and healthcare. However, one thing remains constant: the fundamental need for connection.

We focus on addressing this core need in a way that is durable, regardless of changes in Medicare or government policy. Decades ago, intergenerational living arrangements were more common, and social disconnection among older adults was less prevalent. Today, with increased mobility and economic prosperity, family structures have changed, and isolation has become a major issue. This problem isn’t going away, and our goal is to continue developing solutions that help aging adults stay socially engaged.

Q: What partnerships or collaborations are you exploring to expand the reach of Grouper’s mission?

Doug: We’re always looking to partner with organizations that provide social engagement opportunities. More recently, we’ve been exploring partnerships where we can provide clinical benefits beyond those conferred through group activities.

What we’re finding is that when people join Grouper for social connection, their engagement is strong. Because they intuitively understand the health benefits of staying socially active, they are also open to other wellness opportunities. We see potential for partnerships with healthcare providers and wellness organizations that support aging adults in maintaining both social and physical health.