Voices in Leadership | Combating Loneliness Through Peer Support

In our Season 3 premiere, Dr. Kristine Theurer, president of JAVA Group Programs, shares how her personal journey of grief inspired her to develop the first standardized peer support interventions for senior living communities. These programs, now implemented in over 2,000 communities, use structured themes and guidelines to create meaningful connections, significantly reducing loneliness and depression among participants. Dr. Theurer highlights research demonstrating increased happiness and decreased health risks for those involved and shares her vision for expanding peer support globally to combat loneliness—not just in senior living but also in schools and caregiver support networks.