Older adults from retirement homes embrace music and dancing at a nightclub to fight loneliness

To help senior citizens fight loneliness, a program in Brussels recently invited residents of retirement homes to experience the city’s nightlife firsthand.

The initiative aimed to prove that age is no barrier to fun, social connection, and feeling alive.

A night to remember for senior citizens to fight loneliness

Well past midnight on a recent weekend, the Mirano nightclub in central Brussels glowed with red lights. It pulsed with bass-heavy music infused with West African rhythms.

Though the club has been a city favorite since the 1980s, this night’s crowd looked different.

Among the usual young dancers were 16 older adults from local retirement homes, many in their 80s and 90s.

Men wore suits with pocket handkerchiefs, while women dressed in sequins, chunky necklaces, and bright makeup.

They were there as part of a Papy Booom outing. This nonprofit program helps senior citizens fight loneliness through social events and shared experiences, according to The New York Times.

“Look at the atmosphere,” said 99-year-old Guillaume Vanderweyen, attending a nightclub for the first time in 40 years. “Everyone is happy because we’re doing something different. That matters in life.”

Dancing late into the night

Mr. Vanderweyen stayed on the dance floor until after 2 a.m., moving carefully but enthusiastically to songs by Rihanna and Kizz Daniel.

Despite his age, daily exercises kept him bending and twisting without difficulty.

He was joined by fellow residents, accompanied by volunteers from Papy Booom and staff from their homes.

“We are in a nursing home, but life doesn’t stop,” he said. “It’s a new life that’s going to start.”

The night reminded everyone that life in a home need not be quiet or predictable.

The evening’s journey helps senior citizens fight loneliness

The night began at 5:30 p.m., when residents from multiple retirement homes gathered for dinner.

Many of the women spent extra time on hair and makeup, with one choosing bright blue eyeshadow for the occasion.

By 8:30 p.m., they visited a nearby restaurant for crepes for dessert.

A small dance party even broke out when a 1977 French pop song played.

At 11 p.m., the group arrived at the Mirano nightclub, escorted by two Papy Booom volunteers and six home staff members.

Inside the mirrored hallways of the club, the seniors quickly joined the dance floor.

Waiters delivered champagne with sparklers, while Papy Booom covered costs using government and private donations.

Every step of the evening was organized to help senior citizens fight loneliness and create meaningful social connections.

Breaking out of the bubble

Thérèse Troch, 85, a former yoga teacher, usually preferred classical music and quiet routines.

But she joined the night out to try something new.

“It’s the possibility of being in contact, of not just talking to old people,” she said.

She noted that daily life in retirement homes often revolves around repeated conversations about aches, pains, and health complaints.

“Because it is always the same thing. ‘Oh, my rheumatism!’ And stuff like that.”

The loud club setting posed some challenges. Several residents removed their hearing aids because the bass was too strong.

Others relied on canes or were still recovering from broken hips. Dark staircases to the bathrooms required assistance from security.

One attendee became ill after drinking too much and was taken to the hospital, though she recovered the next day.

Organizers said such incidents were rare but emphasized that safety remained a top priority.

Bridging generations while helping senior citizens fight loneliness

Initially, some young clubgoers looked surprised at the older visitors.

Laughter soon turned into shared smiles, and the two groups began dancing together.

Emily Giraud, 20, danced with Mr. Vanderweyen and said, “It creates a good atmosphere in the nightclub.”

Danielle Okoo, 24, admired their energy and wondered if she could still dance like that at their age.

Loneliness remains a global issue.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, director at the World Health Organization, says about one in four older adults feels isolated.

“We are living longer, but not healthier and not more connected,” he said. “There’s a cheap cure: It is called social connectivity.”

He praised initiatives like the nightclub trips as ways to help senior citizens fight loneliness, emphasizing the importance of keeping older adults active and socially engaged.

The power of joy and connection for seniors

Nathalie Lejeune, who works with more than 60 retirement homes, has observed the impact of nights out like these firsthand.

She said the residents feel younger, happier, and more connected after such events.

Ludovic Adrien, manager of Mirano nightclub, acknowledged the potential risks of a fast-paced dance floor but insisted that the joy it brings outweighs them.

“There’s no real age limit for knowing how to party,” he said.

Through these vibrant experiences, Brussels is finding creative ways to help senior citizens fight loneliness.

As the residents returned home in the early morning, they carried memories of lights, music, and connection—proof that social engagement and joy are timeless.

Watch how the Belgian nonprofit Papy Booom helps senior citizens fight loneliness by taking them to a fun, lively game.