Volunteer befriending to tackle loneliness in Luxembourg

A visit to look forward to in the afternoon. The pleasure of setting out two cups, sharing a memory, chatting about life’s big and small things. For an older person who often spends their days alone, these moments can become cherished appointments. A conversation, a walk or a game of cards opens a window onto the outside world and brings the joy of spending time together. In Luxembourg, the number of people aged 65 and over rose by 32% between 2011 and 2021. In 2021, almost a quarter of them (23.6%) lived alone.  Living alone does not necessarily mean feeling lonely. But when loved ones pass away or getting about becomes difficult, opportunities for contact can become fewer. Loneliness can also be felt in a care home or in hospital, even when surrounded by others. 

It is in response to this societal challenge that the Agence du Bénévolat aims to develop volunteer befriending: giving time to someone, listening to them and sharing moments around common interests. These relationships can grow through one-to-one visits, but also through singing, a creative workshop or an outing.

Confirmed interest among care homes and support services
Almost 73% of the organisations that responded to the survey carried out by the Agence du Bénévolat between April and July 2026 wish to develop volunteer befriending or are considering doing so. Almost 76% of the residential care facilities for older people contacted in Luxembourg took part in the survey. This interest provides a strong foundation for developing new initiatives and strengthening existing ones.

The Agence du Bénévolat helps organisations take action 
How can volunteer visits be organised in a care home, or regular contact be developed in partnership with a home care service? The Agence du Bénévolat helps organisations design a project tailored to the people they support and to the way they work. It advises them on defining volunteer roles, recruiting volunteers, notably via benevolat.lu, preparing to welcome them and supporting them along the way. ‘Taking the time to listen to someone, getting to know them and coming back to see them again: that is how a human relationship is built. With volunteer befriending, we want to enable more people to experience these encounters.’ explains Anne Hoffmann, Director of the Agence du Bénévolat. Volunteers complement the work of professional teams, without replacing their duties or the care they provide.

And you? Do you have time to share and a smile to offer? 
A conversation, a walk, a shared passion: volunteering means sharing moments that can matter to the other person as much as to yourself. The Agence du Bénévolat provides information to people who wish to get involved and advises organisations that would like to welcome volunteers. People who would like to receive visits, or their relatives, can also contact the Agence du Bénévolat to be directed towards suitable initiatives, depending on what is available locally.

Press contact and information
Anne Hoffmann, Director, Agence du Bénévolat asbl
Email: anne.hoffmann@benevolat.lu, telephone: +352 26 12 10, benevolat.lu
On request, the Agence du Bénévolat can arrange interviews with volunteers, people who receive visits or managers of host organisations, giving a voice to those who experience these encounters and can describe the difference they make to their daily lives.

About the Agence du Bénévolat a.s.b.l. 
Since 2002, the Agence du Bénévolat has been dedicated to promoting and valuing volunteer engagement in all its forms. It represents and supports the various fields of volunteer work, acting as an intermediary between volunteer helpers, associations and public institutions. It facilitates the development of innovative social initiatives that open the door to new forms of engagement adapted to societal developments. More information on benevolat.lu