A 70-year-old who finally found a solution to a lifetime of loneliness says the friendships he's made are worth the cost

• Rick Grossman, 70, had struggled with loneliness for most of his life.
• That changed when he joined a "senior village," connecting him with virtual and in-person resources.
• He has made lasting friendships and hopes for a greater focus on loneliness among older adults.

Rick Grossman, 70, thought it was absurd that at the start of the pandemic, he kept getting emails advising him not to isolate.

"I thought that was just about as helpful as saying, 'don't grow a tail,'" Grossman told Business Insider. "It's advice without much more behind it."