How an App Can Help Fight Loneliness in Older People at Christmas

A study was conducted by Lancaster University to characterize U.K. seniors' loneliness and social isolation over the winter holidays and what technological solutions can help remedy it, reports The Conversation . The researchers determined older people believe meeting face-to-face is especially meaningful versus telephone and online interactions. A majority of older adults learned about social events through printed ads in public places such as libraries, through talking to people, or through the Internet. Since the information was spread across different sources and in different formats, it made finding out about social events challenging for seniors. Limitations with public transit often made social events inaccessible, and the charity Age UK South Lakeland suggested only 17 percent of their clients currently have online access. The Lancaster researchers devised an app that taps open data about events and volunteering opportunities nearby. Seniors can establish user profiles to set their preferences for events according to cost and location; they can then review transport options and routes to the event on a map featuring the location of bus stops and car parks as well as nearby toilets and benches. If they choose an event they want to attend, it is recorded in a calendar. The app also can be accessed by family, friends, or caregivers who can search and plan on their behalf; this allows for the app to be beneficial to older adults who lack Internet access.