The community line
Challenge
How might we create a safe space to maintain intimacy and connection with isolated elderly people?
Target users
Elderly and vulnerable individuals who need to self isolate to protect themselves.
Key insight
Elderly people already have a strong feeling of isolation from the rest of society, which is exacerbated now that they can't rely on their usual social interactions.
Though some elderly people can be tech savvy and use smartphones daily, they don't consider social media and digital interaction as a satisfying form of communication since they feel it's impersonal and lacks intimacy.
Solution: The community line
A grass-root one-to-one communication network
The community line is like popping in your local coffee shop or corner shop and having a chat.
Volunteers would provide remote social interaction with people who feel isolated in their own community/neighborhood. Volunteers would be trained and provided with empathy tools and a positive reframing framework to maximise uplifting thoughts for both their interlocutor and for themselves.
The system would leverage existing networks to recruit volunteers and users while maximising physical awareness to reach people in need in period of crisis -e.g. leaflet through letterbox or at pharmacy.
