Wstecz Less loneliness
(Non-commercial) shared accommodation for lonely seniors and students
Categories
About innovation
The nature of innovation
Service
The problem that innovation answers
Due to the ageing of the population, the phenomenon of loneliness among seniors is increasing in Poland. Lonely people are up to 80% more likely to suffer from depression. The cognitive processes weaken as isolation and loneliness worsen. Dementia-like symptoms, mood and behavioral disorders may also occur. On the other hand, many students have difficulty finding accommodation where they study.
How does innovation work?
The innovation 'Less Loneliness' aims to improve the well-being and reduce the loneliness of seniors by providing them with the companionship of a young person. Seniors can share their home with a male or female student – a young, energetic and passionate person who shows interest in their fellow citizens. Spending time together, sharing experiences and talking with one another are key elements to prevent the isolation and decline in the mental and physical capacities of seniors.
As part of the innovation, we have developed procedures to verify and recruit both seniors and young people. We also established rules governing the cooperation, model agreements to formalise the relationships between the parties and to provide security for both parties. In addition, tools supporting employees of institutions working with seniors and students were introduced.
Thanks to this project, seniors, on the one hand, should not feel lonely and learn to establish close and flexible relationships with others. The students, on the other hand, will find accommodation and be able to develop an empathy towards others and a prosocial attitude.
Who is the innovation for?
Seniors living on their own and suffering from loneliness
Students in want of housing, willing to provide assistance in exchange for accommodation in the area where they chose to study
Who can implement the innovation?
Institutions and organizations supporting seniors, e.g. nursing homes, care homes
Institutions and organizations supporting students
Products resulting from testing
A project website (inactive)
A handbook ‘Recruitment and verification procedure for students’ + aids
A handbook ‘Procedure for recruitment and verification of seniors’ + aids
A handbook ‘Rules for cooperation according to the model’, including questionnaires to measure personality traits and lifestyle
Model agreements
Survey questionnaires
Results achieved as a result of testing
Seniors who tested the innovation reported a 147% increase in satisfaction.
Rating comment
Zdecydowanie pozytywna
Website
How to implement an innovation?
Who is necessary to implement innovations?
Seniors living on their own and suffering from loneliness
Students in want of housing, willing to provide assistance in exchange for accommodation in the area where they chose to study
What is necessary to implement innovations?
Handbooks describing the verification and recruitment of students and seniors
A handbook detailing the principles of cooperation according to the model
Who is behind it?
Innovator type
Informal group
An institution supporting the development of innovation
Inkubator Wielkich Jutra [2019-2023]
Video materials
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