Project to combat loneliness among older people

Madrid te Acompaña is a mobile application that allows people over the age of 65 registered in the city of Madrid to request accompaniment for different activities.

The project has the collaboration of Voluntarios por Madrid, a programme promoted by the City Council in which people from the city offer their support and help. Through this application, individuals over 65 that require some kind of assistance can contact volunteers to help them with daily tasks, such as going shopping, going for a walk, accompanying them to a medical appointment, and assisting with various administrative tasks.

The City Council coordinates the application and allows the network of volunteers to receive and manage requests in an automated way. Volunteers can classify services according to the needs and characteristics of the people requesting them and their area of residence. Additionally, the application includes a space where people benefiting from this support can comment on and rate the assistance received, while volunteers describe the progress of the person they are accompanying.

The use of the application is very simple and at the same time helps facilitate the digital inclusion of older adults in the city, thus addressing the generational digital divide. By fostering these connections, personalized care is provided to tackle unwanted loneliness and improve the quality of life for people over 65 in the city.