Casal TV, virtual social centre for older people through interactive television

Ben Schmidt on 7 January 2026

A remote, television-based community service to reduce loneliness and promote well-being among older adults

Casal TV is an inclusive digital service designed to bring community engagement, structured activities and social interaction into the homes of older adults, particularly those experiencing isolation or mobility limitations. The project uses everyday technology, a television connected with a simple device, to create a virtual “social centre” that older participants can access easily without requiring advanced technological skills or a computer.

Through Casal TV, users can take part in live daily sessions that mirror the range of activities offered in traditional day centres. These sessions are facilitated by professionals in socio-cultural animation and psychology and include physical exercise classes such as yoga, tai chi and stretching, cognitive stimulation workshops, memory and game sessions, creative and cultural programmes (music, theatre, arts), and social celebration events that invite participation and mutual engagement.

The core objective of Casal TV is to improve the physical, emotional and cognitive health of older adults while combating unwanted loneliness. The platform places special emphasis on accessibility: an intuitive setup process involving a MiniPC, webcam, and remote control transforms the television into an interactive hub where individuals connect in real time with peers and facilitators throughout the day.

Participants have reported that the service not only helps structure their daily routines but also fosters meaningful human connection and support. Family members often indicate increased peace of mind knowing their relatives are engaging with a supportive community. Casal TV exemplifies how digital tools can be applied in the social-care ecosystem to enhance inclusion and quality of life for older people.

Characteristics of innovation

Aging, Bank of innovations, Independent living, Link with the community, Mental health, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Location

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Partners / Founders

Generalitat de Catalunya (Department of Business and Labour), economia social

Genesis

Casal TV was initiated by Suara Cooperativa as a response to the high prevalence of unwanted loneliness among older adults and the barriers many face in accessing physical community spaces, the concept originated as part of the cooperative’s innovation work to extend social care through digital means. It was developed under the framework of Singulars Projects funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya, integrating professional facilitation with accessible home technology to bring social activities directly to users’ living rooms.

Level of implementation

By 2025, Casal TV had been formally presented at international forums on social innovation and pilot data indicated that a substantial majority of participants reported feeling more accompanied and engaged after participation. Internal service reporting shows a global participant satisfaction rating of over 9 out of 10, with 97% of users feeling accompanied and actively engaged through the platform’s activities.

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Virtual Reality in Social Care: Experiential Training and Intervention

Immersive Training Platform – Embodied Labs (USA) and VIA Project (Catalonia) February 17, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open for registrations.

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A remote, television-based community service to reduce loneliness and promote well-being among older adults

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Expert by Experience, professionalization of peer-support for seniors

Ben Schmidt on 12 November 2025

A peer‐support initiative enabling older residents to receive support on mental health and substance use from trained experts by experience

This initiative by the City of Helsinki’s Senior Services and its mental health support services for older adults offers older residents facing substance use or mental health challenges the opportunity to meet with individuals who themselves have lived through similar situations and been trained as “experts by experience.” Participants can arrange between one and five individual meetings at their preferred service centre.

The aim is to provide accessible, age-appropriate peer support, enabling older adults to engage with someone of a similar generation rather than being redirected to younger peer networks or outpatient services meant for broader populations. The experts by experience also support the professional workforce by bringing lived‐experience insight into the service delivery; for example, they may accompany a client to their first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting or guide them into a peer support group.

Multiple peer support groups are being offered within the mental health support services program, one for older adults reducing or stopping substance use, one for older adults whose loved ones have substance use problems, one for depression or depressive symptoms, and one for those grieving. They also include two rehabilitative programs: a home‐based social rehabilitation service and a six‐week residential group rehabilitation module.

The experts emphasize the importance of being able to speak to someone “who’s been there,” and the initiative seeks to increase openness, reduce isolation and support recovery in later life. The program is designed to be low‐threshold, users may self‐refer, and the meetings are easy to set up. Experts receive training, supervision and remuneration. In this way, Helsinki’s Social and Health Services value the knowledge acquired through life experience alongside professional care.