Kuvu, intergenerational rent to fight the loneliness and precariousness of elderly people and youngsters

admin on 6 April 2021

Intergenerational cohabitation thanks to Kuvu

Platform that brings into contact people older than 55 who have a free room, with young people seeking rent at affordable prices. In this way, these elderly people earn an income and stop living alone; while young people who want to become independent and do not have the means to do so, or prefer to do so in a calm and familiar environment, can achieve it for an affordable price.

Unlike other European models, where accommodation is free for the young in exchange for care activities, the Kuvu model involves an economic transaction and places those involved in a relationship of equal conditions and responsibilities, since these are two self-employed people who simply seek company and share day-to-day. Kuvu seeks to generate cohabitation and accompanying relationships, as would two roommates. Both people may have an independent life, but share some moments of the day with the other person. There is no set number of hours for participants to spend together, because the relationship is hoped to occur naturally.

In order to ensure that coexistence will be viable, at the time of registering on the platform, a form must be filled with information about living habits, so that Kuvu can pair the people who are most compatible for living together. In addition, Kuvu makes a personal follow-up to the experiences it generates to try to make them as successful as possible.

Characteristics of innovation

Adolescence and youth, Aging, Bank of innovations, Fully inclusive cities, Independent living, Lab, Link with the community, New service, Proximity care

Location

Euskadi

Partners/Funders

Universidad del País Vasco, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Universidad de Deusto, Mondragon Team Academy, home share International, bbk, Ship2B, Open Value.

Genesis

The Kuvu model emerged in 2017 inspired in solidarity housing programs that have existed for years in different cities, involving older and university students. The creators of Kuvu, Eduardo Fierro, Jon Ander and Haize Trueba, wanted to change the model to make it scalable, introducing the variant of an affordable rent (about EUR 350 per month) that is a viable way of becoming independent for young people and putting them on an equal footing with the elderly person who rents them the room.

Level of implementation

At the beginning of 2020, there were 15 young people sharing housing with an elderly person thanks to the Kuvu platform: 13 in Bilbao and 2 in Madrid.

Further information

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SällBo, intergenerational and multicultural housing to combat loneliness

Mixed Living, residents who live with and collaborate with highly vulnerable people

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Hero Arm, an affordable bionic arm made with 3D Printing

admin on 12 March 2021

Cameron Millar with his Hero Arm inspired in Star Wars. Retrieved from Open Bionics

The most functional and affordable prosthetic arm in the market today, as it is made with 3D printing. It is designed for both adults and children with amputations below the elbow. Hero Arm is a myoelectric prosthesis that uses the muscle cues of the rest of the arm to function and have the grip function.

One of its particularities is its uniqueness, as it is designed according to the exact measurements of the person carrying it, making it very easily adaptable to each person and that each prosthesis is unique. This is possible thanks to 3D technology, which allows first to make a scanner of the limb to obtain the exact measurements of the person, and then to use 3D printing to print the prosthetic. This reduces production costs, while at the same time increasing speed, and it becomes possible to make a prosthetic arm in just one day.

Hero Arm is a robust but lightweight prosthesis, as well as comfortable and breathable, making it easier to adapt and at the same time remove it for cleaning, charging, etc. It is designed to be as intuitive as possible for the person thanks to vibrations, lights, buttons and sensors. In addition to being the most affordable prosthetic of this type in the market, it also has a number of different covers to choose from. This way each person can choose the model that is closest to their style, from simple designs to bionic arms inspired by Iron Man, making this prosthesis an empowering and functional element, especially for children.