Helping Hand: age-friendly app
About
APP PROJECT
Age-friendly and easy-to-use, the Helping Hand app have been designed by, and for, older people to encourage digital familiarity, appeal to those who enjoy online shopping, and help the older generation feel better connected.
The Nominet Trust shows older, regular Internet users feel less isolated and more in control of their lives. The Friendly Economy innovation programme, Liverpool City Council’s Adult Social Care commissioners and Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership challenged Red Ninja Studios to encourage North Liverpool's older people to become better connected to digital services.
Working with older people and a local housing provider, the Helping Hand app was developed. Due to health and mobility, home delivery via online shopping was a priority, as was simplicity of use and privacy. A shopping application was created connecting directly to a major supermarket through a user-friendly interface, including the ability to search for deals. Red Ninja also created a social calendar app, to help people to discover events in their community and get involved.
The 12 week pilot programme was evaluated by Dr Paul Hepburn from The Heseltine Institute, University of Liverpool. The ‘co-creators’ have requested social networking, online dating and chat features in future roll-outs.