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TUN:"Lancaster University Develops App To Tackle Loneliness"
- Created: 11 March 2018
Jackson Schroeder reports in The University Network that a team of researchers from Lancaster University in the UK has developed an app — the "Social Connectedness App" — that can help cure loneliness in older adults. The research to create the "Social Connectedness App" is part of the "Mobile Age" project, and was funded by Horizon 2020 EU. This project has universities, local authorities and business professionals from all across Europe working to create mobile open-data services to limit the growing loneliness epidemic in specifically South Lakeland in the UK, Bremen in Germany, Zaragoza in Spain, and Thessaloniki, Greece.
Loneliness has been on a steady rise for older individuals in Europe. The digital age has left seniors feeling increasingly incapable and disconnected with society. According to Age UK, loneliness can be as physically harmful as smoking or obesity. This raises a tremendous health concern for the 3.9 million older individuals who claim that the TV is their best friend.
"Changes in lifestyle, for example retiring, losing loved ones, poor health, as well as being a carer can affect people’s ability to take part in social events and meet others", said Niall Hayes, Professor of Information and Organization at Lancaster University and leader in the UK research.
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