Project Description

Just like in the rest of the country the percentage of elderly members of the community on the Loop Head Peninsula is growing. While the traditional habit of checking in on neighbours on a regular basis is still thriving on the Loop, even here the busy modern day life sometimes takes over and doesn’t allow us to take care of and connect to the ones around us as much as we wanted to.

The Loop Head Neighbourhood Care project will explore options to use modern smart technology to create an easy to use alarm system in case of injury or other medical or personal emergency for elderly members of the community, especially for the ones living alone. The project would consist of two components:

• Introduce those members of the community who are not familiar with it or those who don’t feel comfortable with it to the use of smart technology (smart phones) and communication apps.

• Research options in various apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.) to set up an easy-to-use / one-button-click emergency beacon that can be used by elderly and handicapped people that are used to this technology. It is envisage that the emergency beacon / emergency message will go out to immediate neighbours and friends when triggered.

Project Justification & Objectives

While many of the older members of the community are perfectly capable of living and enjoying life on their own the risk of injury or falling ill unexpectedly grows with age especially if other chronic health problems are already present. An easy to use emergency system that could alert neighbours and friends would not only provide some security for the elderly and for their family (who not always have the opportunity to live nearby) but would also strengthen community bonds.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Loop Head Together

• Loop Head communities

• Mobile phone services provider (Vodafone, Three, etc.)

*Potential Project Stakeholders means all stakeholders have not necessarily yet been contacted to help co-design the project, but are mentioned here as they would be a desirable project partner. We may have forgotten some - please let us know!