Council helps launch free app for older people in South Lakeland

Liberal Democrat-run Kendal Town Council has teamed up with Lancaster University to launch a new app specifically designed to help older people in South Lakeland.

'Mobile Age' is a free and easy to use 'one-stop shop' application for your phone, computer, iPad or handheld electronic device, which provides the user with information about local events, services and volunteering opportunities, and saves the user from having to trawl through numerous websites to find things to do.

Devised by a team of experts from Lancaster University and co-designed by a group of 10 older adults from South Lakeland, the app is the result of a wider €2.9 million project involving more than 100 older adults across Europe to create apps and digital services to deal with complex social issues such as isolation, exclusion and access to services.

The UK arm of the 'Mobile Age' project, which will culminate in written policy briefs for the EU and UK government, is focused on the South Lakeland area and centres around reducing social isolation and loneliness.

Crucially, the app provides users with useful information about the weather, hours of daylight, easy to use maps showing benches, bus stops and accessible public toilets, as well as links to the relevant bus and train timetables to try and remove the barriers that often prevents older people from leaving home to participate in social events.

Residents aged 65+ years account for over a quarter (25.5%) of South Lakeland's population which is the highest proportion in the country.

Kendal Town Councillor Eamonn Hennessy said: "As a council we're absolutely delighted to be teaming up with Lancaster University to launch this new free app to South Lakeland.

"Loneliness and isolation, especially among our older residents, is one of the biggest issues facing our area so we're hoping that this app will help people feel more connected to their communities.

"The app is being updated all the time with new partners coming aboard and making their data accessible, so do download the app and tell us what you think."

Professor Niall Hayes from Lancaster University Management School led the team of researchers to develop the app. He said: "It is fantastic to see that the word is spreading about this new app which is free to use and should go some way to better connect older people with their communities.

"The app has been designed to be purposefully simple so should be easy to use, and family, friends, neighbours and carers can access it on behalf of a friend or relative to help them plan their weeks. It is designed to reduce cognitive strain by putting valuable information at the users' fingertips that would otherwise take 100 clicks to reach, or a lot of time and effort to find out in person or by telephone.

"In our new digital world, it is so important that older adults don't get left behind or excluded - and apps like Mobile Age ensure that they get the best of both worlds. The ease of access to information, but without replacing any face-to-face contact."

Posters and leaflets have been shared with councillors around the town to be displayed in key public areas like doctors surgeries, and Cllr Hennessy will be raising awareness of the app and its benefits with local residents.

The Mobile Age app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

For more information, go to http://www.kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk/partnership-initiatives/mobile-age-new-app-for-kendal-residents/