The UK Space Agency has called for public sector bodies to adopt the Care View ‘loneliness app’ to support people experiencing social isolation during the Covid-19 lockdown.
It said the satellite enabled smartphone app can be used by staff including police officers and postal workers, along with volunteers, to identify people who may be suffering problems from the loneliness enforced during the pandemic.
Care View was developed in 2015 by the public health team at Leeds City Council and Urban Sustainable Development Lab, with funding from the European Space Agency’s Research in Telecommunications Systems programme.
It was deployed by Leeds the following year and has since by piloted by public health and adult social care teams at Bury and Wakefield Councils, with other users including police community support officers and fire and rescue services.
The UK Space Agency said it has now received interest from other councils, is beginning to organise a series of pilots, and has encouraged other authorities to register an interest through the Care View website.
Seven reasons
Users choose from a list of seven reasons why they entered, which include signs of neglect outside a person’s home. The buttons can be customised for different areas to take cultural factors into account.
This uses Global Navigation Satellite System data to generate a heat spot on a web map of the area, and if there are multiple taps it can pinpoint streets and homes where someone might be in need of assistance.
Local authorities or charities can follow up by leafleting the homes or paying visits and creating referrals to the NHS or social care teams.
The Space Agency said this increases the likelihood of finding people in urgent need and helps prevent many people’s issues from becoming more acute. The app does not retain any personal data.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “Addressing loneliness in our communities is an issue that is particularly close to my heart and this pioneering satellite enabled app will tap into the goodwill of our heroic frontline workers and volunteers so that they can identify and help those most in need of support through the pandemic and for years to come.”
Front image from iStock, Kieferpix
Text image from iStock, Simonhia
