Always next to me!

Diminishing loneliness and/or social isolation is our goal, mainly performing together with the elderly population. Connecting volunteers with older friends beyond physical presence, restricted by Covid 19, is our current focus!

What is the objective? To equip 50 elderly people in isolation and/or loneliness, with the devices they need to maintain their positive relationship with the social network of Associação Coração Amarelo, through video calls. For what? Enhance the mobilization of  affective tone, skills and experience of volunteers, throught digital resources to get together with elderly which are in the heart of what we do. Why? Because "The clearest message of the" Grant "study, which has already taken 75 years of research, is this: Good relationships keep us happy and healthy, period ... social relationships are really good for us ... loneliness kills. " - words of Robert Waldinger, referring to the results of the study he currently leads, Harvard Grant Study. How? Purchasing 50 smartphones for 50 elderly people who have neither the equipment nor the resources to recruit them.

O sorriso que decorre das relações positivas

We know that loneliness kills, and building positive relationships as bridges are the best medicine. We invite you to get involved in this action!

About the author

The Associação Coração Amarelo stands for the support of people in loneliness and/or isolation for almost 21 years, namely the older ones! Our priorities are : 

a) To create awareness within the community, public and private institutions for their responsibility in supporting people in situations of loneliness, isolation and dependency, mostly the elderly;

b)To promote and carry out, on a regular and continuous basis, activities and initiatives aimed to support people in loneliness, dependency and isolation. To be able in providing timely and adequate assistance to the elderly people linked to Coração Amarelo, considering the available resources of the Association in the event of a socio-economic restraint;

c) To promote volunteering awareness and participation;

d) To develop skills needed to accomplish our mission.

Website of Associação Coração Amarelo: https://coracaoamarelo.pt/

Budget and due dates

"Always next to me!" will be divided in 4 steps:

Stage 1 - January 2021 - acquisition of 50 smartphones for delivery to the 50 elderly, through the fund raised in which you contributed; Dissemination of information of step 1, will be delivered on the website of Associação Coração Amarelo. We want to communicate to you the progression of the initiative;

The choice of this device is related to the presentation of a good quality / price ratio (€ 169) compared to competitors and a screen size that is neither too small nor too large, allowing for a positive experience in video contact.

Stage 2 - February 2021 - devices' delivery to the elderly at a national level, involving all the operative units of Associação Coração Amarelo; The respective configuration of the equipment will be carried out; Dissemination of information of step 2, will be delivered on the website of Associação Coração Amarelo. We want to communicate to you the progression of the initiative;

Stage 3 - February-March 2021 - volunteers' training for online visitation; Implementation and monitoring of the first visits and connections between volunteers and the elderly; Dissemination of information of step 3, will be delivered on the website of Associação Coração Amarelo. We want to communicate to you the progression of the initiative;

Stage 4 - March to December 2021 - implementation of digital relationships for which, the volunteer-elderly doubles (or groups in connection) positively perceive themselves with the idea "always next to me!". Satisfaction about the new way to relate, wil be bi-monthly monitored. Dissemination of information of step 4, will be delivered on the website of Associação Coração Amarelo. We want to communicate to you the progression of the initiative;

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