On Hand – an app designed to assist older people
29th January 2019
Some of you may have already heard of On Hand; the website and mobile App giving older people a voice and platform for support. At the moment On Hand is spread across London and describes itself as ‘helping with common household tasks like shopping or even things like helping them set up their new television’ (a great way of avoiding installation fees).
Initial questions do come to mind when thinking of similar apps such as, what if my grandparents don’t have a mobile or tablet? Are the volunteers verified before registering on the App? Is there a cost? These questions can crop up with any new technology but, their website is clear and concise when addressing such questions.
My Nan is awful with technology, she still sends E-cards which look like they date back to the year 2000. But, she is trying to be abreast of technology which I do admire. However, I don’t think she’d know how to use the app. Conveniently, On Hand can also be accessed by friends and relatives to act on someone’s behalf and confirm tasks. There is no cost to using this service either.
As for volunteers who use On Hand, they have a useful security section which tells you exactly how they verify a volunteer. All those who register are subject to DBS checks and an interview with On Hand’s volunteer assessment team.
The website itself is extremely user-friendly and there is no info overload which can often be incredibly time-consuming when all you want are the cold, hard facts. The mobile app is a similar, user-friendly system. It reminds me of such apps as Borrow My Dog and Home Away with setting a profile, availability, tasks, and even a chat option so you can directly message the person you’re assisting.
As Helpforce is progressing the use of technology within the voluntary sector, I’m excited to see what this venture will bring to assisting older people in their everyday tasks. As mentioned above, it provides them with a voice which I think is very important. Particularly, in this day and age when some people are on their phones 24/7 and have time to give to something worthwhile.