CommunityBot – Creating real-world moments through digital bridges.

Background:

Over 30% of adults aged 65+ in Switzerland report feeling lonely - especially the oldest old in retirement homes. Traditional interventions often fall short in addressing social isolation. Digital solutions like chatbots offer new possibilities but are typically limited to one-on-one interactions. CommunityBot addresses this research gap by actively fostering communities and peer connections. It focuses on the oldest old with low digital literacy to reduce social and digital exclusion and promote healthy aging.

Methods:

The pilot study follows a user-centered, interdisciplinary approach.Qualitative interviews in two retirement homes and a focus group in a third one assess older adults’ and activation specialists’ needs and expectations. Based on the findings a first prototype is developed to identify interests of older adults. During testing, the interaction with the app (voice-based AI chatbot and touch interface) will be examined together with older adults, along with exploring the barriers and challenges that may affect the use of this prototype. The study evaluates technical feasibility, user acceptance, and interaction design.

Results:

The preliminary study provides valuable findings and practical insights into how digital interactions can contribute to social connectedness. Residents and activation specialists find it useful to have a solution that initiates new social connections based on shared interests within and between retirement and nursing homes. Self-organized activities could complement the range of activities on offer and cover a broader spectrum of interests, even before residents move into the home. The human factor was emphasized as a motivator for participation in activities. The MVP prototype confirmed the technical feasibility of the voice-based chatbot and touchscreens for recording interests. The results from the testing revealed design features that promote accessibility and acceptance for very old people. A directory of shared interests and activities was created.

Impact:

The preliminary study contributes to the broader goal of promoting healthy aging by demonstrating how digital tools can enhance social connectedness without replacing human interaction, addressing loneliness among retirement home residents. The interdisciplinary approach and involving end-users closely provide actionable insights for designing an accessible solution that encourages participation and social engagement. By linking technical feasibility with human-centered design, the project models a scalable approach for fostering meaningful social connections through interest-based activities in ageing populations, building a digital bridge for social and digital inclusion.