Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: 50 thousand elderly people are already connected with the Conecta Mayor Help Center

74% of the beneficiaries called to talk, evidencing the loneliness and exclusion felt by older people and that it has worsened with the pandemic.

Once 50% percent of the commitment of the “Vamos Chilenos” campaign has been reached, there are 50 thousand beneficiaries connected to the Help and Communication Center of the Conecta Mayor Foundation who, thanks to a specially adapted cell phone and a free plan for 2 years they can also communicate with relatives, close friends and services.

“74% of the calls are to talk, verifying what the UC studies already indicated to us: 40% of the elderly perceive a lack of company, a situation that has deepened with the pandemic. With this adapted cell phone, they tell us, it is easier to communicate and many are enthusiastic about learning to use new technologies, such as WhatsApp ”, explains Eduardo Toro, executive director of the Foundation. In addition, 55% of calls to the Help and Communication Center occur at night and on weekends, where they are welcomed by 65 executives, with the necessary tools for the care and containment of older people.

“With this adapted cell phone, they tell us, it is easier to communicate and many are excited about learning to use new technologies, such as WhatsApp” – Eduardo Toro, executive director of the Fundación Conecta Mayor

Ignacio Sánchez, UC rector and president of the Conecta Mayor Foundation emphasizes the positive impacts that having direct contact with the Help Center has for older people: “Not only do we provide an easy-to-use cell phone for our beneficiaries, we trust that We are reinserting them in their community and, many times, in their own family, strengthening their support network. In addition, by having the possibility of welcoming them, listening to them and accompanying them, we are creating a permanent bond over time, to learn from them and from them, to know their deepest needs and dreams, in order to promote important changes in our culture and public policies. according to their quality of life. “

“By having the possibility of welcoming them, listening to them and accompanying them, we are creating a permanent bond over time, to learn from them and from them, to know their deepest needs and dreams, in order to promote important changes in our culture” – Ignacio Sánchez , rector