The Companion Project is a unique, innovative, imaginative means of ensuring digitally excluded older people are socially included into a modern e-city world. It provides their shopping, monitors their care, mobility and medications, communicates with family and friends. It also screens their visitors at the front-door by means of a ready-to-use tracking system, an essential and exciting appliance for all housebound, isolated citizens. 
 
This project, a collaboration between Connecting Bristol, The Dolphin Society, Brunel University, Imperial College, Bristol City Council and Somerfield plc, initiates an entirely novel approach to a major social challenge of caring for our ageing population and one that with greater resources could be expanded through a variety of e-networks. A preliminary survey around the UK exposed a national concern to identify how to help the housebound older citizen with their shopping when their independence is becoming seriously threatened. 
 
The Companion connects Bristolians through the digital world of wireless broadband communication and has the potential to send and receive any type of information, particularly those intimidated or unable to cope with computer keyboards. Its development is still evolving but the Dolphin Society feels that this small black box should become a routine item of equipment in the home of all older people and hopes to extend the project. 
 
For more information, please contact Connecting Bristol