Virtual Connections, Real Smiles – Support Seniors Today!

Loneliness is one of the greatest risks in old age – even in nursing homes. According to our accompanying study, 45% of residents no longer have contact with friends or family. For many, our digital volunteers are their most frequent social contacts. Since outings are often financially or physically impossible, leisure activities within the facility are all the more important.

However, there's a problem here: there's a shortage of staff in care homes, and there's a lack of capacity for varied leisure activities. Volunteers could help, but they are hard to find. Only about 40% of Germans volunteer – often due to lack of time or other commitments.

Our solution: Virtual events in elderly care (=ViVerA)

With ViVerA, we bring digital events to nursing homes – for more social encounters, mental stimulation, and shared experiences.

Why digital? 
Fixed times, long travel distances, and uncertainties make it difficult for many volunteers to engage. Digital formats offer flexible and low-threshold participation opportunities, enabling our project nationwide. Thus far, we've recruited over 850 digital volunteers for elderly care.

Diverse offerings: From in-house quizzes and discussions to bingo afternoons and memory training – our programs playfully promote mental fitness and bring joy to everyday life. Cross-facility events like the Quiz Olympics, movement activities with music, or the digital ladies' get-together strengthen community bonds. In group singing sessions or at the Schlager café, seniors enjoy familiar music and reminisce about the past. What could be more beautiful than seeing a smile on the face of an elderly lady hearing her favorite song from her youth after years?

Our volunteers join as moderators via video call projected on screens or TVs during leisure activities or assist in preparing content. Thus, our digital offerings enrich the daily lives of seniors in the current 57 facilities, promote social participation, and counteract loneliness. At the same time, they relieve the nursing staff, allowing them to focus more intensively on individual residents during volunteer activities.

There are currently no financial resources available in our association or in the facilities for funding volunteer reimbursements, cross-facility events, or providing technical equipment to participating institutions.

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