Uses of Time

Radars is a community project aimed at alleviating the effects of unwanted loneliness and preventing risky situations for older people. It works together with neighbours, shops, pharmacies, volunteers, organisations and facilities, with the aim of transforming neighbourhoods into sensitive and respectful communities, where older people play an active and leading role.

The objectives of the project are to connect older people with their environment, facilitating their return to neighbourhood activities, raising awareness among the population about the problems faced by older people, and involving citizens in identifying actions that can be taken to alleviate these problems.

To do this, Radars neighbourhoods are organised through Organisation Committees where the different agents in the neighbourhood carry out an assessment of the situation (in terms of unwanted loneliness and risk among older people in the area) and define and implement the necessary actions to reduce the problems detected.

These actions include both activities aimed at older people and awareness-raising and dissemination activities aimed at increasing the care that communities provide for older people in their environment.

During 2024, 185 Entity Roundtable meetings were held, a total of 2,487 older people were assisted, and 267 activities were carried out to connect older people with their environment. Sixty-eight outreach and awareness-raising actions were also carried out to expand the project's reach.

Another of the main actions to achieve the objectives of the Radars project are the telephone calls made by volunteer neighbours in the neighbourhood. In 2024, 58,340 effective calls were made to provide company and connect people. There has also been an increase in the number of volunteers, with 304 active volunteers at the end of the year. At the same time, in order to ensure the proper development of Radars, 286 volunteer training activities were carried out.

It is also worth noting that in 2024, the second edition of the Radars Micro-story Competition was held, with more than 200 participants. The texts were aimed at highlighting the concept of old age, understood as a rich and diverse stage of life. In May 2024, the awards ceremony was held, along with an event to recognise the participants in the competition, especially the finalists.


Time Impacts:

• Reduction of unpaid workload and support for carers.
• Reduction of unwanted loneliness and/or strengthening of social support networks.
   

More information:
RADARS community action project (in Catalan).