Les Amis d’Hubert is a French SME specialised in providing leisure activities for isolated elderly persons.
Les Amis d’Hubert is a French SME willing to provide isolated elderly persons with their favourite hobbies. Les Amis d’Hubert’s objectives are to change our view on ageing by reconnecting generations and providing happy moments to isolated elderly persons.
The SME created an online platform where seniors or their families can look for a person willing to spend time and share experiences with elderly persons. The platform is free of charge, but the services proposed are paid services. Prices are degressive, they range from 13,50 euros per session for a series of 10 to 15 euros for a unique session.
The platform enables to look for someone depending on his geographical situation, availability and areas of interests. Anyone can book a time slot and directly pay via the platform. Phone numbers of the elderly persons and the social worker are then communicated by the platform for them to discuss final details. In addition to the online platform, a phone app was developed too.
Services or leisure activities proposed include simple talking sessions to playing music, reading or writing books, playing cards or parlour games, going for a walk or to the cinema and theatre as well as sessions of computer assistance.
Resources needed
Les Amis d’Hubert was laureate of the 2017 European Social Challenge. The price financed their full-scale test in Angers. The Pays de la Loire region and the municipality of Angers are also supporting the SME, as well as the health and retirement mutual Malakoff Médéric.
Evidence of success
Les Amis d’Hubert was first created in Paris and now also extended to the smaller town of Angers. Extending their services to more areas, including rural ones, in currently their next project. The service is soon going to be available in rural or mountainous French counties such as the Vosges, Isère or Savoie counties among others.
More than 150 seniors and 550 care givers are already using the services provided via the platform.
Difficulties encountered
Challenges encountered are linked to changing our view on ageing and making the proposed services visible and understood by elderly persons, their families and public authorities.
Potential for learning or transfer
Intergenerational activities are a growing trend and represent an important segment of the silver economy. Such an SME could provide useful services in other regions and countries where elderly persons can be isolated in rural, remote or mountainous areas. The current extension of Les Amis d’Hubert to many other French counties, including rural and mountainous ones, shows the good transferability potential of these services.
