The last few months have been a definite change for many. We’ve spent lots of time at home, being unable to really go anywhere in particular. It is, however, a fairly normal situation for a lot of senior citizens. Even when everything does re-open, a lot of elderly people lack the transport or the ability to go and enjoy the outside world or to speak to friends.
Today giffgaff is teaming up with Doro, the leading supplier of smartphone solutions for seniors, to donate 500 Doro phones to isolated elderly people across the UK.
The Doro-led initiative should hopefully put pay to some of the loneliness felt during the coronavirus pandemic. The phones will be delivered with a pre-installed SIM from giffgaff, meaning that those receiving the phones can make unlimited calls and texts along with 2GB of data too.
It forms part of a wider initative to deliver 2000 phones to isolated older people across the UK, Germany, France and the Nordic countries.
Carl-Johan Zetterberg Boudrie, CEO of Doro, told us..
Social exclusion and involuntary loneliness have become reality for many. By donating Doro phones to those most at risk, we hope to reduce anxiety and simultaneously enable closeness between families.
Meanwhile, giffgaff CEO, Ashley Schofield, told us..
A sense of community is vital which is why following on from the announcement of our recent goodybank initiative to help the most vulnerable members in society, we’ve partnered with Doro. Living in isolation is tough for everyone but the elderly may find themselves in a greater state of stress and suffering from loneliness. We hope that by providing these phones that it will help them stay connected with loved ones and bring some much needed respite in these trying times.
The Doro 5516 easy-to-use candy bar phone is being given out. It has a loud and clear ringer, an easy-to-use camera, 3G connectivity and the Doro Assistance button located on the back of the phone.