With many of us depending on our smartphones to check everything, from our travel arrangements and finances to exercise performance and latest fashion choices, it seems natural that we should check in on loved ones with the latest app.
But the inspiration behind 3rings.co.uk in the UK comes from the days before mobile phones, where the well-known ‘code’ to let someone know all is well was giving them three rings on the telephone. The new service updates this code for the internet generation.
Elderly parents or grandparents only require a landline to receive or make a daily call to the 3rings automated service which then automatically contacts an entire network of family and friends using an app, SMS, e-mail or calls. Spending time with older family members over Christmas has been a catalyst for many to look at how their loved ones keep safe.
In a report commissioned for 3rings.co.uk, more than a quarter of people with parents aged 65 or older reported finding the festive period stressful, with parents visibly older, frailer and requiring additional help. As a result, 40 per cent said they were considering steps to support them more over the next year.
With half the population living more than half an hour away from their ageing parents, many families are unaware of how their loved ones are on a daily basis. Forty-eight per cent currently rely on neighbours and other family members to check in on them to ensure they are well.
Founder Steve Purdham was inspired by his mum, Iris, 82. He explains: “We wanted to create a simple solution which answered the question: “Are my parents okay today?” Despite there now being more forms of communication available than ever before, the older generation are often excluded from the latest technologies. This led us to remember a time when giving someone three rings via the telephone was used to provide peace of mind.
“The objective is to help loved ones maintain their independence and not feel like a burden. 3rings isn’t meant to be a replacement for personal calls and visits but helps ease the worry caused by distance and hectic lives. We strongly believe that this offering can be a catalyst for the changing family care of ageing parents in the UK.”
The service is available online at 3rings.co.uk with free apps for IOS and android.