Mangaluru Student Creates Startup to Support Senior Citizens
Lauren Jayapreeth, a second-year BSW student at Roshni Nilaya's School of Social Work, has launched an innovative startup called SaathiShift. This new venture focuses on delivering personalized companionship services to elderly individuals in the community.
Addressing Loneliness and Daily Needs
SaathiShift aims to enhance social interaction and emotional well-being for senior citizens. The service provides dedicated companions who engage in meaningful conversations, share activities, and organize short outings. These efforts directly combat loneliness and promote joy in daily life.
The support extends beyond social interaction to practical assistance. Companions help with medication reminders, organize personal documents, schedule appointments, and coordinate transportation for errands or visits. Each family receives customized plans tailored to their specific preferences.
Important to note: The companions do not perform household chores or administer medical treatments. Their role centers on companionship and structured support.
Inspiration from Australian Experience
Lauren's journey began in 2023 during a year spent in Australia. While in Melbourne, he observed the high quality of care provided to senior citizens. "That phase was a turning point," Lauren explained. "I saw how seniors receive dedicated companionship and assistance. This experience highlighted the vital role of emotional presence in elder care."
Inspired by what he witnessed, Lauren returned to India and enrolled in social work studies. He began researching challenges faced by senior citizens, particularly those living alone. His research included interactions with professionals like Dr. Lavina Noronha from the Luminara Group.
Research and Development Phase
Lauren conducted surveys in both Mumbai and Mangaluru to understand the needs of elderly individuals and their families. This research revealed a significant need for companionship services, especially in Mangaluru where many seniors live alone while their children work abroad or in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai.
In August, Lauren began working on a pilot program. He officially launched SaathiShift on December 14th in collaboration with his childhood friend Anirudh MC, a software developer who handles the platform's technical aspects. Dora Jayathilak joined the initiative as care coordinator.
Careful Selection of Companions
Before the launch, Lauren invited applications from individuals interested in becoming companions. Approximately fifty people responded to the call. The team interviewed thirty-five applicants and conducted behavioral assessments along with psychometric tests.
Fifteen companions were ultimately selected and trained. The diverse group includes:
- Students
- Working professionals
- Homemakers
- MSc counseling students from Roshni Nilaya
- Retired nurses
- Teachers
Partnerships and Digital Platform
SaathiShift has established a partnership with the Luminara Group. This collaboration provides mental health services when needed and serves as training partners for the companions.
The platform fully digitizes the companion experience. Companions check in and out using the app during their visits, providing families with real-time updates and complete transparency. The matching process carefully considers language preferences, interests, and compatibility to create optimal connections between companions and seniors.
"Companions even take seniors out for short outings," Lauren noted. "Plans are customized based on individual family requirements, ensuring reliable support that addresses both emotional and practical needs."
