Ernesti more “chouette” than the retirement home

Ernesti, an alternative solution to the retirement home like no other. In France, there is a gap between the way elderly people are cared for and how they wish to be accompanied. Indeed, only 19% of our seniors’ retirement home admissions are voluntary according to a Crédoc survey in 2018. Going to a retirement home is synonymous with loss of autonomy. It thus reflects the need for a human presence to watch over the person in difficulty. Today, there are day-to-day solutions embodied by nursing assistants, nurses and carers. However, when it comes to evening and night, solutions are thin or non-existent.

Ernesti was born from this lack to compensate. The platform thus proposes to connect medical and paramedicine students judged with these people with loss of autonomy. The objective is to ensure a night presence. The different profiles of student volunteers are studied. The platform looks at the identity card, the certificate of schooling of the health sector, the diploma or the emergency training, as well as a presentation video. By following, each student passes a video interview to validate his motivations and discover the accompanying protocols.

The selected students then become “owls”. They will mainly have to chat in the evening with people. They will also take care of their sleep and call if necessary for a rate of less than 50 € per night. Thus, the permanent presence of a person at their side makes it possible to reassure and react quickly in the event of a problem such as a fall. At the same time, it also makes it possible to create a bond and break the loneliness of people who are alone at home.

The era of “Papy-sitting”

Ernesti is positioning itself as the first platform in France to connect students and people with loss of autonomy. The aim is therefore to delay the departure of these people from their homes as much as possible. 18 months after its launch, the platform has carried out more than 500 night accompaniments in Bordeaux, Paris and Toulouse. The platform is facing increasing demand. Therefore, it should invest its activity in 10 major French cities. The platform aspires to recruit in the coming months more than 300 additional profiles in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Bordeaux.

This increase in demand is reflected in a significant aging of the population. Indeed, according to INSEE, especially in Nouvelle-Aquitaine where the share of people over 65 years of age represented 21.2% of the population. By 2050 this same segment is expected to gain 10 points to reach 31%. This aging of the population is synonymous with a gradual increase in the number of people with loss of autonomy. It thus increases the demand for collaborative platforms such as Ernesti. Depending on the department of the region, there would thus be between 1.2 and 2.5 seniors for a young person in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Not to mention the fact that the number of places available in different residential facilities for dependent elderly people (EHPAD) is limited. In Gironde according to the site ehpad.fr, there are indeed only 174 establishments in the area. Indicators that leave enough to see a good margin of maneuver to Ernesti as to the development of its activity in the years to come.

Enersti silver senior youth support
With Ernesti, seniors are never alone again

Seniors’ business

This ageing of the population is in fact none other than the “grandpa-boom”. This is the direct consequence of the “baby boom” phenomenon. A significant increase in the birth rate.qu’a experienced in France after the Second World War. This grandpa boom has significant economic repercussions. This is noticeable for companies with seniors in their workforce. Indeed, it will be necessary to replace these retiring people. Especially when we know that in 2016, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 1 in 4 jobs was held by a person over 50 years old according to INSEE. This also leaves a question about the total renewal of his retirements. Indeed for some sectors of activity it is very difficult to find young professionals. This is particularly in health where the scarcity of doctors is no longer to be demonstrated.

Apart from these replacements to be expected, the Silver Economy,or economy of seniors, will gradually gain market share. Indeed, this segment of the population requires specific needs compared to the rest of the population. We can think, in addition to the owls of Ernesti, services such as the delivery of groceries, products and facilities that facilitate the life of these elderly people.

Artificial intelligence can even be used with robots such as Blue Frog Robotics’ Buddy, which allows people to communicate with loved ones via video chat, read and respond to messages, and even serve as a reminder for taking medication or appointments, for example. On the other hand, for those who are in EPHAD, solutions also exist to contribute to their well-being.

For example, the Silver Geek association is committed to finding solutions to current social problems. Therefore, the association organizes original Esport competitions. The aim is to combat the isolation of seniors. On the other hand, the implementation of this action aims to break with the digital divide of which seniors are part. Commented by young people in civic service events are intergenerational. Thus, seniors can enjoy a real rejuvenation. Esport is therefore not only reserved for the younger generation, the proof is. Especially since for seniors, the positive fallout is gradually revealed.

Ernesti’s collaborative platform thus helps to address a need for support for these dependents, it is one of the many services that make up the silver economy which, by 2050, will reach a significant potential.

Patrick BONTE – BORDEAUX Business

Sources:

SITE ERNESTI – Connecting seniors and medical students

INSEE Survey – 06/22/2017 “By 2050, 900,000 more seniors in New Aquitaine”

INSEE Survey – 13/06/2018 “The share of seniors at home in situations of loss of autonomy varies from region to region”

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