With many shops shut due to the pandemic-induced financial downturn, developers have come up with a way to use these vacant spaces. They’re turning them into retirement homes for over-65s, creating opportunities for brands to cater to older people as more may move into city centres.

Aussie start-up CareApp has received funding from the government to increase access to its platform. With social distancing stopping families from seeing their older loved ones, the platform is letting people keep up to date with their well-being, while also digitally upskilling Seniors.

How have savviness, loyalty, and a deep appreciation for respect come to define older adults? Why has the COVID-19 pandemic been so influential in their adoption of technology? And how might a rise in multigenerational living arrangements shape their relationships with culture?

By using non-intrusive sensors in a senior’s home, the Billy app provides families and carers with insights into a loved one’s health and wellbeing. Aiming to keep a person comfortable in their home, its approach could provide a blueprint for aiding Australian’s ailing elderly care system.