Most of us, in some unspecified time in the future, might need felt a surge of frustration when our elders turned to us for assist with their smartphones. It’s simple to neglect that they’re navigating a digital world they weren’t born into. The generational divide and the fast tempo of technological development can usually result in a way of alienation, significantly for older adults.
India is residence to over 140 million senior residents, and this quantity is predicted to succeed in 194 million by 2031. Whereas many seniors are desirous to embrace know-how, an absence of digital literacy, mixed with a hesitation to hunt assist from their kids, usually leaves them feeling excluded and overwhelmed.
“My father was combating know-how and on-line transactions,” says Hemanshu Jain (39), an entrepreneur and engineer.
“I used to journey recurrently for work, and my dad used to name me, asking me to pay on-line payments or get residence provides. I needed to do it remotely and from a unique time zone,” he provides, highlighting the on a regular basis struggles confronted by many aged people.
The final firm Hemanshu co-founded, Diabeto, was within the area of diabetes, and he witnessed firsthand the difficulties the aged confronted with working trendy gadgets. “Navigating by way of the digital panorama was an enormous problem,” says Hemanshu.
The minimal assist system within the context of digital schooling and the hesitation to ask their kids for assist make the scenario tougher. “We’re harsh to our family members and infrequently make enjoyable of them for not understanding how sure issues work,” Hemanshu factors out. “There’s an expectation downside right here. Mother and father need their kids to assist however usually really feel responsible about anticipating assist from these residing far-off.”
To bridge the hole, Hemanshu teamed up with Pritish Nelleri (38), who additionally has a enterprise background, to ideate an answer and the app ‘Khyaal’ was born. Unique to senior residents, this app creates a digital setting and makes an attempt to unravel most of their technological issues in a single go.
‘I’ve my circle of individuals right here’
Based mostly out of Mumbai, Khyaal originated as a WhatsApp group amid the COVID-19 pandemic, offering much-needed assist and leisure to remoted aged people. Dwell workshops have been organised to alleviate their anxieties and provide a way of neighborhood.
“Initially, we didn’t have a transparent roadmap for Khyaal,” Hemanshu confesses. “We known as in specialists to speak and make them really feel at peace concerning the pandemic.”
So as to add a component of enjoyable, video games like Tambola have been performed, proving in style among the many senior residents. The initiative’s success was evident within the participation of 10,000 seniors throughout numerous interest-based WhatsApp teams.
Hemanshu and Pritish then centered on constructing a platform the place they may attend the workshops and kind a neighborhood nearly resembling a classroom setup. They launched the app in 2022, enabling senior residents to study digital abilities with out the necessity for help from others.
Like within the WhatsApp neighborhood, the app helped educate senior residents the right way to navigate apps like BigBasket, Swiggy, and Zomato with ease, permitting them to be part of the digital consolation that so many people are used to and take as a right.
“Partaking in numerous actions has supplied a brand new that means to my life. I study one thing each day, my bodily well being is taken care of, and I’ve my circle of individuals right here,” shares Mala Mehta, who was recognized with most cancers 5 years in the past and is presently in restoration.
“Khyaal is my household, and the volunteers deal with us respectfully and patiently. I can discuss something throughout discussions, and other people don’t decide me for what I say,” she provides.
Counselling and emotional wellness companies present psychological peace for older individuals. “I’m a divorcee, and navigating alone by way of life takes a psychological toll. By my counselling periods, I’ve learnt to say ‘no’, and in addition deal with melancholy,” shares Bhupinder Kaur, a 70-year-old ardent person of Khyaal.
Transactions, excursions, and remedy
Hemanshu needed the app to be a one-stop resolution the place older individuals can entry a plethora of companies like healthcare, cash administration, journey, recreation, TV reveals, and the like, offering a rewarding and cozy expertise for the customers.
Leisure options like quiz evening, screening of previous Doordarshan collection, Tambola evening, cooking lessons, and so on, preserve them engaged all through the day and assist them age gracefully.
“I really like Antakshari nights the place I get to sing with different music lovers as properly,” shares Mala.
Moreover, Khyaal affords curated journey packages, selling an energetic way of life that focuses on consolation and security. “Not too long ago, I went to Kashmir with Khyaal. They took 30 of us and took such excellent care of us all through the journey,” shares Bhupinder.
One of many main issues amongst senior residents, Hemanshu factors out, was that their main checking account was susceptible to fraud. To deal with this they created a Visa-powered Khyaal card with cybersecurity protection, which permits them to create a secondary checking account. “Individuals can put aside cash for his or her day-to-day transactions and your main checking account is unaffected,” Hemanshu says.
He provides that customers earn Khyaal factors when collaborating in occasions. The entire gamification of the processes makes it simpler to comply with and interact, he provides.
Senior residents additionally profit from revolutionary choices like Khyaal Digi-Gold, a safe digital gold funding possibility developed in partnership with CaratLane.
“We take fixed suggestions from the Khyaal neighborhood concerning a brand new characteristic on the app or if there may be any issue in accessing a phase of the app. Our customers are very collaborative, serving to the app develop properly,” says Hemanshu.
A lifeline for seniors
Khyaal has develop into greater than an app — it’s a lifeline for seniors, providing them independence, connection, and function.
“I’ve been an ardent person of Khyaal for over two and a half years, and I’ve discovered my function in spending my final innings peacefully,” shares Bhupinder. “Earlier than Khyaal, I felt lonely and didn’t have a lot to do. Now I’m occupied your entire day with such good actions, the place I study and have enjoyable on a regular basis.”
Bhupinder additionally shares that she has discovered a superb buddy by way of Khyaal. “We speak to one another not less than twice per week.”
Hemanshu and Pritish are actively engaged on the regionalisation of the app, which is able to profit audiences from different linguistic backgrounds. “We’re specializing in Tier 3 cities as we will see a rise in customers from that demographic space,” he shares.
Apps like Khyaal spotlight the significance of being impartial and purpose-driven, proving that ageing gracefully within the digital age isn’t just doable however empowering.
At the moment, the app has over a million downloads on Google Play, with main customers from city cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi and plenty of extra. Their annual membership prices between Rs 999 and Rs 1499, relying on the chosen plan.
For extra particulars, go to their official web site.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All picture courtesy- Khyaal
