Published on: May 27, 2025
Research indicates that chronic social isolation can be as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day—and older adults are among the most vulnerable. In response to this growing concern, researchers at Kennesaw State University are developing an AI-powered solution aimed at helping seniors form meaningful, human-centered connections.
The initiative, called Sandrapp—short for Supporting Adults Needing Direct Relationship App—is designed to address loneliness in aging populations. Unlike typical social media platforms that prioritize messaging and content sharing, Sandrapp focuses on facilitating real-life interactions between individuals with shared values, beliefs, and life experiences.
The concept originated during a university think tank on health and wellness in aging communities. Among the participants was Paola Spoletini, professor and associate dean of research at KSU’s College of Computing and Software Engineering. Spoletini, who is separated from her mother in Italy by the Atlantic Ocean, envisioned the comfort of having someone with her mother’s personality and interests nearby—someone who could offer natural companionship rather than professional care.
That personal vision evolved into a collaborative project involving Spoletini and fellow researchers Maria Valero, Israel Sanchez Cardona, and Luisa Valentina Nino de Valladares. With backgrounds in software development, psychology, human factors, and health tech, their combined expertise shapes a tool that uses smart technolgy too foster real emotional connections.
This is personal, Spoletini shared. “It’s something I wish my mother could have had. It would have brought her companionship—and given me peace of mind. But professionally, it’s also about challenging the way we design technology for older adults. Too often, it’s not built with their true needs in mind.
Valero, whose work focuses on mobile health and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, leads the app’s development. Sanchez Cardona contributes expertise on the psychological impacts of social disconnection, while Nino de Valladares ensures the platform is accessible and user-friendly for seniors.
Working closely with students—three undergraduates and two graduates—the team meets weekly to ensure user needs drive every decision. Instead of defaulting to conventional app features, they are prioritizing interviews with seniors, caregivers, volunteers, and community providers. They’re also analyzing reviews of similar apps to learn what’s effective and what’s lacking.
Sure, we could have gone ahead and built something based on assumptions,” Valero noted. “But instead, we chose to listen first. That’s how true innovation begins.
What makes Sandrapp unique is its commitment to meaningful matchmaking. The platform uses AI to pair seniors with community members or volunteers who resemble loved ones—not just in age, but in temperament and values. For example, if someone’s mother enjoys talking about spirituality with like-minded peers, Sandrapp aims to find a match who fits that profile.
Importantly, the team is mindful that tech alone won’t solve loneliness. Overreliance on screens can worsen isolation. Sandrapp is designed to operate quietly in the background, enabling face-to-face meetings rather than replacing them.
The team is also investigating non-intrusive home monitoring technologies that detect subtle changes—like altered water use or movement patterns—that could signal a need for family check-ins. The goal is to provide reassurance, not surveillance.
Usability is a cornerstone of the project. Many apps fail with older audiences because developers expect them to adapt to tech. Sandrapp reverses that by tailoring every detail—from interface layout to color contrast and button size—to accommodate senior users’ routines and preferences.
For Sanchez Cardona, the app is more than a tech innovation—it’s a public health tool.
Social support is one of the most powerful factors protecting mental and physical health,” he said. “With Sandrapp, we’re rebuilding that support system—one meaningful connection at a time.
Source: https://www.kennesaw.edu/news/stories/2025/researchers-develop-app-combat-elderly-loneliness.php
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