The rapid growth of the ageing population across both developed and developing nations has created a pressing need for dependable, accessible support systems for the elderly. While family members traditionally served as primary caregivers, modern lifestyles, migration for work, and busy schedules have made it increasingly difficult for them to be consistently available. This paper presents the Elder Assist Application, a mobile and web-based platform that bridges this gap by connecting elderly individuals with nearby, verified young helpers who are willing to assist with daily tasks in exchange for modest compensation. The system encompasses a real-time task-posting and acceptance workflow, a document-based helper verification module, location-aware matching, an in-app communication channel, and a dual-sided rating mechanism to maintain account-ability. The platform was developed using React Native for the mobile front-end, a Node.js/Express REST back-end, and Firebase for real-time database operations and push notifications. Preliminary usability testing with a sample of 30 elderly participants and 25 prospective helpers demonstrated high task completion rates and strong user satisfaction scores. The application addresses a genuine social need while simultaneously creating flexible part-time earning opportunities for students and young professionals.
Amir et al. (Mon,) studied this question.