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Due to the rapid growth of the elderly population, finding more effective ways of
providing care to a growing number of elderly became a major challenge.
In this context, the IST TeleCARE project [5] was launched with the aim of
designing and developing a configurable framework, based on mobile agents, focused
on the establishment of virtual communities for elderly support. The underlying
principle is that an integrated elderly care system consists of a number of
organizations such as care centers / day centers, health care institutions, social
security institutions, and involves the cooperation of a number of different human
actors e.g. social care assistants, health care professionals, the elderly people, and
their relatives. When supported by computer networks and adequate supporting tools,
the collaboration among the care institutions may evolve towards operating as a long-
term virtual organization and the various involved actors become part of a virtual
community (VC). In this paper the TeleCARE Time Bank virtual community concept
is presented and the developed supporting infrastructure is discussed.
2 The Time Bank Concept
The Time Bank concept provides a mechanism for collaborative community building
/ re-enforcement, i.e. a way for people to come together and help each other. The idea
is quite simple: people “deposit” time they are willing to contribute to the community
by giving practical help and support; in exchange they are able to “withdraw” their
time when they need something done to themselves by others. One key principle here
is that one hour is equal for everybody. One hour of helping out with gardening is
equal to an hour of legal advice. Thus, time banks create reciprocal relationships
between people and institutions, as well as between people and people, which are hard
to achieve in other volunteering services.
So what can be “exchanged” in this way? From existing cases a large number of
examples can be found, including: child care, breastfeeding support, children’s
activities, computer set-up, concrete/masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical repairs,
cooking, meal planning, first aid classes, massage, nursing assistance, nutritional
counseling, tutoring, gardening services, bedside companionship, saying prayers,
hairstyling, office help, house-cleaning, translating, etc.
The bank is some form of organization that takes care of registering members and
implementing some bookkeeping mechanisms. Most of the existing cases run in a
quasi ad-hoc manner, usually associated to the city hall or any charity organization,
and mainly resorting to telephone and some complementary “get together” meetings.
This “institution” also requires an administrator or broker that acts as the driving
force (catalyst) of the community.
How does it work?
Let’s suppose you would like some help — maybe two hours' help in the
garden. You contact the Time Bank and let them know what kind of help you
will need, and when.
The Time Bank administrator (or broker) checks the members’ records for
a “match.” The administrator calls the match, then calls you back to confirm.
At the time you need, your Time Bank friend comes by and helps in the
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