ANGELO is

a device that allows to overcome the "distance" imposed by Covid-19 between the RSA guest and his loved ones. Angelo owes its name to the 150-year-old (105) for which it was invented and stands as a "guardian angel" able to accompany the elderly during conversations with their relatives.

The COVID-19 emergency initially caused many victims in the Italian RSAs and subsequently decreed the blocking of family visits for almost three months. It is well known the fragility of nursing home guests and how fundamental visits from family members are for their psychological balance. A caress, a hug or a smile help to overcome the daily difficulties. The reopening of the RSAs is now characterized by security protocols that prevent these contact modes due to social distancing and masks.

In fact, the relatives of the guests are allowed to visit them while maintaining a distance of 2 meters during the meetings, often marked by tables or installations. These barriers, added to the obligatory use of a mask that prevents lip reading, make communication difficult. Considering the difficulties experienced by the elderly with hearing impairment in establishing engaging communications even before these impediments, it is easy to imagine how emotionally isolating these dynamics are for them.

Being able to overcome the barriers, at least from an acoustic point of view, was my goal to bring back the smile on the face of my father-in-law Angelo (105 years old) allowing him to hear and understand the voice of his loved ones.

https://storiedidesign.wixsite.com/angelo