27 August, 2026
Pictured L—R: Ana Coughlan (Community Coordinator at Smart D8), Deirdre McCarthy (CEO, AllSkills Education CLG), Mr Jerry Buttimer T.D. (Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Transport), Maddie Hawk (Service Innovation Lead, St James’s Hospital), Dr Martina Rooney (Research Programme Manager and Nutrition Scientist, Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, University College Dublin) and Jack Lehane (Ecosystem Manager, Smart D8).
A new pilot project led by St James's Hospital in partnership with IntuVu Health will support older adults in the Dublin 8 community to stay connected, confident and independent after returning home from the Emergency Department.
Selected as one of Smart D8's 2026 innovation pilots, Connected Care aims to reduce the risk of social isolation, a challenge that can affect many older people following a hospital visit. Through the IntuVu digital platform, participants will receive personalised wellbeing check-ins, mood and activity prompts, access to local events and community supports and direct connection with caregivers and healthcare teams.
Recognising that some participants may have limited digital confidence, the platform also includes a Helper Mode, enabling family members, friends or carers to provide support and identify changes in wellbeing at an early stage.
Led by Maddie Hawk, Service Design Lead with Lean Transformation, the project received a Smart D8 innovation bursary as part of the programme's ongoing commitment to developing community-led solutions to local health and wellbeing challenges. The project brings together expertise from healthcare, rehabilitation, service design, community engagement and digital health.
By strengthening social connections and improving access to local supports, Connected Care aims to help older adults maintain confidence and independence at home while promoting healthy ageing and reducing avoidable return visits to hospitals. As engagement begins across Dublin 8, the pilot highlights the potential of collaboration between healthcare services, community organisations and technology partners to deliver innovative, person-centred care.