It’s not only the United States Post Office searching for ways to make up for lost revenue from the decline in traditional mail. Germany’s Deutsche Post may have a new line of income as the postal service is teaming up with the city of Bremen to test out a new service of assisting and checking in on the elderly.
The “Post Personal” service will see postal workers doing more than just dropping off the mail. For the elderly, mail carriers will ring the bell to hand deliver their mail, ask them how they are doing, withdraw and deliver cash, and educate them on other charitable services available.
Afer their visit, a text message will then be sent to designated relatives to give a hopefully reassuring “all is well” with their loved ones.
This new program, which will come with a still undetermined cost, is slated for a mid-May launch. The city of Bremen will be offering additional services for the elderly as well, including assistance with cleaning, laundry, cooking and even playdates for an estimated seven to eight euros per day.