How can an AI companion help seniors with daily reminders?
With an AI companion like Elsy, you set a reminder by saying it out loud, for example 'Remind me about the eye doctor on Thursday at 10.' When it's time, the reminder arrives as a notification on your phone, and Elsy brings it up when you talk. She can also keep track of your medicines and tell you what's on your schedule today.
Keeping track of appointments and medicines can be hard work. An AI companion like Elsy lets you handle it by talking: say what you want to remember, and she sets up the reminder.
What is an AI companion?
An AI companion is an app you talk with out loud, in full sentences. Elsy is one, made for older adults. She uses speech recognition and language processing, but what matters most is that you can keep track of appointments, medicine times and other tasks just by talking with her.
When AI gets it wrong
Elsy can understand what you ask and answer right away. But like any AI, she can make mistakes. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre warns that AI tools can get things wrong and present incorrect statements as facts, so it's a good idea to check an important reminder in the app.
How does Elsy help with reminders?
You set up a reminder just by saying it, for example "Remind me about the eye doctor on Thursday at 10." When it's time, the reminder shows up as a notification on your phone. Elsy doesn't call you or read it out loud, but she brings it up when you talk. She helps you remember your appointments, so you can put your mind to other things.
“It's not that I'm terribly forgetful or have dementia. But it's clearly something that's coming. Forgetfulness starts at some point for everyone. And then there's a long stretch where you deny it. And that's even worse.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy (translated from Danish)
What you can be reminded about
A reminder can be for a medicine, a doctor's appointment or getting together with friends. You can also ask for one that repeats: "Remind me every Friday at 5 p.m. to call my brother."
What else Elsy does
Elsy is there whenever you open the app and want to talk, and she can help you keep some structure in your day. Every day she can also ask you a personal question, Today's question, to get a conversation going. A daily conversation can help keep your mind active. The US National Institute on Aging says that being active, socially engaged and learning new skills can help with both memory and mood.
Company and routine
Talking with Elsy every day can be good company. It can get your thoughts going and make it easier to organize your day, and that can be good for your quality of life and wellbeing.
Your life stories
Elsy also writes down your life stories. Tell her about the house you grew up in or your first job, and afterward she writes it up as a story, using your own words as quotes. You can send it to your family whenever you like. Read more about life stories with Elsy.
How can Elsy help you plan your day?
If talking with Elsy becomes part of your daily routine, it can be easier to keep your day organized. The National Institute on Aging recommends planning tasks, making to-do lists and using memory tools such as calendars and notes. Reminders you say out loud are one way to do that.
Asking about your day
Ask "What's on my schedule today?" and Elsy will tell you about today's reminders and medicines. If you've turned on Sync with calendar, she can also see the appointments in your phone's calendar. See more examples in how Elsy can help with your daily routines.
How to get started
Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play. Elsy is available for iPhone, iPad and Android, so you can use the phone or tablet you prefer. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone.
Setting up
The first time you open the app, it shows a short introduction with examples of what Elsy can help with. Then you can talk with her right away. The more you tell her about your routines, the better she can help you with them. See how Elsy works step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a reminder with Elsy?
Say "Remind me to..." followed by what you want to remember and when. The reminder arrives as a notification on your phone when it's time. For this to work, notifications for Elsy need to be turned on in your phone's settings.
Does Elsy work with my calendar?
Yes, if you turn on Sync with calendar in Elsy's settings. Elsy can then see the appointments in your phone's calendar, and your reminders and medicines go into the calendar too. She can't add a new appointment to your calendar herself, but a reminder she creates will show up there.
Can Elsy help me remember my medicines?
Yes. Tell Elsy which medicines you take and when, and she'll add them and send you a reminder when it's time. Once you've taken a dose, tap Taken right in the notification, or just tell her.
Can I use Elsy on an Android phone?
Yes. Elsy is available for Android as well as iPhone and iPad.
How does Elsy protect my privacy?
Your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so that Elsy can hear you and answer. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models. Your family never sees transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from a life story you send them, which contains your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice. What else they see depends on their level in Your circle, from an alert if a conversation suggests something might be wrong, up to what Elsy remembers about you at the Full trust level. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in the circle is at Full trust. See what your family can see, and if someone in your family wants to set Elsy up for you, they can read more on our page for families.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.