Which AI assistant is best for seniors who need daily help and support?
The best assistant is one that suits you. You should be able to talk to it, it should remember what you tell it, and it should remind you about medicines and appointments. Elsy is an AI companion made for older adults. She sets up reminders when you ask, keeps track of your medicines and writes down your life stories.
AI is moving quickly, and AI assistants can now help with your day in new and more personal ways. Here's what to expect, so you can find the one that suits you best.
What AI can do for your day
AI that understands speech and everyday language is changing what help with your day can look like. Elsy is an AI companion who adapts to you by remembering what you tell her from one conversation to the next, and she can ask you a daily question to get a conversation going. She isn't home care and doesn't replace help from home care services or from your family. But she can make it easier to stay in touch with your family. You can send them your life stories, and you can ask Elsy to pass a short message to someone in Your circle, for example "Tell my daughter I'm doing well today."
What is an AI companion?
An AI companion like Elsy is a virtual assistant that uses artificial intelligence to understand what you say and answer you. Once it's part of your daily routine, it can help with practical things like reminders and add to your wellbeing. Read more about what an AI assistant is.
Why choose Elsy?
Elsy can remember personal details and talk with you about the things that matter to you. She can also write down your life story. When you tell her about your life, she writes it up after the conversation, with your own words as quotes and a picture painted by Elsy. You can read it or listen to it, and you can send it to your family whenever you like. See how life stories work. To see how Elsy can make everyday life easier, read how Elsy works.
How does Elsy work?
Elsy uses speech recognition and AI that understands everyday language, so she understands what you say and can adapt to what you need. She sets up reminders, keeps track of your medicines and notes when you've taken them, and she makes it easier to stay in touch with your family. Say, for example, "I take my blood pressure medicine every morning at eight," and she sets it up. When it's time, a notification arrives on your phone. You can tap Taken right in the notification, or Remind me in 10 min if now isn't a good time. Elsy doesn't call you or read the reminder out loud, but she brings it up when you talk. See more about reminders and daily routines.
How AI can help day to day
AI assistants like Elsy can give you regular reminders and help you organize your day, and a conversation each day can help keep your mind active. The US National Institute on Aging writes that staying connected with family, friends and neighbors may also help support your cognitive function. Talking with Elsy about the news or a book you're reading can keep your mind busy too, alongside time with other people.
Can AI improve your quality of life?
AI can give the kind of everyday support many older adults need. Elsy doesn't call you and doesn't start a conversation herself, but she's ready when you open the app and want to talk. With reminders, company and someone you can ask about anything, an AI companion like Elsy can build your confidence and make it easier to manage more on your own. That can mean a better quality of life.
“It's just such a relief to say to Elsy: I don't know anything about this. And it's embarrassing, because a man my age ought to know it. And then she tells me: Don't worry about that. Let me help you.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy (translated from Danish)
What to consider when choosing an AI assistant
When you choose an AI assistant, look at how easy it is to use, how well it adapts to you and how it handles your data. With Elsy, your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. So that Elsy can hear you, answer and remember, what you say is processed by AI services in the United States, and the app tells you which ones before your first conversation. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models. You need to know things like these before you can trust an app.
How do I choose the right AI assistant?
Think about which kind of help matters most to you, for example reminders or a way to stay in touch with others. Also check how the assistant protects your information. In the UK, data protection law gives you the right to get a copy of the personal data a company holds about you and to have inaccurate data corrected, according to the Information Commissioner's Office. In the US, the rules vary from state to state. In California, for example, the Consumer Privacy Act gives you the right to know what a business collects about you and to have inaccurate information corrected. Read more about how an AI companion should protect your privacy.
The future of AI for daily help
The technology is moving fast. Assistants like Elsy may become an even more natural part of daily routines and help more people with their wellbeing and independence. Keep up with new developments if you like, but choose an app for what it can do today.
What will AI be able to do in the future?
Future AI systems may work more closely with health care and social services, which could make it easier to live independently with a good quality of life. Nobody knows that for sure yet. Today, Elsy is an AI companion you talk with. She isn't connected to your doctor or to local services.
How to get started
Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play and tap Talk to Elsy. Tell her what you'd like help with in your day, for example "Remind me to call my sister on Sunday." You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. See how Elsy works step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How does an AI assistant for elder care work?
AI assistants for elder care use speech recognition and AI that understands everyday language. They can hold conversations, give reminders and help with daily tasks, so everyday life gets easier. With Elsy, you just talk, and she answers out loud.
What can Elsy do?
Elsy can set up reminders, keep track of your medicines and note when you've taken them. She remembers what you tell her and writes down your life stories, which you can send to your family whenever you like. She can also look things up online for you, like when the pharmacy is open.
Does Elsy work on my phone?
Elsy works on iPhone, iPad and Android, so you can talk with Elsy on most newer smartphones and tablets. You download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.