Which AI assistant is best for elder care?

No single AI assistant is best for everyone. The best fit is the one that matches what you need: reminders for medicines and appointments, someone to talk to, or both. Elsy is an AI companion made for older adults. You talk with her, she sets up reminders, and she writes down your life stories.

The right AI assistant can make everyday life easier for you and for your family. No single assistant is best for everyone, so here's what to look for and what Elsy can do. Then you can decide whether she's a good fit for you.

What AI assistants can do in elder care

An AI assistant can help with practical things and give you someone to talk to. Elsy, for example, can remind you when it's time for your medicines, help you remember your appointments and give you a good conversation when the day is slow. Elsy isn't home care, and she doesn't replace help from home care services or from your family. She's an AI companion you talk with on your own phone.

A daily conversation can help keep your mind active. Time with other people matters for the brain too. The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia lists social isolation as one of 14 dementia risk factors that can be changed, Alzheimer Europe reports. Elsy does not prevent dementia, and she can't replace your friends and family, but she's ready to talk whenever you feel like it.

Daily tasks with AI support

Elsy helps you keep track of daily tasks like medicines and appointments, which can help you feel more independent. Say "Remind me about the dentist on Thursday at 10," and the reminder arrives as a notification on your phone when it's time. Read more about how a reminder app for seniors works. And once Elsy is part of your daily routine, regular conversations with her can be good for your mental wellbeing too.

What Elsy does for older adults

Elsy is made for the everyday needs of older adults, the practical ones and the social ones. When you tell her about your life, she writes it up as a life story after the conversation, with your own words as quotes and a picture painted by Elsy. You can read your stories or listen to them, and send them to your family whenever you like, which can bring you closer. See more about life stories with Elsy. Elsy speaks English and 14 other languages and works on iPhone, iPad and Android.

Easy to use, with nothing to learn

Elsy has no menus to learn. You tap Talk to Elsy and start talking, so it's easy to get started even if you're not used to technology. She works on the phones and iPads many people already use, so she fits easily into your day.

How it helps you and your family

An AI assistant like Elsy can support your independence and quality of life, and it can help ease loneliness. Reminders give your day structure, and daily conversations give you company.

If you like, your family can also get written updates on how you're doing, which can be a relief for them. What they see depends on the level you give them in Your circle. That can be the life stories you send, how you're doing over time, or your reminders and medicines. At the highest level, Full trust, they also see what Elsy remembers about you. They never see transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in your circle is at Full trust. See how Elsy and your family work together.

More time to talk

Talking with Elsy regularly can help keep your mind active and gives you someone to share your thoughts with. You can talk about the day's news or about your life years ago. Elsy remembers the important things you tell her, so you can pick up where you left off next time.

How to choose the right AI assistant

When you choose an AI assistant, look at what it can do, how easy it is to use and how it fits into your day. If you only need a reminder now and then, your phone's built-in assistant may be enough. On an iPhone, for example, Apple says you can ask Siri to schedule a reminder for you. An AI companion like Elsy is made for more than that. You talk with her in full sentences, she remembers what you tell her from one conversation to the next, and she writes down your life stories. Read more about how AI assistants for seniors differ from general ones.

Figuring out what you need

Think about which parts of your day you'd like help with. A few questions to start with:

• Would you rather talk to the assistant than type?
• Should it remember what you've told it from one day to the next?
• Do you want help with medicines and appointments, someone to talk to, or both?
• Can you find out who's behind it, and what happens to your information?

Elsy sets up reminders, talks with you and writes down your life stories. If that matches your answers, she may be a good fit. For more on what to look for, read How do you choose an AI app you can trust?

What the research says

The US National Institute on Aging writes that medicine reminder apps can help you remember when and how to take your medicines each day. Tools that make it easier to remember appointments and medicines can help you handle more of your day on your own.

Research on technology and staying connected

A large review in the journal JMIR Aging brought together results from more than 300 studies. It concludes that technology can improve social connectedness among older adults, but that the evidence is still limited. The World Health Organization says strong social connections can lead to better health and a longer life. So technology that makes it easier to stay in touch can, in the end, add to your quality of life.

How to get started

Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, open the app and tap Talk to Elsy. Try asking about something from your own day, like "Can you remind me about my medicine at eight?" You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. See how Elsy works step by step.

Frequently asked questions

How can Elsy help with elder care?

Elsy isn't home care and doesn't replace the help that home care services can give. She can help with everyday life by setting up reminders, keeping track of your medicines, talking with you and writing down your life stories. That can make it easier to stick to your routines.

Does Elsy work on any smartphone?

Elsy works on iPhone, iPad and Android, and you download the app from the App Store or Google Play. That means you can talk with Elsy on most smartphones and tablets.

What makes Elsy different from other AI assistants?

Elsy is made for older adults. You talk with her instead of typing, there are no menus to learn, and she remembers what you tell her from one conversation to the next. She speaks English and 14 other languages, and after a conversation she can write down your life stories with your own words as quotes.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.