AI That Listens: Co-Designing a Safe, Multimodal Communication Companion for Older Adults Aging at Home

Many older Canadians living at home manage several chronic conditions at once, with multiple doctors, many medications and instructions that are easy to lose track of. Between appointments, concerns often go unspoken and early warning signs go unnoticed. This project is designing and developing an artificial intelligence (AI) companion that older adults can interact with at home, by voice or by text, in whatever way suits them best. It listens to what matters to them (only capturing conversation when activated by the user), keeps track of their concerns in plain language and makes sure those concerns reach their care team before small problems become emergencies. Built-in safeguards include not diagnosing or prescribing, getting the user’s approval on wording before sharing information with care providers, ensuring privacy through encryption and giving the user control over what is shared. Older adults help shape the system themselves, the research team test whether it is safe, easy to use and genuinely helpful. The aim is simple: that older adults feel heard at home and stay confident aging in place.