Conversational and generative AI

An AI tech agent on our behalf – predicted long ago. Consider the definition: “An AI agent is a system that perceives its environment, makes decisions, and takes actions to achieve specific goals, often autonomously.” At first look, that seems quite scary and is reminiscent of two quite predictive fictions:  HAL 9000 in 2001 (“Sorry, Dave, I can’t do that”) or the robot in the Robot and Frank (2012) that takes care of every need of a lonely man with dementia, then assists him in committing crimes.  

Moving in later can mean greater care needs, but same staffing levels.  This article caught my eye – ‘Significantly more difficult’ to care for today’s assisted living residents. The gist of the story is that people are moving in later, now in their mid-80’s and often because living at home is untenable. Which means they need more help and care than the organizations used to expect.  According to AHCA/NCAL: ”Four in 10 are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. After a median stay around 22 months, roughly 60% of residents will move out of assisted living to transition to a skilled nursing center.​” 

Conversation is becoming more interesting with ChatGPT 4.0.  For one thing, with its memory feature enabled, it easily inhales everything the conversationalist has ever said online, or even excludes the speaker’s previous remarks upon request. How can this be helpful to older adults? A tool that learns from multiple sources, aggregates if desired into a summary, incorporates links to sources, and then remembers the whole interchange – maybe that moves it into another tier of utility. The conversation could have been about travel possibilities, about transportation options, about more comfortable walking shoes – or brainstorming places to go on a future trip. Next interaction – do you want to hear what’s new in locations you viewed previously?

The more things change – some trends dominate.   As the demographics change, couples age at different rates, life expectancy grows among the 65+ --averaging 20 more years, the oldest population growth rate outpaces younger demographic segments.  As the oldest baby boomer crosses 80 in the next few months several trends will drive technology adoption in distinctly new ways. As a result, the market for tech will need to accommodate a series of changes, sales methodologies and market opportunities.  A worsening labor shortage will continue to plague the senior care sectors, including senior living, nursing homes, and in-home care. What are the drivers that should attract innovators in the older adult tech industry?

Concerns about AI are all around, but its future role is inevitable.  There it is, one consumer well-publicized survey after another, whether it is the WSJ,  Pew Research or AARP,  even as adoption in business, healthcare and other industries grows.  Consumers continue to express worry – but in the meantime…82% of companies are either using or exploring use of AI today. That parallels the senior living and care organizations interviewed for this new report – there is a combination of evaluating, limited use, and actually in use with benefit. Interviewees contributed ideas, actual projects and concerns, helping to shape the new report, The Future of AI in Senior Living and Care.

Aging in place is a business opportunity as much as it is a personal strategy.  The apparent enthusiasm for aging in place has fueled interest among home builders. Consumer aging in place desires provide work for home remodelers, adding features that make a home more accessible as people age. But for older adults, the motivation for aging in place is also an economic necessity.  The monthly cost of moving into senior housing, above $5500 nationwide, is out of the reach of most people. Remaining in a home and planning modest remodeling modifications will be the approach for most who want to stay.