Apps for Caregivers Get a Dose of AI, but That Might Not Be Enough

Caregiving is a widespread responsibility in the United States, with roughly 63 million Americans assisting adults or children who have medical conditions or disabilities. These caregivers often dedicate up to 27 hours each week, leading to increased stress, financial strain, and social isolation. To alleviate some of these burdens, developers have created various apps and tools tailored to the unique needs of caregivers.

Medisafe, launched in 2013, assists users in tracking medications and sending reminders to prevent missed doses. It also enables tracking of medical appointments, symptoms, and healthcare contacts. The app includes a drug interaction checker, allowing users to input multiple medications to ensure their safety when taken concurrently.

Caring Village, founded in 2015, offers features like an appointment calendar, to-do lists, and a wellness journal, enabling caregivers to document their loved one's symptoms and moods. It allows users to assign tasks, create care plans, and receive reminders to take medication.

In 2022, Bret Koncak, who has two sons with complex needs, co-developed Mejo, a web-based caregiver app. Users input an individual's medical history, which is then consolidated into a single-page summary that can be shared with caregivers, doctors, and therapists. The premium version offers daily journaling, which can be shared among caregivers to ensure everyone is aligned. While the current version requires manual entry, Koncak plans to incorporate AI to help users generate appropriate questions for medical appointments.

Brett Rowell, whose son has cerebral palsy, is developing Briggzy, an app that will help his wife and him manage their son's care. With Rowell working typical hours and his wife having more flexibility, Briggzy will facilitate smoother handoffs of care. Currently in testing, the app aims for wider release in 2027. Rowell hopes that by sharing his wife's insights through Briggzy, he can better contribute to their son's care.

Nasha Fitter, whose daughter has a rare disease, created Citizen Health in 2024 to centralize medical records for patients while maintaining privacy through de-identification. The app allows users to extract, harmonize, and analyze medical data, which is then shared back with patients to better understand their disease trajectory.

Citizen Health collaborates with patient advocacy groups to support research on drug development. In 2024, they introduced Ari, an AI "health teammate" available by text, which enables caregivers and patients to track their loved one's care and symptoms. Ari can access medical records, patient portals, and Google Calendar events, offering insights into care patterns and preparing patients for medical appointments.

While Ari currently targets rare diseases, the plan is to expand its utility to all caregivers and patients. Experts like I. Glenn Cohen, a bioethics and health law professor at Harvard Law School, are cautiously optimistic about AI's potential to empower patients in preparing for medical appointments and understanding their medical needs.

However, Cohen advises users to be aware of the risks and limitations, particularly the lack of FDA oversight for these apps and the privacy implications of sharing sensitive health information.