Why We Built Coach Cara for You and Those You Love
What Inspires and Motivates Us…
Every person on the WellSaid team has experienced seeing parents age and navigating the challenges that the aging process can bring. We are health professionals—nurses, doctors and executives—or have extensively volunteered to work with older adults. As we’ve cared for parents and many seniors we respect and love, we’ve also connected with their busy families and loved ones, including many who live a distance away.
What comes up in every conversation we have, whether with older adults or loving family or friends, is the enormous burden that can mean physical or cognitive decline, emotional stress, and even catastrophic financial costs of losing independence.
The impact of supporting physical, mental and emotional health was clear. But also identifying and assessing risk factors so that interventions could meaningfully reduce, delay, and even prevent the physical, emotional, and financial effects of aging.
WellSaid was Born out of a Passion to Make Aging Easier.
Prior to founding WellSaid, our team pioneered the use of voice technology to remotely monitor the health status of patients with chronic diseases. After successfully helping thousands of people, we turned our attention to researching the specific challenges of aging and the best ways to help seniors stay healthy, active, and independent.
We discovered that these challenges are largely unmet by the traditional healthcare approaches. And we found that seniors easily embraced and thoroughly enjoyed using technology! As long as it was designed with them at the center.
It All Came Together When…
Building on nearly 100 years of combined experience and expertise, we saw the power and usefulness of voice technologies to engage older adults in their own homes and to support their desire for maintaining a healthy, active and independent lifestyle. After all, they are one of the fastest growing groups using voice technologies already in their everyday lives!
We built Coach Cara, a digital human avatar to bridge the gap between aging adults and their often busy, sometimes overwhelmed loved ones by illuminating the challenges that might otherwise go undetected or inadequately supported. Things like balance training and physical conditioning, fall risk assessment and prevention, healthy nutrition, mobility and transportation, general safety and security, as well as memory and thinking challenges, care and medication support. Coach Cara not only illuminates challenges that might otherwise go undetected, she also bridges the gap between an aging adult and their loved ones.
And with their own daily digital companion, older adults receive timely insights, encouraging support and recommendations to help prevent the physical, emotional, and financial costs of aging. Older adults stay independent longer and loved ones have the peace of mind they seek.
Who We Are
“Ever since my days as a kid mowing lawns for my grandparents and their friends, I’ve felt a special connection to older adults. They’ve had a profound impact on me, and I love being able to honor and serve them and their loved ones through our work at WellSaid.ai”
Randall Williams, MD
Co-Founder & CEO
Dr. Williams is a physician, serial entrepreneur, and graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He’s a pioneer in applying artificial intelligence and voice technology to the health needs of seniors and holder of several patents. In 2004, he founded and built Pharos Innovations, building one of the early successes in patient engagement and remote monitoring.
Michael Taylor
Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer
Michael is a seasoned healthcare and machine learning executive. Previously, he was General Manager at IBM Watson and responsible for IBM Watson Health’s global provider business. He also was a Partner at Accenture, where he ran the Population Health Management Consulting practice, and has operated multiple private equity and venture backed companies.
Karen Williams, BSN
Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer
Karen brings over 30 years of senior care experience as a nurse and adult child of aging parents. She’s a graduate of the University of Minnesota. In addition to leading customer experience, she also heads up all content development and ensures that everything WellSaid does is delivered with the same care we would want for our own loved ones.
Matthew Wright
Lead Systems Engineer
Matt has built software in the electronics, manufacturing, telecom, and financial services industries over the past 20+ years. He is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) and DePaul University (M.S. Software Engineering). He also has extensive experience as a Senior Connections volunteer, visiting and helping homebound senior citizens weekly,
Jim Evans
Strategic Advisor
Jim is an experienced entrepreneur and graduate of Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. His 20 years of healthcare and executive experience includes business unit GM for McKesson, EVP at Pharos Innovations, and the founding of Socrates, an AI and analytics company. Jim is a former Naval submarine officer.
Pete Haas
Voice UX & Product Advisor
Pete is a veteran in voice and conversational AI. His work developing applications for intelligent voice assistants has earned him recognition and multiple awards in the industry. He’s built voice applications, bots, and natural language models that currently helping millions of people have customized, enjoyable experiences that help them accomplish their goals.
Laurie Nelson
Strategic Advisor
Laurie is the Global Senior Project Manager for Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. Since 2012, she has been an active volunteer at Covenant Living, a retirement community in Northbrook, IL, where she runs a Computer/ Tech Help Drop-in Center. Along with being a key advisor, Laurie is a guest writer for our newsletter.
WellSaid.ai In The News
WellSaid.ai Awarded Prestigious NIH Funding To Study Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
In partnership with a large national insurance carrier, WellSaid.ai will be enrolling older adults and their informal caregivers in a study of how conversational agent technologies, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices can be used to identify and track important aspects of memory and brain function. This research is part of the National Institute on Aging's (NIA) strategic plan to support the development of innovative strategies and therapies to prevent, diagnose, and treat dementia. WellSaid.ai has developed technologies to monitor, assist, or maintain daily functioning of older individuals with cognitive impairments.
Senior Health Monitoring Alexa Skill Adds Coronavirus Quiz
Voicebot.ai, posted April 17, 2020
VOICE HEALTH CHECK
“The COVID-19 pandemic is dangerous for everyone, but senior citizens may be at particular risk due to existing health issues, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The questionnaire within the Alexa skill runs the user through symptoms they may have as a way of ideally spotting the onset of infection early and improving the chances that treatment will work. After the daily quiz, My Day sends an update to family, caregivers, and anyone else who the senior has previously designated. Regular updates not only help identify infection but can reassure loved ones, especially at a time when traveling and in-person contact is curtailed for the sake of public health.
Voice app developer WellSaid.ai has added a COVID-19 screening questionnaire to its My Day for Seniors Alexa skill. The new feature tracks potential infection by the novel coronavirus on a daily basis while keeping the user whoever they wish updated regularly on their health with regard to the virus.”
Aging in Place Technology Watch
Aging In Place Technology Watch
Six new technologies for older adults – July 2019
Posted: 10 Jul 2019 07:54 AM PDT
More smarts are moving into tech for older adults. AI capabilities combined with a Voice First interface is increasingly expected – and so they are part of new offerings to help older adults, both living at home or in senior living communities.
"WellSaid.ai’s Better Every Day Podcast improves connection for (older adults) to the community, enhances daily life and supports independence. My Day and My Day Companion gives Loved Ones the peace of mind that their family member is doing well, increasing in independence and enjoying life. Using Alexa, these programs bridge the digital divide for seniors, overcoming barriers associated with other technologies while enhancing their sense of connectedness and well-being. The My Day well-being program is available on Alexa for adults living at home or in independent living settings. For more information on WellSaid's solutions." Learn more at Wellsaid.ai.
Voice First Podcast with Dr. Teri Fisher
“In this Voice First Health podcast episode, Randall Williams, MD, co-founder of WellSaid.ai, joins me to talk about the work they are doing to help seniors age in place with a skill called “My Day,” WellSaid.ai connects seniors to Alexa to help them maintain their independence. Through their MyDay skill, they support healthier behaviors, connect seniors to loved ones, and bridge the digital divide for a fuller and happier life. So much great info in this episode!”
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