About the project
AI that helps older adults stay connected with the people who care for them.
CompanionCare is a research initiative exploring multimodal, agentic AI that connects older adults with care teams through natural voice and text, with privacy, consent, and clinical oversight at the center of the design.
Research-driven
Every design decision is grounded in published HCI and clinical informatics research on aging populations.
Privacy-first
Built on open, self-hostable components so sensitive health data stays under institutional control.
Human-centered
Co-designed with older adults and care providers to feel natural, clear, and trustworthy.
Interdisciplinary
Faculty, graduate students, and clinical partners across AI, business, and healthcare.
Our mission
Closing the gap between aging at home and clinical care
Older adults are among the fastest-growing user groups of digital health tools, yet most AI interfaces are not designed for their needs.
CompanionCare investigates how agentic, multimodal AI, combining a realistic voice-and-avatar interface with structured clinical workflows, can bridge the gap between patients and providers while respecting autonomy, privacy, and the realities of aging.
The project is based at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario.
People
Who's building it
Emad Deilam Salehi
PhD Candidate, DeGroote School of Business
View contact card
Help shape care technology for older adults
We're looking for older adults, caregivers and clinical partners to try the companion and tell us what matters.