These Avatars Are Helping Seniors With Medical Care

A company called care.coach has designed digital healthcare avatars resembling animals so staff can interact with seniors, reports WXYZ News . "Something that makes it really unique is that we actually have a live individual that is operating the dog or cat 24/7 so always available to interact with the individual," says care.coach's Kendra Seavey. The implication is whenever the avatar is awake — or the camera is turned on — a health advocate employed by care.coach sees and engages with the user. "Most of our participants have had a lost loved one or pet, and they kind of share that love with their animal and say things they might not want to share with us at the moment," says occupational therapist Cely Rosario at Boston's Element Care. "They share with their pet avatar and we're able to follow up." The avatars also can summon help if a senior has taken a fall or needs medical attention.