{"id":74300,"date":"2026-06-15T13:43:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T13:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/74300\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T13:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T13:43:16","slug":"ai-companions-offer-connection-for-older-adults-but-cant-replace-human-contact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/74300\/","title":{"rendered":"AI companions offer connection for older adults but can\u2019t replace human contact"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text | article-text\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aginguntold.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.aginguntold.com\/\">Aging Untold<\/a>) \u2014 One in three adults reports feeling loneliness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tech companies are rolling out AI chatbots designed to serve as companions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">These programs are available around the clock, can hold conversations and remember personal details. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">The Aging Untold experts say the technology serves a dual purpose and comes with important limitations. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cThey should never, ever, ever replace human companionship,\u201d Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said. \u201cThey can enhance it and they can add to it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Cradduck explained that AI companions can handle helpful tasks like check-ins and reminders while family members are at work, allowing caregivers to balance their responsibilities. But she emphasized the technology should never substitute for picking up the phone to call mom, dad or grandparents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cYou still need human interaction,\u201d Cradduck said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, noted another concern with overreliance on AI companions. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cSometimes that information is not always correct,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cBut isolation is a big deal in terms of depression and the toll that it takes on the body as well. So you have to balance it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Amy O\u2019Rourke, an aging expert, said she became a supporter of the technology after watching a clip of an older woman talking to a chatbot. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">\u201cShe was so happy and so fulfilled and so engaged, and she really lived in a rural community and didn\u2019t have any access to anybody,\u201d O\u2019Rourke said. \u201cI thought, well, all or nothing, like if you don\u2019t have anybody at least.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Studies show the technology does improve loneliness, O\u2019Rourke said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">Katherine Ambrose, an aging-well coach, said some AI companions can ask questions about an older adult\u2019s history and record the answers for family members. <\/p>\n<p>Six key takeaways AI companions can reduce isolation, but shouldn\u2019t replace human contact: The technology works best as a supplement to family calls and visits, not a replacement. Experts recommend using AI chatbots for check-ins and reminders between human interactions. Information accuracy remains a concern: Users and caregivers should be cautious about relying too heavily on advice from AI companions as the information provided is not always correct. Rural and isolated older adults may benefit most: For older adults living in rural communities without easy access to family or friends, AI companions can provide meaningful engagement and conversation. The technology can support caregivers: AI companions can handle routine check-ins and reminders while family members are at work, helping caregivers balance their responsibilities. Memory care facilities could expand programming: AI chatbots may offer opportunities to enhance activities in memory care units when additional staff members aren\u2019t available. Legacy conversations can be preserved: Some AI companions can ask legacy questions and record older adults talking about their past history for family members. <\/p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\">This program is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen on this program. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. No physician-patient relationship is created by this program or its use. Aging Untold\/Gray Media, nor its employees, contractors or agents, nor any contributor to this program, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use. <\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Aging Untold) \u2014 One in three adults reports feeling loneliness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":74301,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[6907,40946,24,40947,25,40948,40950,40949],"class_list":["post-74300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ai","tag-aging","tag-aging-untold","tag-ai","tag-ai-companions-for-seniors","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-artificial-intelligence-and-older-adults","tag-elder-care-chatbots","tag-technology-and-aging"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}