AI-based reminiscence pilot aims to stimulate recall in memory care patients

Telememory, a telehealth startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to power its digital reminiscence technology, is partnering with Delmar Gardens Enterprises to create an Alpha testing program to connect memory care patients and families to their legacies. The program will also track patients’ emotional responses to help improve their health and happiness.

"Telememory is on a mission to harness the healing power of life stories,” said Eliot Arnold, CEO, Telememory. “Stimulating long-term memory recall, keeping people connected to their legacies by way of emotionally engaging and informative digital experiences has a significant impact on everyone. We are helping families collect, curate, and reminisce together privately and securely with our next-generation software."

The monthlong program will use Telememory’s Reminisce+ technology to collect information about a patient’s life to create a digital biography and curate personalized images, music, video and art to promote emotional responses, long-term memory recall and information sharing. Families can also stream and share content through narrowcasting and telepresence technology. The technology then gauges a patient’s recall by analyzing their emotional and biometric responses to the memories and provides appropriate content recommendations and alerts.

"COVID-19 has accelerated the need for more telehealth solutions that connect family and friends to our residents," said Kathy Gilmore, senior vice president, Delmar Gardens Enterprises.

"We pride ourselves on offering the latest and greatest technology to help our residents stay happy, healthy and engaged. Telememory is developing a groundbreaking solution that may be able to offer non-pharmacological means of improving mood, reducing anxiety and feelings of isolation."

Telememory’s Reminisce+ technology provides patients’ friends and family with a digital means to remotely relive their experiences while measuring memory recollection and overall engagement. The partnership will provide Telememory with access to expertise in memory care, a means to measure the benefits of digital reminiscence and the ability to incorporate findings and feedback from the program into its beta features.

"When my father was diagnosed with dementia, I realized there was no technology purpose-built to help him stay connected to his life interests: art, music, bridge, family, friends,” added Arnold.

“I started Telememory to address this challenge, as well as find non-pharmacological solutions for my dad to improve his mood, slow cognitive decline and stay engaged and fulfilled."

The caregivers at Delmar Gardens Enterprises will use Telememory’s technology to understand patients and their families’ needs better and scale their therapeutic solutions without increasing associated costs.