What our user data tells us about AI in care
When people talk about technology in social care, the conversation often starts with what happens when something goes wrong.
A fall. An emergency. A missed appointment.
But our latest user data shows something much quieter happening day-to-day. Almost two-thirds (64%) of interactions with Sentai are for medication prompts and everyday reminders.
Across a 90-day sample of 33 active users, we recorded 5,420 interactions. Medication prompts accounted for 1,877 interactions and everyday reminders for a further 1,590. For us, that says something important about where technology can make a real difference: not only at the point of crisis, but in the small moments that help somebody keep their day on track.
The small things add up
Remembering medication, drinking enough water or keeping track of appointments can sound simple. For families, though, these are often the things they carry around in their heads all day.
Did Mum take her tablets? Has Dad eaten?
Our previous research found a third (34%) of family members said constant worry when they were away from their loved one was one of their biggest challenges. That is why routine support matters. Not because every reminder is a crisis, but because together those small responsibilities can become a real mental load.
Family still stays at the centre
Our latest data also shows that technology does not replace family support. Almost three-quarters (73%) of Sentai users had at least one family member providing day-to-day support through the Sentai app for families. That is exactly how we believe technology should work: alongside people, not instead of them.
Anne Hanscomb, who uses Sentai to support her father, put it simply:
“It means that I can have a conversation with dad without having to worry if I have missed something important.”
Families still want to be present, but they do not want every call to become a checklist.
Support should protect independence
Introducing more support is not always easy. Our Before the Worry research found almost half (48%) of families said resistance from the older person was one of the biggest barriers to putting additional support in place.
At the same time, more than three quarters (76%) said they would accept support sooner if it meant they could remain living at home for longer.
For us, that is the key. Support should help somebody keep doing things for themselves, not take those things away. A reminder at the right time. A friendly check-in. A familiar routine. A way for family to stay connected without constantly stepping in.
Helping human support go further
The future of care is not about choosing between people and technology. It is about using technology thoughtfully, so people have more time and capacity for the things only people can provide: conversation, reassurance, empathy, and relationships.
Peter Otto, CEO of Sentai, said:
“When people talk about technology in social care, the focus is often on what happens when something goes wrong, detecting a fall, raising an alert, or responding to a crisis. But our data shows that much of the support people actually use is focused on everyday needs.”
“Remembering medication or a friendly wellbeing check-in to drink some water might sound like small things, but they are exactly the kind of tasks that help somebody continue living independently and give families reassurance without having to constantly check in.”
If Sentai can take care of another medication reminder or help somebody stay on top of their routine, it can make everyday life a little easier for the person using it and a little less worrying for the family supporting them.
Sometimes, the biggest difference comes from getting the small things right.
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