Newsletter July 2026
It would seem that Artificial Intelligence (AI), is here to stay, but the main challenge appears to be in using it sensibly, and staying in control.
I heard of a recent radio interview where the proponent of AI suggested ways that a ‘home chatbot’ could be trained by the user to assist with daily living tasks.
A Possible Scenario
A person with a health condition lives alone, but has a nearby relative comes over 2-3 times a day to check that daily medications are taken on time, and to check on daily chores. The person has a chatbot installed by a local AI expert, with strict limitations on connecting to the Internet. The person is shown how to instruct the chatbot to go into ‘learning mode’ and then to switch back into ‘routine mode’, where ‘routine mode’ is used to track the normal day’s routine. They can tell the chatbot to ask certain questions when the person signals they have woken up from sleep, like:
- Are you awake now?
- Are you feeling okay?
- Do you need me to call your sister?
- Do you need me to call an ambulance?
- Please take your medication now
- Do you want the TV on now?
The person could also train the chatbot to call the Pharmacist and to even order medications automatically, if they are on a weekly supply, etc.
The chatbot will record the answers and when the relative returns, she can ask it whether the patient had taken her morning medication, and so on.
It certainly sounds futuristic, doesn’t it?
It seems the future is here and we should embrace the parts that help make our lives easier. There are obviously some very important factors to consider using a chatbot one day, like what happens if the power goes out, or the Wi-Fi modem stops working? There are solutions to these kind of problems, like the installation of an uninterrupted power supply source and a battery cell phone link, for example.
Ofcourse there is absolutely no substitute for the presence of another person to help with these daily routines and tasks, and human interaction is of the utmost importance to someone who lives alone. But in these times where people live such busy lives, healthcare budgets are cut, and in-home services are curtailed, the presence of a well-trained chatbot can be an invaluable help with certain mundane tasks and be another system check to aid the carer.
What about those of us who prefer wall calendars, paper lists and sticky notes?
There is obviously no reason to stop using them, but think of AI as an assistant rather than a replacement.
If we embrace technology and give it a try, you never know – it could free up time in your day to add value in another way that without AI may have been impossible due to time constraints.
So, in closing, try to get the most out of each day, continue to live life to the fullest, stay safe, and most of all, keep smiling and ‘pushing the envelope’ into the future.
Julie Jones, is a disability advocate with a background in the travel industry. When her son was born with Cerebral Palsy, Julie realised the big gap that existed in available information for people with disabilities that wanted to travel. The information when found was either conflicting, or only catered to a specific disability, whereas in reality many disabilities were also invisible – and not all disabilities of the same condition had the same needs.
Newsletter April 2026
Caring for someone living with an autoimmune condition is a deeply human act — one that often happens quietly in the background of daily life.
Whether you’re supporting a partner, family member, or friend, your role matters more than you may realise. And while every situation is unique, there are some simple, foundational principles that can help guide you — especially during times of uncertainty or flare-ups.
Sometimes, the most meaningful support start with the basics
I’m sure most of you know Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His five definitions can basically be broken down into a triangle; our basic human need for food, fire, and shelter. As carers, when caring for our loved ones, we need to make sure that these basic needs are met. Survivalists will tell you that the first thing to take care of is shelter, after which you enable fire, then take care of food.
Shelter
Today most of us shelter in houses, condos, apartments; some of us may even live in trailers or caravans. We are surrounded by floors, walls, windows and covered by lofts and roofs. These features all require some maintenance, and it helps if we make an annual schedule to inspect these features before the seasonal changes we are now experiencing in our parts of the worlds. Assuming some physical ability and competency, we will do our best to conduct these inspections ourselves and come up with a “to do” list. Include the exterior terrain, pools, ponds and sheds/garages. Make sure drains and troughs for excess water runoff are clear. If we aren’t comfortable doing it, then we need to bring in a professional. Some examples would be eaves troughs, second and third story windows, and roof inspections. Check your insurance policy, most insurers now insist on an annual roof and eaves trough inspection done by a professional.
Fire
For fire, this typically means our cooking, heating and cooling infrastructure. Get these checked professionally twice a year, before the cold and hot seasons start. Cooking stoves, BBQs, boilers, water heaters, hot air furnaces, electric baseboards, gas fires and heaters, wood burning fireplaces, wood stoves. Exhausts and flues need to be checked for condition and leaks. You should include electrical, solar and plumbing panels and visible pipes and cables. I would suggest that these tasks be scheduled well ahead of the change in season, and accomplished by a professional. Check fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire blankets.
Food
If you’re lucky, both you and the person you’re caring for can prepare and cook meals, prepare provisioning lists, help with stocking a larder that has a minimum stock tally. Perhaps the actual daily checking and the physical shopping falls to you. If one or both of you are specific diets, then extra care should be taken with the food items you need, for example, seasonal vegetables and fruit. (Often frozen vegetables and fruit are useful in the shoulder seasons, likely less expensive, and tend to last longer.) We sometimes end up with leftovers, and this is where you and your loved one can have fun creating hearty and nutritional meals – even make new recipes.
It’s too easy to focus entirely on the person you’re supporting, but your wellbeing matters too. As carers, we so often carry a lot quietly.
Try to take moments to:
- rest and recharge;
- ask for support when needed;
- stay connected to your own life and identity;
- acknowledge what you’re doing – it’s significant!
You’re not just support someone else’s journey, you’re on one too. So, check your triangle, stay safe, and keep smiling as you stride into the future!
Ever wondered what goes into training and choosing a service dog? Erin’s story and Lexi’s charm bring it to life in a few minutes. Erin, living with Multiple Sclerosis, shares why she chose a service dog and introduces us to Lexi, the four-legged partner who’s changed her everyday life.
