The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced a $2 million Caregiver Artificial Intelligence Prize Competition to develop support people who care for seniors and people living with disabilities.
“This initiative through HHS’s Administration for Community Living (ACL) recognizes the millions of caregivers who support aging relatives and loved ones with disabilities,” HHS said in a Nov. 18 press release. “Their compassion and commitment form the backbone of America’s long-term care system, helping older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and independence at home and in their communities.”
The AI Prize Competition will “fund and recognize innovators” who develop systems that support caregivers providing safe and effective care in the home (contest track 1), and support employers “by improving efficiency, scheduling and training in the caregiving workforce (contest track 2).”
“Teams will compete for prize awards across three phases — design, implementation and scaling,” the contest website said. Additional contest information will be announced early next year.
“Through this prize competition, we aim to identify technologies that empower caregivers and expand access to high-quality care at home,” said Acting Administration for Community Living Administrator (ACL) and Assistant Secretary for Aging Mary Lazare. “ACL is committed to advancing scalable, practical solutions that improve the lives of the millions of Americans who give and receive care every day.”
November is National Family Caregivers Month, as well as National Home Care Month. In July, an AARP report estimated that 63 million Americans are caregivers for family members. That’s an increase of 20 million caregivers (45%) in the last 10 years.
“This means roughly one in four American adults are caregivers, with 59 million caring for adults and 4 million for children under 18 with an illness or disability,” the AARP announcement said. It added that caregivers are taking on care for patients with more complex medical conditions, “often at the expense of their own health and financial security.”
The average caregiver is 51 years old, and AARP noted that the average age for caregivers is getting younger.
