CareYaya, a health-tech startup based in the Triangle that expanded its services to Charlotte last year, is now rolling out an artificial intelligence-powered art therapy tool for seniors living with dementia.
The company's new app, which is accessible on a tablet or touchscreen, translates bodily movements into images, allowing for visual discovery, memory prompts and creative expression. It can be customized to each dementia patient's capabilities and preferences. It aims to help calm dementia patients and eliminate challenges for CareYaya student caregivers or family home-care providers, especially for those working night shifts.
"When dementia patients and exhausted loved ones alike find space to process emotions and rest easy, the morning becomes brighter," said Neal Shah, CEO and co-founder at CareYaya. "We’re determined to help more families survive nights and rediscover brightness of spirit too long lost to dementia’s grasp."
CareYaya, founded in 2022, has recruited about 200 student caregivers from UNC Charlotte, who are leveraging the program to get closer to their professional goals in a health-related career. Shah said he expects that number to broaden.
The tech-enabled care registry works like Uber — upon request, an elderly person is matched with a college student who has been vetted to provide affordable caregiving services.
"As it grows rapidly, we can easily get 1,200 student caregivers engaged," he said.
CareYaya has hired about 10,000 caregivers across the U.S. at more than 25 universities. It piloted the program at UNC Chapel Hill, then branched out to N.C. State, Duke University and UNC Charlotte.
Families can book home care with CareYaya for $15 to $20 an hour, and 100% of the payment goes to the students.
