Caring for an aging parent from another state can feel like a second job. Jill Sumner has spent 20+ years in senior care and population health, yet when her own parent began showing signs of memory loss, she still felt like a failure. She ended up juggling AirTags, a medication dispenser, motion sensors, and a smart display, and switching between all of them to see how her parent was doing. This week, Jill and health tech entrepreneur Ernie Ianace join Amy to talk about why caregiving technology is so fragmented, whether AI can actually help, and what every family should ask before trusting a tool with a parent's health data.

In this episode:

• Jill's story of caring for a parent with memory loss from afar, and why working in senior care didn't make it easier
• The sandwich generation squeeze: kids, a job, and aging parents at once
• Three problems Ernie sees over and over: too many disconnected systems, data locked in silos, and tools seniors won't keep using
• What "agentic AI" means in plain English
• Why general-purpose AI isn't built for health information, and why purpose-built, private systems matter
• What to demand from any caregiving tech: a written promise not to use or share your data, strong security, and a clear answer on how your information is used
• Why Jill's Medicare Advantage plan didn't have the dementia care program she enrolled for, and how to verify before you commit
• How to find local resources, and how to ask whether a referral service is neutral or paid by the facility
• Why a local geriatric care manager can make a big difference
• Jill's advice for long-distance caregivers: keep trying
• What aging well means to each guest

Guests:

Jill Sumner is the Founder and Principal of Lyle Health Advisors. She has more than 20 years of experience in payer and provider organizations, with a focus on long-term care, special needs plans, and value-based care. Connect with Jill at Jill Sumner | LinkedIn

Ernie Ianace is Co-Founder and CEO of CareAlly, an AI orchestration platform for institutional healthcare, and Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of InsightAlly.ai.

Learn more at AI Family Engagement for Senior Living | AgeWell | CareAlly

Want more on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and special needs plans? Listen to our Medicare Month series, earlier in the feed.

This episode is sponsored by Naborforce, which connects older adults with vetted, caring neighbors for rides, errands, companionship, and check-ins. Learn more at naborforce.com.

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