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Caregivers often become responsible for the essentials: medications, medical appointments, finances, transportation and safety.
But what happens to the small moments that make an older adult’s life enjoyable?
In this episode, Jeanette Yates speaks with Nick Mehdi, co-founder of Donna, an AI phone companion designed for older adults.
The idea began when Nick noticed that his grandfather—a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan—kept missing baseball games because he did not realise they were on. His family was successfully managing the major responsibilities of caregiving, but smaller reminders connected to his identity, interests and enjoyment were getting lost.
Nick explains how Donna uses scheduled conversational phone calls to remind older adults about sporting events, appointments and everyday activities. He also shares why a phone conversation can offer something that a standard smartphone notification cannot.
Jeanette and Nick explore the difference between helping an aging parent survive and helping them thrive, as well as the responsibility technology companies have to protect privacy, consent and autonomy.
They also discuss why Donna is intended to add to family connection—not replace it—and why an older adult should remain in control of whether their call summaries are shared.
This conversation offers a thoughtful look at how technology might reduce some of the mental load caregivers carry while helping older adults remain connected to the interests and experiences that make life meaningful.
Chapters
00:00 – When Caregiving Conversations Become Logistics
01:34 – Watching a Parent Become a Long-Distance Caregiver
02:56 – The Missed Baseball Games That Started Everything
05:41 – Why Older Adults May Need More Than a Notification
06:28 – Finding a Co-Founder and Developing the Idea
08:03 – Why Voice AI Became Possible Now
09:48 – What Donna Actually Does
11:21 – How Older Adults Build Rapport With AI
13:26 – Surviving Versus Thriving in Older Age
15:32 – Supporting Human Connection Instead of Replacing It
17:50 – Why Small Reminders Fall Through the Cracks
19:20 – Privacy and Who Can Access Conversations
21:22 – Giving Older Adults Control and Consent
22:27 – Why Ethical Onboarding Takes Longer
24:13 – How Families Can Try Donna
26:14 – A Final Message for Caregivers
Donna (website)
App: Search “Donna Companion” in the App Store
Call Donna: 442-212-1723
Jeanette Yates website for caregiver support and care tech resources
Guest: Nick Mehdi on LinkedIn
Support the show
NOW AVAILABLE! From Guilt To Good Enough: A Caregiver’s Journey of Overcoming Burnout Through Healing Childhood by Jeanette Yates. Having been a caregiver for her mother since childhood, Jeanette knows firsthand the emotional toll caregiving can take. In this memoir-turned-self-help guide, she shares her journey of healing, setting boundaries, and reclaiming her life. Click here to purchase your copy!
At The Self-Caregiver LLC we guide women caring for their aging parents overcome burnout and release guilt to create more freedom and fulfillment in their life.
We believe you cannot give more of yourself until you heal the wounds, replenish your being and reconnect to the fullness of who you are, embracing the purpose you‘ve been called to live.
