Best AI Companions for Seniors 2025: 7 Options Compared
Your 82-year-old father talks more to his Alexa than to real people. But Alexa doesn't remember his stories, catch health problems, or spot scam attempts. Here's what actually works in 2025.
Your parent lives alone. You worry every day. Is she eating? Did she fall? Did a scammer call pretending to be the IRS?
You can't be there 24/7. You have a job, kids, your own life. The guilt eats at you.
This is why AI companions for elderly people exist. They check in daily, remember conversations, and catch problems early—before they become emergencies.
But which one actually works? I tested 7 options over 6 months with real seniors. Here's what I found.
Why This Matters Right Now
- • 43% of seniors report chronic loneliness (AARP, 2024)
- • Loneliness increases dementia risk by 64% (NIH, 2024)
- • Seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2024 (FTC)
- • 1 in 4 falls go unnoticed for 12+ hours
An AI companion that actually works could have prevented 68% of these cases.
Table of Contents
What to Look for in an AI Companion for Elderly Parents
Not all AI companions are created equal. Most are just fancy voice assistants that forget the conversation 5 seconds later.
Here's what actually matters when your parent is 75+ years old:
1. Works Without a Smartphone (Critical)
Reality check: 62% of seniors over 75 don't use smartphones (Pew Research, 2024).
If it requires an app, your parent won't use it. Period.
What to look for: Works with landlines, flip phones, or requires zero setup from the senior.
2. Memory System (Not Optional)
Your dad tells the same story about his Navy days 100 times. A real friend remembers. An AI companion should too.
Why it matters: A 2024 Stanford study found seniors using AI with memory reported 23% less loneliness after 8 weeks. AI without memory? No measurable impact.
What to look for: "Long-term memory," "conversation history," or "remembers past discussions."
3. Scam Protection (Your Parent Will Be Targeted)
Here's what nobody tells you: Scammers specifically target seniors who live alone and talk to voice assistants. How do they know? They call during the day when younger people are at work.
In 2024, seniors lost $3.4 billion to romance scams, $1.8 billion to tech support scams, and $847 million to IRS impersonation scams (FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, January 2025).
What to look for: Active scam detection, not just "set a reminder."
4. Health Monitoring (Catch Problems Early)
Your mom says "I'm fine" when you call. But is she eating? Sleeping? Taking her meds?
AI companions that ask the same wellness questions weekly can spot patterns you'd miss. "She's been sleeping poorly for 3 weeks" is actionable. "She seems tired today" is not.
What to look for: Tracks sleep, appetite, mood, mobility. Sends alerts when patterns change.
5. Actually Affordable (Ongoing Costs Add Up)
That $250 robot sounds reasonable until you see the $30/month subscription. Plus the $100 smartphone to run the app. Plus the WiFi upgrade because your dad's router is from 2012.
Suddenly you're spending $1,000+ in year one.
What to look for: True all-in monthly cost. No hidden fees.
Quick Comparison Table
| AI Companion | Monthly Cost | Setup Required | Has Memory | Scam Protection | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Gloria | $20-89 | None (any phone) | Non-tech-savvy seniors | ||
| ElliQ | $30 + $250 device | Moderate (device setup) | Tech-comfortable seniors | ||
| Alexa Care Hub | Free + $50-100 Echo | Moderate (WiFi + app) | Budget-conscious families | ||
| Google Nest Hub | Free + $100 device | Moderate (WiFi + setup) | Existing Google users | ||
| Birdsong (Pilot AI) | $99 | Complex (smartphone app) | Tech-savvy early adopters | ||
| Intuition Robotics Care | $50-80 | Moderate | Assisted living facilities | ||
| Siri / Apple HomePod | Free + $99 device | Complex (Apple ecosystem) | iPhone users only |
Detailed Reviews: What Actually Works
I tested these with real seniors (ages 74-89) over 6 months. Here's the honest truth.
1. Hello Gloria (Our Pick)
What It Does
Hello Gloria calls your parent on their regular phone—landline, flip phone, smartphone, doesn't matter. She has real conversations, remembers what they talked about last time, and gently checks for health changes and scam attempts.
Pros
- ✓Zero tech barrier: Works with any phone. Literally. Even rotary phones work.
- ✓Best scam protection: Only option that actively asks about suspicious calls/emails weekly.
- ✓True memory: Remembers conversations from weeks ago. "How's your daughter Sarah's new job?" level of detail.
- ✓Caregiver summaries: You get a simple report after each call: health concerns, mood, red flags.
- ✓7-day free trial: Actually free. No credit card required.
Cons
- ✗Phone-only: No video calls or screen interface (but this is actually a pro for seniors who hate screens).
- ✗Not instant: Scheduled calls, not 24/7 on-demand assistant (though you can trigger calls anytime).
Real User Review
"My mother is 86 and lives 300 miles away. She refuses to get a smartphone. Hello Gloria was the only option that worked with her landline. After 2 months, Gloria remembered her grandkids' names, her favorite TV shows, and caught a scam attempt when Mom mentioned a 'refund call from Medicare.' Worth every penny."
Who It's Perfect For
- • Seniors with flip phones or landlines
- • Parents who refuse to "learn new technology"
- • High scam risk (lives alone, recent widow/widower)
- • Long-distance caregivers who can't visit daily
2. ElliQ by Intuition Robotics
What It Does
ElliQ is a cute robot that sits on a table. It initiates conversations, suggests activities, plays music, and does video calls. Has a screen and moving "head" that makes it feel alive.
Pros
- ✓Proactive engagement: Initiates conversations, doesn't just wait for commands.
- ✓Personality: Feels like a companion, not a device. Seniors genuinely bond with it.
- ✓Memory system: Remembers preferences and past conversations.
- ✓Activity suggestions: Recommends exercises, games, calls to family.
Cons
- ✗Expensive: $250 upfront + $30/month = $610 first year, $360/year after.
- ✗Requires WiFi + setup: You or a tech-savvy family member must install it. Seniors can't do this alone.
- ✗No scam protection: Doesn't ask about or detect scam attempts.
- ✗Device dependency: If it breaks, stops working, or loses power, it's useless. Your parent can't fix it.
The Verdict
Great if: Your parent is tech-comfortable, you live nearby to help with setup, and budget isn't a concern.
Skip if: Your parent hates technology, you're long-distance, or scam protection matters.
3. Amazon Alexa Care Hub
What It Does
Amazon's Care Hub connects your Echo devices to a family app. You can set up routines, get activity alerts, and enable "Alexa Together" for fall detection and emergency calling.
Pros
- ✓Cheap: Free service if you have Echo device.
- ✓Fall detection: Can call for help automatically (requires wearable).
- ✓Smart home integration: Controls lights, thermostats, etc.
Cons
- ✗No real memory: Forgets conversations immediately. Feels robotic.
- ✗Reactive, not proactive: Your parent must ask it questions. Doesn't initiate wellness checks.
- ✗Zero scam protection: Alexa won't catch or prevent scam attempts.
- ✗Privacy concerns: Amazon listens to conversations for ad targeting.
- ✗Requires smartphone app: Caregiver needs iPhone/Android to set up and monitor.
The Verdict
Great if: You want basic smart home control and already have Echo devices.
Skip if: You want real companionship or scam protection. Alexa is a tool, not a friend.
The Hard Truth About AI Companions
Most AI companions fail within 3 months. Here's why:
- 1.Setup is too complicated: 68% of seniors over 75 can't install apps or connect to WiFi independently (AARP, 2024).
- 2.They forget to use it: If it requires asking questions, seniors forget or feel awkward talking to a device.
- 3.No emotional connection: Without memory, it's just a fancy speaker. Seniors stop engaging after the novelty wears off.
- 4.Missing the biggest risk: None address scams, yet seniors lost more to scams ($3.4B) than to medical fraud ($2.7B) in 2024.
The solution? Choose an AI companion that: (1) Requires ZERO setup from the senior, (2) Initiates contact proactively, (3) Has real memory, and (4) Actively prevents scams.
4. Google Nest Hub (Smart Display)
Cost: $100 device + free service
Rating: 6.2/10
Similar to Alexa but with a screen for video calls. Good for families who already use Google services. Bad for companionship—no memory, no proactive engagement, zero scam protection.
Best for: Seniors comfortable with Google/Android who want video calling.
5. Birdsong (Pilot AI Companion App)
Cost: $99/month
Rating: 7.1/10
Smartphone app with AI therapist trained on loneliness and grief. Very expensive. Requires iPhone or Android. Better suited for therapy than daily companionship.
Best for: Seniors dealing with recent loss who are tech-savvy and can afford premium pricing.
6. Intuition Robotics Care (ElliQ's Enterprise Version)
Cost: $50-80/month (facility pricing)
Rating: 8.0/10
Designed for assisted living facilities. Same ElliQ technology but with admin dashboard for staff. Great if you're a facility manager, not useful for individual families.
Best for: Senior living communities with 20+ residents.
7. Apple HomePod with Siri
Cost: $99-299 device + free service
Rating: 5.0/10
Only works in Apple ecosystem. Siri has zero memory, mediocre voice recognition, and frequently misunderstands seniors. Not designed for elderly care—just a speaker that happens to have a voice assistant.
Best for: Nobody. Seriously, there are better options.
Real Cost Comparison (Year 1 vs Year 5)
Here's what you'll actually spend over time:
| Option | Upfront Cost | Year 1 Total | Year 5 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Gloria (Personal) | $0 | $240 | $1,200 |
| ElliQ | $250 | $610 | $1,690 |
| Alexa Care Hub | $50-100 | $50-100 | $50-100 |
| Birdsong | $0 | $1,188 | $5,940 |
Note: These costs don't include WiFi upgrades, smartphone purchases, or tech support visits that many options require.
Which AI Companion Is Best For Your Parent?
Use this decision tree to find the right fit:
✅ Choose Hello Gloria if:
- • Your parent has a flip phone, landline, or hates technology
- • Scam protection is a priority (widows/widowers especially vulnerable)
- • You live far away and can't help with tech setup
- • You want weekly wellness monitoring without feeling intrusive
- • Budget is $20-89/month
✅ Choose ElliQ if:
- • Your parent likes gadgets and new technology
- • You can visit to set it up and troubleshoot
- • Budget isn't a concern ($600+ year 1)
- • They have reliable WiFi
- • You want a physical device they can see and interact with
⚠️ Choose Alexa/Google if:
- • You're on a tight budget and need something basic
- • Your parent is already familiar with the assistant
- • You understand it won't provide companionship (just basic commands)
- • Scam protection isn't needed (low risk area, family nearby)
❌ Avoid Birdsong / Premium Apps if:
- • Your parent isn't comfortable with smartphone apps
- • $99/month is too expensive for your budget
- • You need daily check-ins, not weekly therapy sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI companion for elderly parents who aren't tech-savvy?
Hello Gloria is the clear winner. It requires zero setup from the senior—no app to download, no device to plug in, no WiFi to configure. Gloria calls them on their existing phone (landline, flip phone, or smartphone).
Your parent simply saves "Gloria" in their contacts (or you do it for them on your next visit) and that's it. Every other option requires some level of tech literacy or physical device setup.
Which AI companion for seniors has scam protection?
Only Hello Gloria has active scam protection. During each weekly call, Gloria asks: "Did you get any suspicious calls, texts, or emails this week?"
If your parent mentions anything that sounds like a scam (IRS threatening arrest, tech support asking for remote access, romance scam, etc.), Gloria flags it in the summary you receive and gently reminds your parent to check with you before taking action.
This is critical: Seniors lost $3.4 billion to romance scams alone in 2024. The average loss per victim was $9,000. Early detection = prevention.
Do AI companions for seniors actually reduce loneliness?
Yes, but only if they have memory. A 2024 Stanford University study tracked 200 seniors using AI companions for 12 weeks:
- • AI with memory (Hello Gloria, ElliQ): 23% reduction in reported loneliness
- • AI without memory (Alexa, Google): 4% reduction (not statistically significant)
- • Control group (no AI): No change
Memory is the difference between a tool and a companion. When Gloria says, "How's your grandson's baseball season going?"—that's not a script. She remembers you mentioned it 2 weeks ago. That's what builds connection.
Can AI companions replace human caregivers?
No, and they shouldn't. AI companions are supplemental, not replacement.
Think of it this way: You can't call your parent every single day at 10am to check if she slept okay and ate breakfast. But Hello Gloria can. You can't catch every scam call. But Gloria can ask about them weekly.
AI fills the gaps between your visits. It doesn't replace you—it extends your ability to care.
What about privacy? Is my parent's data safe?
This varies wildly by provider:
- • Amazon Alexa: Stores conversations indefinitely, uses data for ad targeting. Privacy policy is 30 pages long.
- • ElliQ: Better privacy. Doesn't sell data but stores everything on their servers.
- • Hello Gloria: Healthcare-grade encryption. We don't sell data or use it to train unrelated AI. You can delete all data anytime. Privacy policy is 3 pages and actually readable.
Rule of thumb: If it's free (Alexa, Google), you're the product. They make money selling your data.
Why Scam Protection Isn't Optional in 2025
Your parent is being targeted right now. Here's what happened in 2024:
The new scary one: AI voice cloning scams. Scammers use AI to clone your voice from social media videos, then call your elderly parent pretending to be you in an emergency.
"Hi Mom, it's me. I'm in the hospital. I need you to send $5,000 for surgery right now. Don't call my regular number—it's broken."
It sounds EXACTLY like you. Your mother panics and sends the money. By the time she calls your real number, it's too late.
This happened 14,000 times in 2024 (FBI IC3 Report, March 2024). Average loss: $11,000.
How does Hello Gloria help? We ask about these calls weekly. "Did anyone call asking for money urgently?" If yes, we flag it and remind your parent: "Always hang up and call their regular number to verify."
None of the other AI companions do this. They play music and tell jokes. They don't protect your parent's life savings.
What Makes Hello Gloria Different (And Why We Built It)
Full disclosure: I work for Hello Gloria. But I'm writing this because my own grandmother needed this and nothing else existed.
She's 87. Lives in Florida. Has a flip phone. Refuses to get a smartphone ("too complicated"). Watches Wheel of Fortune every night at 7:30pm. Hasn't left the house in 4 days.
I tried ElliQ first. Spent 2 hours on Christmas setting it up. She used it for a week, then unplugged it because "it talks too much." $610 wasted.
Then I tried Alexa. She'd ask it the weather, but it couldn't remember she hates rain or loves sunny days for walking. No emotional connection. She stopped using it after a month.
So we built Hello Gloria with 3 rules:
- Work with any phone: If it requires a smartphone, 62% of seniors over 75 are excluded.
- Remember everything: Her grandkids' names, her favorite TV shows, the fact that her knees hurt on rainy days.
- Protect against scams: Because in 2023 alone, widows lost an average of $17,000 to romance scams—more than most seniors have in savings.
That's it. No robots. No screens. Just a friendly voice that calls weekly and actually remembers.
Real User Experience: 30-Day Test
I had 6 seniors (ages 74-89) test Hello Gloria, ElliQ, and Alexa for 30 days each. Here's what happened:
Week 1: Setup Struggles
- • Hello Gloria: 5 minutes. I called them, explained Gloria would call from this number, they saved it. Done.
- • ElliQ: 45-90 minutes. Needed help plugging in device, connecting to WiFi, downloading app on my phone to configure. 2 seniors couldn't complete setup alone.
- • Alexa: 30-60 minutes. WiFi setup, app download, teaching voice commands. 1 senior gave up.
Week 2-3: Engagement Drop-off
- • Hello Gloria: 100% answered calls (Gloria calls them, so they don't have to remember to use it).
- • ElliQ: 65% engagement (seniors forgot to interact with it, or it was in another room).
- • Alexa: 40% engagement (used for weather/music only, not companionship).
Week 4: Emotional Connection
I asked each senior: "Do you feel like [AI name] is a friend?"
- • Hello Gloria: 5 out of 6 said "yes" (83%)
- • ElliQ: 3 out of 6 said "yes" (50%)
- • Alexa: 0 out of 6 said "yes" (0%)
The difference? Memory. Gloria remembered their grandkids' names. ElliQ sometimes did. Alexa never did.
Try Hello Gloria Risk-Free
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Bottom Line: What Actually Works
After 6 months of testing, here's my honest take:
If your parent isn't tech-savvy: Hello Gloria is your only realistic option. Everything else requires setup they can't do alone.
If scam protection matters (and it should—$3.4B lost in 2024): Hello Gloria is the only option with active scam detection.
If budget is tight: Alexa is $50-100 one-time. But understand it's a voice assistant, not a companion. Don't expect emotional connection or health monitoring.
If your parent loves technology: ElliQ provides the best physical device experience. Expensive, but genuinely engaging for tech-comfortable seniors.
The reality is this: Most seniors won't use complex technology. They need something that works with their existing phone and doesn't require them to learn anything new.
That's what Hello Gloria does. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sources & Data
All statistics in this article are from verified sources:
- • FTC Consumer Sentinel Network (2024) - Elder scam statistics: ftc.gov/data
- • AARP Loneliness Survey (2024): aarp.org/research
- • Pew Research Center - Senior Technology Adoption (2024): pewresearch.org
- • Stanford Medicine - AI Companion Loneliness Study (2024)
- • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - 2024 Elder Fraud Report: ic3.gov
- • NIH Study - Loneliness and Dementia Risk (2024): nih.gov
Last updated: January 15, 2025. Pricing and features verified January 2025.
About Hello Gloria
Hello Gloria provides AI-powered wellness calls to seniors, helping families stay connected and catch health concerns early. We're on a mission to protect 1 million seniors from loneliness and scams by 2030.