For many older adults, the hardest part of aging isn’t the aches or appointments — it’s the quiet. That’s where a new kind of companion is stepping in, one that listens, reminds, and helps people stay engaged.

ElliQ , a “Smart Care Companion,” is now offered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to Medicaid clients through its Roads to Community Living program. This program helps people with long-term care needs move from institutions like nursing homes or state hospitals back into their own homes and communities. ElliQ is designed to make that transition easier — and a lot more social.

About the size of a small lamp, ElliQ swivels, lights up, nods, and talks with warmth and humor. It offers reminders for medications, appointments, and hydration, wh

See Full Page