Share your thoughts about a novel AI tool that can support caregivers of people in long-term care.

Family caregivers of long-term care residents are often asked to decide whether the person they're supporting should be sent to hospital or stay in the home. That decision is hard, it usually happens quickly, and families rarely have anyone to think it through with. That's where CareGuide comes in: an AI agent you talk with by telephone, to help families work through that choice.

This study asks family caregivers to try CareGuide on a made-up scenario and share what they thought of it. They want to know three things:

1. Whether caregivers find CareGuide acceptable,
2. Whether it is easy to use, and
3. Whether the recommendations it gives match what a physician would recommend for the same scenario.

What caregivers share will determine whether CareGuide is developed further and how it would be offered to families facing a real transfer decision.

The study is run by the Bruyere Health Research Institute, led by Dr. Daniel Kobewka, funded by AMS Healthcare, and approved by the Bruyere Health Research Ethics Board (REB-2026-103).

Am I eligible?

To be eligible, you must be family caregivers of a person living in a long-term care home. That includes family members, friends, or anyone else who helps care for a resident. The research is open to caregivers from all backgrounds. There is no requirement about the resident's diagnosis, the care relationship, or how long you have been a caregiver. Three practical requirements: you need access to a computer, you need a telephone for the conversation with CareGuide, and the study runs in English only at this time. No typing skills are needed. The scenario you read is fictional, so you never need to share real personal or health information about yourself or anyone else.

What will be expected of me?

About 30 minutes in total, done from home at your own pace. Read a short made-up story about a long-term care resident whose family has to decide about going to hospital. Have a telephone conversation with CareGuide about that decision, roughly 10 minutes, which is audio recorded. Fill in brief questionnaires before and after the call, roughly 20 minutes, covering how you felt about the decision and what you thought of CareGuide. Taking part is voluntary and you can stop at any time.

How do I participate?

Go to bruyere.agentnow.org. Everything happens on that one page: you read the consent form and agree, read the scenario, answer a short questionnaire, enter your phone number so CareGuide can call you, and then answer a second questionnaire after the call.

There is no waiting list and no sign-up step, so a caregiver who is interested can start and finish in one sitting.

Questions can go to Dr. Daniel Kobewka at dkobewka@toh.ca. Contacting us does not mean you have agreed to take part.

There is no honorarium, gift card, or prize draw. Caregivers are not paid for taking part.

Recruitment closes December 31, 2026.