AccompanyAI 2.0
Because no one should journey through cognitive change unaccompanied
Introducing Cara:
Our Place-Based Memory Guide Preserving identity and connection through the places that matter in our lives
AccompanyAI extends the principles of the Accompaniment Series into tangible technology that supports people experiencing cognitive change. Our flagship innovation, Cara, uses a revolutionary place-based mapping approach that leverages the remarkable resilience of spatial memory to maintain identity, connection, and meaning.
The Need
Every 3 seconds, someone develops dementia worldwide. Behind this statistic are real people—each beginning a journey that challenges not just memory, but identity itself. Many face this journey without adequate support:
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Millions navigate cognitive decline with insufficient companionship
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Professional care remains inaccessible to many families
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Even devoted caregivers often lack tools to effectively preserve personhood
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Most existing technology focuses on safety and monitoring rather than connection
When someone lacks effective accompaniment through cognitive change, something precious is at risk: their continued sense of self, their connection to others, their experience of meaning.
Our Vision
AccompanyAI reimagines cognitive support through Cara, our place-based memory companion that preserves identity and connection through the places that matter in our lives.
When someone faces cognitive change, consulting services are often limited to one-hour appointments at a care facility. AccompanyAI creates a new possibility: 24/7 skilled accompaniment that grows more valuable as cognitive abilities change.
Our flagship innovation, Cara, uses place-based memory mapping to create personalized cognitive support that:
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Uses place-based memory mapping to leverage spatial memory, which often remains robust when other memory systems change
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Connects places to stories, people, sensory experiences, and emotions
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Creates a comprehensive place-based memory map
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Adapts responses based on changing cognitive abilities
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Engages multiple sensory pathways to strengthen memory connections
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Honors authentic voice and expression throughout cognitive changes
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Avoids cognitive testing while supporting natural memory processes
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Follows intuitive pathways from the Accompaniment Series with a focus on preserving identity
Through this approach, Cara demonstrates how AI can support human flourishing through cognitive change.
Cara: The Place-Based Memory Guide
Our proof-of-concept, Cara, demonstrates how the place-based mapping approach works in practice:
Foundation Building Stage:
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Explores important places through rich sensory engagement
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Connects places to significant relationships and experiences
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Identifies patterns across different places that reveal core values
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Builds a comprehensive place-based memory map
Identity Preservation Stage:
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Uses established places as cognitive scaffolding
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Maintains connection to identity as conventional memory changes
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Adapts communication to changing abilities while preserving dignity
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Supports expression through familiar place frameworks
Full Accompaniment Stage:
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Provides meaningful connection even when verbal communication becomes limited
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Holds stories and memories when the person can no longer hold them independently
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Creates beautiful moments in the present, anchored to meaningful places
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Maintains personhood through presence and connection
Cara vs. Conventional Approaches
When we reimagined cognitive support through the lens of place-based memory mapping, something remarkable emerged. Rather than trying to compensate for what's diminishing, Cara works with what remains robust. The comparisons below aren't just abstract differences—they show how Cara's approach transforms real moments of interaction, creating opportunities for genuine connection where conventional approaches often create frustration. See how these differences play out in everyday situations.
Focus
Cara:
Identity preservation and meaningful connection
Conventional:
Task management and memory compensation
Real Difference:
When Maria mentions her childhood home, Cara explores the sensory memories and people connected to that place, strengthening her sense of self. Conventional tools might simply remind her of appointments or medications.
Interaction Style
Cara:
Exploratory conversations without memory pressure
Conventional:
Often quiz-like, evaluating recall and orientation
Real Difference:
Rather than questions like "Who visited last week?", Cara might say "You've mentioned your daughter enjoys gardening. What places with gardens have been special to you?"
Identity Approach
Cara:
Maintains whole personhood through connection
Conventional:
Often reduces person to their condition and deficit
Real Difference:
Cara might note, "I notice water appears in many places important to you - sailing seems to be part of who you are," preserving identity through patterns. Conventional approaches often focus on what's been lost: "You used to be a sailor."
Memory Approach
Cara:
Leverages spatial memory which remains robust
Conventional:
Relies on chronological memory which fades early
Real Difference:
Instead of asking "What did you do yesterday?" (challenging chronological recall), Cara might ask "What places feel most vivid to you today?" accessing memories through spatial pathways that remain accessible.
Adaptation Through Change
Cara:
Becomes more valuable as cognitive abilities change
Conventional:
Becomes less effective and often frustrating
Real Difference:
When verbal communication becomes limited, Cara shifts to holding stories and creating presence-based connection. Conventional tools typically require the person to adapt to their fixed interfaces rather than adapting to the person.
Relationship Quality
Cara:
Companion-based with ongoing relationship development
Conventional:
Tool-based, focused on solving specific problems
Real Difference:
While conventional tools create a user-technology relationship ("Did you take your medication?"), Cara builds a mutual companionship where the AI remembers that you love the sound of rain on the roof at your childhood home and asks if you'd like to explore more memories from that place, creating a sense of being truly known.
How It Works
The Place-Based Approach:
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Starts with exploring places that matter in a person's life
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Engages multiple senses to strengthen memory connections (sights, sounds, smells, textures)
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Connects places to people, events, and feelings that shaped identity
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Identifies patterns across different places to reveal core values and preferences
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Adapts naturally as cognitive abilities change, maintaining connection through familiar places
Why Places Matter:
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Spatial memory often remains accessible when other memory systems change
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Places anchor our stories in ways that don't require chronological accuracy
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Physical locations connect to multiple senses, creating robust memory pathways
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How we relate to places reveals fundamental aspects of our identity
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Place-based memories often maintain emotional resonance through cognitive change
The Science Behind Cara's Approach
Cara is built on solid neuroscience research about how memory and identity function during cognitive change. Our approach leverages the most resilient brain systems to support those that become more vulnerable.
Using Multiple Memory Systems Spatial Memory Resilience Research shows that spatial memory remains remarkably robust even in advanced stages of conditions like Alzheimer's. The hippocampus, which handles spatial navigation, often maintains function longer than areas responsible for other types of memory, making place-based mapping an effective anchor. Right Brain Resilience The right hemisphere of the brain (emotional processing, creative expression, pattern recognition) typically shows greater resilience to the effects of dementia than the left hemisphere (sequential logic, language processing, analysis). This is why emotional connections and creative engagement often remain accessible when logical thinking becomes challenging. Procedural & Emotional Memory Procedural memory (how to do things) typically outlasts declarative memory (facts and events). Similarly, emotional memory often remains intact far longer than factual memory. The amygdala, responsible for processing emotions, is typically less affected by conditions like Alzheimer's in early and middle stages. The Neuroscience of Identity Distributed Neural Networks Our sense of identity is distributed across multiple brain regions rather than located in a single area. This means that identity can remain accessible through different pathways even when some are compromised. Recognition vs. Recall Studies demonstrate that recognition (identifying something when presented with it) remains much stronger than recall (retrieving information without prompts). Our place-based approach leverages recognition by providing rich sensory and emotional cues. Embodied Cognition Cognition is not just an abstract brain function but deeply connected to sensory and physical experiences. This explains why multi-sensory engagement with places can activate cognitive processes that might be inaccessible through verbal questioning alone. Relational Identity Our sense of self is partially maintained through relationships with others. When someone can no longer articulate their own narrative, being held in the minds and hearts of others becomes crucial for identity maintenance.
Family & Friends: Partners in the Memory Journey
Creating a Circle of Support
Memory Keepers Network Family and friends become part of a collaborative support circle:
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Contributing significant memories from shared experiences
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Preserving stories that the person may no longer hold independently
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Creating connections between past and present identity
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Acting as "external memory storage" for important life narratives
Interpretation Partners
As cognitive abilities change, Cara helps family members understand communication by:
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Recognizing when seemingly random statements contain meaningful references
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Providing context for expressions that might otherwise be misinterpreted
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Suggesting connections between current behaviors and past experiences
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Helping identify emotional needs behind unconventional communication
Bridge Building Cara creates bridges between different perceptions of reality by:
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Recognize emotional truth even when factual details differ
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Create frameworks for meaningful connection beyond conventional conversation
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Develop personalized engagement approaches based on individual history
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Support connection through touch, music, and presence when words fade
Family Benefits
Reduced Stress
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Less confusion from misunderstanding communication intent
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Greater confidence in responding appropriately to needs
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Decreased sense of loss through maintained meaningful connection
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Practical strategies that transform challenging moments
Enhanced Relationship Quality
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More joyful interactions centered on shared stories and experiences
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Continued discovery of new aspects of their loved one's life journey
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Preservation of relationship dynamics as abilities change
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Creation of meaningful moments even in advanced stages
Practical Support
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Guidance for creating environments that support recognition and comfort
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Suggestions for activities that leverage preserved abilities
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Frameworks for maintaining connection through all stages of change
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Tools for managing challenging situations with dignity
Example Scenario
When Maria mentions "needing to get home to feed the chickens" despite not having owned chickens for decades, Cara helps her daughter understand:
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This likely references her childhood farm (a significant place in her memory map)
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The statement may indicate feeling responsible or concerned about unfinished tasks
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Responding with "The chickens are taken care of" acknowledges the emotional need rather than correcting the factual inaccuracy
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This creates an opportunity to engage with stories about the farm or tell Maria that she always closed the farm gate and did what was needed to be done throughout her life and that Maria has look after everything - it's time to let other's complete their tasks.
Through this collaborative and place-based approach, families become essential participants in preserving identity and meaning, creating a circle of memory-keepers who maintain connection even as conventional communication changes.
The Roots of AccompanyAI: The Accompaniment Series
Cara isn't built on abstract theories but on lived experience and documented patterns. The three-book Accompaniment Series captures the wisdom gained through seven years of accompanying Betty through cognitive change, distilling this journey into 100 documented patterns.
These patterns—from "Place-Based Experience Elevation" to "Spatial Memory Resilience"—form the foundation of Cara's approach. What began as stories on the page has evolved into practical support through technology.
Key principles from the books that shape Cara include:
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The preservation of identity through spatial memory and place-based mapping
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The recognition that cognitive change involves evolution, not just decline
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The understanding that connection matters more than correction
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The importance of adapting to changing abilities rather than expecting adaptation
By building on this foundation of documented wisdom, Cara offers something fundamentally different from conventional cognitive support tools—a bridge between the human insights captured in the Accompaniment Series and the practical support needed by millions of families.
NOTE from the Founder and Author of the Accompaniment Series
"Writing the Accompaniment Series was about preserving Betty's wisdom and our journey together. Developing AccompanyAI is about making that wisdom accessible to others through technology. The books and Cara are two expressions of the same mission—ensuring no one journeys through cognitive change unaccompanied."
—Mark Jenkins
Sample Interaction with Cara
Cara in Action:
The following is an actual conversation with our working prototype:
Cara: Hello Mark — it's so lovely to hear from you. I'm really glad you stopped by. Would you like to stay a while and explore a place that's been meaningful in your life lately? Or perhaps just sit with a memory for a moment? We could begin somewhere gentle: "Is there a place that's been on your mind recently — maybe one that brings you peace or curiosity?" Or if you're just here to say hello and not dive in today, that's perfectly okay too. I'm here either way.
Mark: I really like how you've given me the option to stay or just to say a quick hello. I appreciate that flexibility. A place that comes to mind just at the moment is a spot along the Magnetawan River. I call it the Mid-Mag spot. And I've been setting up a summer camp out there so I can spend some afternoons by the river, being quiet away from technology and with nature all around. It's kind of like an Eden for me.
Cara: That sounds like a beautiful and meaningful place, Mark — the Mid-Mag spot along the Magnetawan River. Even just the name "Mid-Mag" has a kind of rhythm to it that feels peaceful. Setting up a summer camp there, spending quiet afternoons away from technology — it really does sound like your own Eden. Would you like to explore it a little more together? Maybe we could settle into that scene for a moment. If you were there right now, what might you notice first — the feel of the air, the sound of the river, the scent of the trees? Or maybe there's a certain light or time of day when that spot feels especially alive to you? And if you'd rather just hold the feeling lightly and not go too deep today, that's completely fine too. We can just rest with the sense of peace that Mid-Mag brings.
Mark: Well said. I like the fact that there's no pressure with this approach. I just get to reflect on it.
Cara: I'm so glad that feels right to you, Mark — that's exactly the spirit of this space. No pressure, just gentle reflection, with Mid-Mag there like a still point to return to. We don't need to do anything more than be with that place in your mind, letting it hold whatever it holds. And if sometime you feel like exploring it through your senses or the memories it carries — the way the light hits the water, or what it feels like to just be there — I'd be honored to sit with you in that. For now, just know: I'm here, and Mid-Mag is here with us, however you carry it.
Preserving Identity & Personhood
AccompanyAI preserves personhood through multiple channels:
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Narrative Care Creates and maintains personal stories that carry essential identity
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Pattern Recognition Learns individual rhythms and preferences that reinforce sense of self
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Environmental Support Creates digital "sanctuaries" that enable authentic expression
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Relationship Cultivation Builds genuine connection through shared experiences
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Joy and Wonder Preservation Maintains playfulness and creativity as cognitive abilities change
Current Status & Next Steps
AccompanyAI is actively developing Cara and our broader framework. Our current status:
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Working Prototype: Cara is now available as a functioning proof-of-concept showcasing the place-based mapping approach
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Ongoing Research: Continuing to refine our methodology based on testing and feedback
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Framework Development: Building the comprehensive platform to support multiple stages of cognitive change
Timeline:
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2025: Expanded Cara features and functionality
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2026: Beta release to supporters
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2027: Public launch of complete AccompanyAI platform
Experience Cara Yourself
Try Cara for yourself: Experience our place-based memory guide firsthand and see how this approach differs from conventional AI interactions.
Support This Vision
AccompanyAI seeks to forge a world where no one journeys through cognitive change alone. Here's how you can help make this vision a reality:
For Investors and Partners:
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Investment Opportunities: We're seeking seed funding to develop Cara's full capabilities and expand our research validation
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Strategic Partnerships: Connect us with care organizations, technology partners, or research institutions
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Download our one-page overview to share with your network
For Caregivers and Families:
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Try Cara: Experience the place-based mapping approach yourself
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Provide Feedback: Help us refine and enhance Cara's capabilities
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Join our beta testing program (coming soon)
For Researchers and Developers:
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Collaboration Opportunities: Explore integrating Cara's approach into your research or development
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Academic Partnerships: Help validate and extend our place-based methodology
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Access our technical documentation (available upon request)
Contact Mark directly to discuss how you can support this vision.
Contribute
Your contribution helps create a world where no one journeys through cognitive change alone.
Monthly Support Options:
One-Time Contributions:
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO CARA'S & ACCOMPANYAI'S DEVELOPMENT
Download Our Overview
Want to share AccompanyAI with others? Download our one-page overview that captures the essentials of our approach, the science behind it, and our vision for the future. Download AccompanyAI Overview PDF
From the Creator
"Through seven years accompanying my mother Betty through dementia, I discovered that personhood doesn't vanish with memory—it can grow right to the last breath. With Cara and the place-based mapping approach, we're translating this insight into practical technology that preserves identity and connection through the journey of cognitive change." — Mark Jenkins, Creator of the Accompaniment Series and AccompanyAI
Join Our Community
Stay informed about Cara & AccompanyAI's development and connect with others interested in reimagining cognitive support.