How AI will change carer support

On November 30th 2022 the world was given the first wide-scale glimpse of AI. OpenAI released access to its ChatGPT model. It's a simple way for people to chat with and get answers from this novel AI.

Since then, Twitter has been buzzing with innovative uses. Things such as identifying the right excel formulas, coming up with marketing copy and even correcting errors in code.?

I wanted to put it through its paces. To understand where the technology was at, and whether it could be useful immediately for carer support.?

The way you interact is in a chat format. Given a prompt, the AI will produce a response. It can then further refine that response with further prompts from a user.?

At first, I wanted to see how the AI understood the concept of an unpaid carer.

Joe: "How can you identify an unpaid carer?"

AI: An unpaid carer is typically someone who provides care and support to a family member or friend who has a physical or mental illness, disability, or who is otherwise in need of support. Unpaid carers often take on a significant amount of responsibility and may have to sacrifice their own time, money, and personal interests in order to provide care for the person they are supporting. There are no specific characteristics or traits that can be used to identify an unpaid carer, as anyone can become a carer. However, some common signs that someone may be an unpaid carer include:

1. They spend a significant amount of time providing care and support to a family member or friend.
2. They may have to rearrange their work or personal schedule in order to provide care.
3. They may have to take time off work or reduce their hours in order to provide care.
4. They may have to spend their own money on things like medication, equipment, or other supplies that are needed for the person they are caring for.
5. They may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or stressed due to the demands of providing care.
6. They may feel isolated or disconnected from their friends and other social activities due to the time and energy they are spending on providing care.

If you are unsure whether someone is an unpaid carer, it may be helpful to ask them directly if they provide care and support to a family member or friend. You can also ask if they have had to make any sacrifices or changes in their own life in order to provide care.

The AI has a far greater understanding of what might constitute an unpaid carer than many people on the street. But, this doesn't necessarily translate into actionable support for an individual. So let's start with a very basic question...

Joe: What kind of help is there for unpaid carers in the UK??

AI: In the UK, there are several types of support available for unpaid carers, including financial support, respite care, and practical support. Some of the main types of support available for unpaid carers in the UK include:

Carer's Allowance: This is a weekly benefit paid to people who are caring for someone with a disability or illness. To be eligible for Carer's Allowance, you must be over 16 years old and spend at least 35 hours per week caring for someone who receives certain disability benefits.

Respite care: This is a type of short-term care that gives unpaid carers a break from their caring responsibilities. Respite care can be provided in a variety of settings, including care homes, respite centers, and the person's own home.

Practical support: This can include help with tasks such as shopping, cooking, and cleaning, as well as assistance with transportation and access to equipment and adaptations. Some local councils and charities may provide practical support for unpaid carers.

Support groups: Many unpaid carers find it helpful to connect with others in a similar situation. There are many support groups for carers in the UK, including online forums and in-person groups. These groups can provide emotional support and practical advice for carers.

Counseling and therapy: If you are struggling emotionally with your caring responsibilities, you may be able to access counseling or therapy. This can be helpful for managing stress and other emotional challenges that can arise as a result of caring for someone.

It's important to note that the support available to unpaid carers in the UK can vary depending on where you live and your individual circumstances. It's a good idea to contact your local council or a carers' organization to find out what support is available in your area.

The AI does a really good job here - 8/10. It identifies the main areas of support, including useful criteria for accessing carer's allowance. It stops short of recommending specific organisations but does recommend speaking to your local council. Let's compare this answer to the same thing in Google.?

Let's compare this answer to the same thing in Google.

The first thing to say is that Googles results page is not summarised. You have to dig into each page. So immediately in terms of speed and immediate provision of information the Google Result gets a 1/10 for me. Google's decision on what it thinks is the most relevant page, isn't always the best.?Here were the results (they may vary for you).

1. Gov.uk | Benefits - This outlines some financial support but you'd have to do a lot more digging to be able to tell if you were eligible. 4/10
2. Local Government Association - a dreadful result here (through no fault of website) - the minutes of a motion put forward to a council. 0/10
3. Citizen's Advice - a much more rounded response here. Probably the best result on the page and the closest to the AI. Additionally it includes links to take things further. 9/10
4. Carers Trust - It's right that they appear in this results page, but perhaps not to the home page, which provides little directly useful information to someone who has asked our question. You can find local support though. A poor result from Google. 3/10
5. Healthwatch - It's not exceptionally useful and not as comprehensive as the AI, I think I'd rather have the AI answer. 4/10

But what if we want specific help, let's say a carer's assessment:

Joe: How do I apply for a carer's assessment?

AI: To apply for a carer's assessment in the UK, you will need to contact your local council or the organization that provides social care services in your area. You can typically find contact information for your local council on its website.

When you contact your local council, you will need to provide some information about yourself and the person you are caring for. This may include your name, contact information, and details about the person you are caring for, such as their name, age, and any disabilities or illnesses they have.

The council will then assess your situation to determine what support you may be eligible for. This may involve a visit from a social worker or other professional to assess the person you are caring for and the support you need.

Once the assessment is complete, the council will provide you with a care plan that outlines the support you are eligible for. This may include financial support, respite care, practical support, or other forms of assistance.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your carer's assessment, you can appeal the decision. You can find more information about the appeals process on the website of your local council.

What do you think of this? To me it's a pretty great and simple response, of course there is nuance that could be added, but it provides a pretty great overview. But it does have a problem... it can't take you 'the final mile'.?

Joe: Who do I contact at Durham council for a carers assessment?

AI: I'm sorry, but I am a large language model trained by OpenAI, so I don't have information about specific organizations or individuals. I am not able to browse the internet or access any information beyond my pre-existing knowledge base, which has a fixed cutoff date. My purpose is to provide general information and answer questions to the best of my ability based on the information I have been trained on.

So far we've been fairly tame with our questions so I thought I would use some real life scenarios from our live chat to see how it responded. Would you be happy with the answers if someone in your community got this response?

Joe: Is there a definition of a carer? My husband and I look out for my first husband’s parents (he died 20years ago). We live a distance away but try to visit every weekend and sometimes more, this week has been 3 times due to issues they need help with. Both in their 80s both showing memory loss/dementia. We bring them food, sort out money issues, practical issues etc

AI: In the UK, a carer is defined as someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, or mental health condition. This can include providing practical support, such as help with daily tasks or transportation, as well as emotional support and companionship.

Based on the information you have provided, it sounds like you and your husband may be considered unpaid carers for your in-laws. Providing regular support and assistance to them, including help with practical tasks and managing their memory loss and dementia, would likely be considered caregiving.

It's important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of a carer, and whether or not you are considered a carer will depend on your individual situation and the support you provide. If you are unsure whether you are considered a carer, you can contact your local council or a carers' organization for more information.

Joe: It's really hard

AI: I'm sorry to hear that. Providing care for a family member or friend can be emotionally and physically demanding, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed at times. Remember that you are not alone, and there are many resources available to support you in your role as a carer.

Some things you may find helpful as an unpaid carer include:

1. Seeking out support groups or online forums where you can connect with others who are in a similar situation. This can provide emotional support and practical advice.
2. Talking to your doctor or a mental health professional if you are struggling with stress, anxiety, or other emotional challenges.
3. Taking regular breaks and taking care of your own physical and mental health. This can help you to maintain your own well-being and continue to provide care for your loved one.
4. Contacting your local council or a carers' organization to find out what support is available in your area. This can include financial support, respite care, and practical assistance.

Remember that it's okay to ask for help when you need it, and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are many people and organizations who are here to help you and support you in your role as an unpaid carer.

Joe: I'm not sure i can cope

AI: If you are feeling overwhelmed and are unsure whether you can continue to provide care for your loved one, it's important to reach out for help. Providing care for a family member or friend can be emotionally and physically demanding, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed at times. It's important to take care of your own well-being in order to continue to provide care for your loved one.

There are many resources available to support you in your role as an unpaid carer. Some things you may find helpful include:

• Contacting your local council or a carers' organization to find out what support is available in your area. This can include financial support, respite care, and practical assistance.
• Seeking out support groups or online forums where you can connect with others who are in a similar situation. This can provide emotional support and practical advice.
• Talking to your doctor or a mental health professional if you are struggling with stress, anxiety, or other emotional challenges. They can provide you with support and guidance on how to manage your emotional well-being.
• Taking regular breaks and taking care of your own physical and mental health. This can include getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that you enjoy.

Remember that it's okay to ask for help when you need it, and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are many people and organizations who are here to help you and support you in your role as an unpaid carer.

As you can see the answers to more emotive prompts get a little repetitive, the length is nearly always the same and so perhaps responses would only work for a first interaction. The AI seems much better with more factual responses.

So what could be some of the implementations of this kind of language based AI?

• Supporting front-line teams with quick and easy access to information - saving time and training notes!?
• Helpful chatbots - allowing carers to ask questions directly, true self service
• Just for fun: Great for coming up with ideas: games, food, activities, stories
• Improving skills: this AI can already correct code and suggest an Excel formula
• Might people in the future skip Google and our websites altogether?
• If this is what a general AI looks like, imagine what once specially trained in Carer Support could achieve.??

What are the limitations?

• An AI is only as good as the data it was trained on. It's important to understand an AIs background
• In this case the data ingested by the AI is only accurate to 2021. If there have been changes in facts or cultural understanding since then, it won't be accurate
• Referral to a final service or solution seems to be a limitation at the moment
• It's no replacement for a human connection. A hug or genuine empathy and the ability to share your current circumstance to show that you are in a similar position.?

What could you imagine using AI for within your organisation? Let me know in the comments.?

Finally I leave you with this...

Joe: Write a story about an unpaid carer having a break from caring in the style of Donald Trump

AI: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived an unpaid carer who was always working hard to take care of her loved one. She was a truly great carer, the best carer in the world, but she was starting to feel a bit burnt out.

One day, the carer decided she needed a break from all the hard work. She didn't want to leave her loved one, but she knew she needed some time for herself. So she called up her best friend and asked her to come over and take care of the loved one for a few hours.

The carer's friend was more than happy to help out. She arrived at the carer's house, and the carer quickly handed over the keys and the instructions. Then she grabbed her purse and ran out the door, ready to enjoy a few hours of freedom.

The carer wandered the streets, feeling lighter and happier with each step. She stopped to window shop, bought herself a coffee, and even went to the movies. It was the best day she had had in a long time.

When she returned home, her loved one was happy and well cared for, and the carer's friend was ready to go home. The carer thanked her friend profusely and promised to return the favor someday.

And so, the carer learned the importance of taking care of herself, even if it meant leaving her loved one for a little while. She was a truly great carer, the best carer in the world, and she knew that she could only continue to do her best if she took care of herself as well.

And that, my friends, is the story of the unpaid carer and her much-needed break. Believe me, it was a great story, the best story in the world. And you can bet that the carer lived happily ever after.