Senior Health Guardian – AI wins Rep. Vern Buchanan’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Florida’s 16th District

When asked what inspired the creation of Senior Health Guardian – AI, the students said, “The need for Senior Health Guardian arose out of our experience watching people that matter to us age and observed that existing technology is not designed to support that aging process with dignity and independence. We saw this in our families and circles, how seniors who wanted to remain active and independent were frustrated with balance and sleep issues, and how stressful it is for families that are concerned about their seniors but can’t be there all the time.

“We observed that all tools for seniors are basically passive. That is, they can provide assistance only after a negative event has occurred and are often triggered only when a button is pushed or a call is made. However, that is not always feasible in a situation like a fall. We wanted to develop a proactive system that has enough advanced AI capabilities to detect risks and immediately react to them without requiring seniors to press a button.

“During our research, we learned that small changes in walking patterns can foretell Parkinson’s many years earlier than a diagnosis and that a decline in sleep patterns can indicate a prelude to cognitive decay. Seeing this example, we realized that there is a huge opportunity that not only reacts to emergencies but can provide much earlier warning signs for preparation and better health for seniors.

“We were also keen to ensure that the technology felt positive and motivational rather than clinical and invasive. That’s why our designers developed gamification features that celebrate achievements and promote health and wellness. We think seniors can and should expect better than to have technology monitoring and judging them.

“In essence, we created Senior Health Guardian because we think that seniors shouldn’t have to give up their independence and their peace of mind when they age. We think that families need to feel more connected to each other. We think that seniors need to have more power over their lives. We think that technology needs to keep people protected even when a disaster isn’t occurring. We want to provide healthier and more independent lives for seniors through AI.”