Cognitive Care Assistant wins Rep. Gregory Steube’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Florida’s 17th District

When asked what inspired the creation of Cognitive Care Assistant, the students said, “We were inspired to create the Cognitive Care Assistant App because dementia has personally affected our family—our grandmother and loved ones are living with it today. Watching their memory loss, confusion, and fear has been heartbreaking. We wanted to use technology to bring them comfort, safety, and connection. Nearly one in ten people over 65 live with dementia, and that number grows every year. What makes it so dangerous isn’t the disease itself but the daily losses that come with it—forgetting to eat, drink, or take medication. We wanted to help patients regain a sense of control and give families peace of mind. The Cognitive Care Assistant combines compassion with innovation, using sensors, data, and reminders to turn technology into a tool for dignity and care.

“Our inspiration also came from volunteering this summer at the Pines of Sarasota, a local memory care and rehabilitation center. We worked with patient activities, helping residents engage in games, music, and creative projects that strengthen cognitive function and connection. Through this experience, we saw dementia’s challenges firsthand—patients who once lived independently now needed help with every routine. Caregivers worked tirelessly, but even with dedication, they couldn’t monitor every resident all the time. That experience showed us that technology could fill a vital gap by tracking sleep, hydration, and mobility while giving families reassurance that loved ones are safe. Each feature in our app—from the thermal sensor detecting restlessness to the EMG sensor encouraging movement—was designed with those moments in mind. We wanted to create something that supports patients, caregivers, and physicians alike.”