AI Boosts Emotional Support for Dementia Families Thanks to Microsoft Partnership
The Alzheimer's Society in the UK is leveraging Microsoft Copilot and task-specific AI agents to reduce administrative work, allowing its advisors more time to provide emotional support and practical information to families affected by dementia. According to Mark Shergold, head of AI at Alzheimer's Society, an extra 10 minutes with an advisor can make a significant difference, whether it's listening to someone coming to terms with a diagnosis or helping a family understand available care and benefits.
The charity has already seen positive results from using Copilot, with one dementia advisor reporting more time to focus on face-to-face support. The goal is clear: less time on admin, more time with people living with dementia and their carers. Alzheimer's Society forecasts that 1.4 million will have dementia in the UK by 2040.
The charity employs about 2,000 people and has an annual income of roughly £160 million from fundraising, legacies, and services supplied to the NHS. It is already using Microsoft's tools for data protection and customer relationship management work, with plans to develop a pipeline of agents and explore more personalized digital support.
Aidan Forman, director of digital, data and technology at Alzheimer's Society, emphasizes that success will be measured against the charity's mission: helping more people affected by dementia. 'We want to see the humans do what they do best,' he says.