AskAshleigh is an AI worker built to support the millions of Americans who serve as caregivers for aging family members. Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Government's Area Agency on Aging, AskAshleigh provides 24/7 guidance on resources, benefits, and emotional support for people navigating one of life's most demanding roles.
Caregiving is often invisible work. AskAshleigh was designed to make sure caregivers never have to figure it out alone, regardless of the hour or the question.
The Challenge
More than 53 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers, and the majority of them receive little to no formal support. The resources that do exist are fragmented across federal, state, and local agencies, buried in bureaucratic websites that are difficult to navigate even for professionals. Caregivers are expected to understand Medicaid eligibility, respite care options, home modification grants, and long-term care planning, often while holding down a job and managing their own health.
The Area Agency on Aging network serves as the primary point of contact for caregiver support across the country, but staffing limitations mean phone lines are only available during business hours. Caregivers who need help at night, on weekends, or during a crisis have nowhere to turn. The information gap is enormous, and the emotional toll of navigating it alone accelerates burnout.
The Worker
AskAshleigh acts as a knowledgeable, empathetic first point of contact for caregivers seeking information and support. The worker draws on a comprehensive knowledge base of federal and state caregiver programs, benefits eligibility criteria, and practical caregiving guidance to answer questions in plain language.
- Benefits navigation: helps caregivers understand what programs they qualify for and how to apply, from Medicaid waivers to veteran caregiver stipends
- Resource connection: directs users to local Area Agency on Aging offices, adult day programs, respite care providers, and support groups in their area
- Emotional support: acknowledges the difficulty of caregiving and provides a judgment-free space to talk through frustrations and concerns
- Available around the clock: provides support at 2am when a caregiver is up with a parent who can't sleep, not just during office hours
The Impact
AskAshleigh has demonstrated the potential for AI to extend the reach of government services without replacing the human professionals who deliver them. By handling routine information requests and providing after-hours support, the worker frees up caseworkers to focus on complex cases that require personal attention.
Caregivers don't operate on a 9-to-5 schedule. Their support system shouldn't either.
The model is designed with national scalability in mind. What began as a pilot with a single Area Agency on Aging has the potential to serve caregiver populations across all 622 agencies in the national network, bringing consistent, high-quality support to every community in the country.
