“We’re trying to have technology coincide with face to face care to help give back resources where they’re needed.” Rebecca McManus, Founder of Amethyst Care
“We’re trying to have technology coincide with face to face care to help give back resources where they’re needed.”
Rebecca McManus, Founder of Amethyst Care
This month on ADAPT Radio, our guest is entrepreneur Rebecca McManus, the Founder and Commercial Lead of Amethyst Care, an innovative startup created as a result of her own experiences caring for people with mobility issues.
During the podcast, McManus shared her vision for a voice-activated AI companion designed to assist people with mobility-related illnesses in maintaining independence at home. This innovative solution is the latest in Amethyst Care’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into personalised home care, making daily life easier for people with conditions like arthritis and Parkinson’s, where manual device use may be challenging.
Speaking with ADAPT Radio, McManus explained how Amethyst Care leverages voice technology for critical support tasks, from medication reminders to activity tracking, allowing for two-way communication that makes home care more interactive. She clarified that this AI tool is not a replacement for face-to-face caregiving but rather a support system, designed to alleviate pressure on healthcare resources by helping users manage daily routines more independently.
McManus also highlighted Amethyst Care’s recent €513,000 funding from Enterprise Ireland, which will aid in expanding the team with new roles, including a full-stack developer, an AI researcher, and a clinical lead. Amethyst Care is focused on both data security and ethical compliance also. According to McManus, the platform’s data-sharing protocols are carefully designed, with anonymised data accessible only to authorised healthcare professionals when needed.
Looking ahead, McManus shared Amethyst Care’s plans to pursue FDA and HIPAA compliance, aiming to bring this voice-enabled health companion to a broader audience, including the U.S. market. As the global population ages, Amethyst Care is positioning itself as a key player in AI-driven healthcare solutions that promote independence and enhance quality of life for people with mobility challenges.
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