HarmonyLink: Exploring Cognitive Health and Advance Care Planning through LLM-Powered Supportive Conversations

This study presents HarmonyLink, a set of apps enabling cognitively healthy older adults to engage in supportive conversations with an AI assistant. As families often live apart and may miss early signs of decline, HarmonyLink encourages spontaneous dialogue via voice and text to support early detection. Based on semi-structured interviews with dementia care nurses, conversation topics elicit subtle cognitive cues. Unlike test-like assessments, our approach reduces pressure and fosters natural expression. Conversation logs are summarized by a large language model and shared with family members, helping them understand the user’s interests and care preferences. This also encourages advance care planning, or discussing future care decisions while cognitive function is intact. HarmonyLink connects clinical insight with emotional closeness, supporting families in increasingly fragmented households.