New technology
at your side. Not overwhelming dashboards or endless training modules, but clear, practical prompts delivered in the moment. For example: ‘To prevent Mr Jones from becoming overwhelmed, try reducing background noise before lunch and perhaps talk to him about gardening to distract him’. Or: ‘To help Mrs Davies feel more settled, ask if she would like to come with you for a short walk after her family has visited’. These are the kinds of personalised tips that can help prevent distress before it escalates, helping staff feel more confident and families feel more reassured. This is the missed opportunity of AI
in care so far. Technology has often been designed for compliance or paperwork, not for people. It has added to workloads rather than lifting them. But used responsibly, AI can help restore what matters most: time, confidence, and compassion. It can give carers the support they need to focus less on firefighting and more on truly caring, turning a system built on crisis response into one built on anticipation and dignity.
Our journey so far – from idea to implementation We started with a simple question: how can we bring behavioural expertise to every carer who needs it? Imagine if every carer, no matter how
rushed or overwhelmed, had behaviour support at their fingertips. Technology that could spot the early signs of distress, explain what is really happening, and guide them through exactly what to do next. Developing this idea, we entered pilot
stage with national partners, completed the Alzheimer’s Society Launchpad program resulting in an ongoing relationship with them, and attracted interest from global care providers and technology partners. The result is Less Distress, a standalone
app that is simpleto use on a phone or tablet, and designed to integrate with existing digital care platforms. Carers do not have to start from scratch or add extra paperwork. Instead, the observations they already make, what happened, what the person did, and how staff responded, are transformed into powerful, actionable insights. The app maps these everyday notes into
patterns of behaviour. From there, it gives carers immediate, step by step guidance in plain, human language. Over time, it learns from the data, moving beyond in the moment coaching to proactive alerts. This means staff are not just reacting to distress – they are anticipating it and preventing it.
Dr. Ashley Dysarz
Dr. Ashley Dysarz BCBA-D (Board Certified Behaviour Analyst – Doctoral) brings 10 years of experience in behaviour analysis, specialising in organisational behaviour management and distressed behaviours. As an experienced coach and problem-solver, Ashley is committed to advancing effective, compassionate practices that improve quality of life and create positive organisational impact.
Take Bob, for example. Every afternoon
around 2pm, he becomes restless, waiting for his wife to arrive … but his wife passed away years ago. Without support, moments like this escalate into confusion, sadness, or even aggression. With Less Distress, staff receive a quiet prompt just before it begins: ‘Bob is likely to start missing his wife around 2pm. Try sitting with him now, looking at photos, and talking about favourite memories’. Instead of a painful episode, the carer creates comfort, calm, and dignity.
What this means for homes, staff, and residents Equipping carers with technology that helps predict and prevent distressed behaviours has the power to transform life in care homes. For staff, fewer crises mean less firefighting and more space for genuine, meaningful connection. Confidence grows, morale lifts, and the risk of burnout falls. This in turn supports retention, helping homes hold on to experienced staff instead of constantly recruiting and training new faces. For residents, fewer distressed incidents
mean fewer moments of fear, agitation, or sadness. It also opens the door to a reduced reliance on medication, particularly antipsychotics, which carry serious side
effects when used long term. Instead, residents can experience more calm, more dignity, and more moments of joy. For providers, the benefits ripple
outwards. Lower staff turnover reduces recruitment costs, fewer incidents reduce safeguarding risks, and stronger family confidence helps secure and maintain occupancy.
Every moment matters At its heart, this is about changing the culture of dementia care. Moving away from reactive, crisis led support towards proactive, person-centred care that values dignity and wellbeing. With the right tools, that future is within reach. Caring for people with dementia is one of
the hardest jobs in the world. The challenges are real, and the pressures are growing. Our app has been designed to make that job a little lighter, a little clearer, and a lot more rewarding. It does not replace carers – it supports them. It does not add to their burden – it lifts it. If you have ever stood in front of someone
in distress and wished you had the right words, this is for you. n
Dr Emma Williams
Dr Emma Williams BCBA-D (Board Certified Behaviour Analyst – Doctoral) is the founder and CEO of emwillcare and one of 80 behaviour analysts worldwide specialising in dementia care. With 28 years’ experience, she delivers behavioural consultancy, training, and service-improvement programmes across services. Emma leads Less Distress, which is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, Business Wales, and Barclays Eagle Labs, and is committed to making behavioural support available to everyone.
October 2025
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