Why Mood Tracking Matters
Depression affects up to 35% of older Australians living alone, but it often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms develop gradually. A parent who was chatty six months ago might slowly become withdrawn, but the change is so gradual that family members visiting monthly don't notice.
Daily mood data changes this. When you can see a trend line showing declining mood over two weeks, you have evidence to act on — not just a feeling that something's "off."
How We Track Mood
During each call, our AI gathers mood information in two ways:
Self-Reported Rating
Near the end of each conversation, we ask a simple question: "On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your day so far?" This gives a consistent, trackable metric.
Conversational Signals
Our AI also analyses the conversation itself: engagement level, enthusiasm, topic choices, and language patterns. Someone who usually chats for 8 minutes but suddenly gives one-word answers is flagged.
What Your Reports Show
- Daily mood score (1–5) with their own words about how they feel
- 7-day trend line showing mood direction (improving, stable, or declining)
- Positive streaks — consecutive days of 4+ mood (celebrate these!)
- Concern flags — 3+ consecutive days below 3, or a sudden drop of 2+ points
- Contributing factors — mentions of pain, sleep issues, or social isolation that correlate with mood changes
Real-World Impact
Without daily mood tracking, this decline could have continued for weeks or months before anyone noticed. Early intervention is key for elderly mental health.