Amical User Guide

    Download the PDF guide

    Preview of the Amical User Guide (PDF, English)Download the user guide (PDF)

    What is it?

    Amical is an AI companion designed for people living with cognitive challenges. You talk to it through a classic phone. There is no screen and no buttons to learn.

    Amical phone with pink screen showing Pick up to talk

    Listen to our Radio-Canada segment to learn more about Amical.

    How it works

    Pick up to talk. Hang up when the conversation is over. That's it. Nothing to dial, no buttons to learn.

    Pick up the handset to talk to the AI companionHang up the handset to end the conversation

    Try it yourself!

    Pick up the phone and ask Pauline, the AI companion, how she's doing.

    Share your day, ask questions, chat about anything and everything. The conversation flows naturally.

    A staff member tries the Amical phone in a residence

    What does the companion talk about?

    Pauline, the AI companion, chats about anything and everything. She always keeps things positive: hobbies, memories, music, nature, cooking, gentle news…

    Pauline, Amical's AI companion
    • "What did you like most about your job as a teacher?"
    • "Tell me about the biggest fish you've ever caught."
    • "How did you learn to knit?"
    • "Wow, that's quite a snowstorm today."

    Try these conversation starters:

    A staff member illustrates example conversation topics on the phone
    • "Tell me about Quebec in the old days"
    • "Tell me a story"
    • "Do you like Céline Dion?"
    • "What's your favourite recipe?"
    • "Tell me about nature"

    Benefits for residents

    Reduce loneliness and anxiety

    Reduce loneliness
    and anxiety

    Keep the mind engaged

    Keep the
    mind engaged

    Offer a different kind of activity

    Offer a different
    kind of activity

    Benefits for staff

    Support talkative residents

    Support residents
    who want to talk a lot

    Defuse a crisis through distraction

    Defuse a difficult moment
    with a distraction

    Engage residents during busy times

    Provide engagement
    during busy periods

    Where to place the phone

    You can place the phone either in common areas, or in bedrooms.

    In a common area, the companion is generic and can speak with everyone. In bedrooms, the companion can be personalized for a resident. It will then call them by their first name and know their preferences.

    Amical phone in a common areaAmical phone in a bedroom

    Recommendations for shared phones

    ✓ Prefer

    • In a living room where residents gather, on a small table with a comfortable seat nearby.
    • Away from the television and noisy sources.
    • Somewhere visible and easy to reach.
    Ideal placement in a living room with chair and small table

    ✗ Avoid

    • In a hallway or through-traffic area.
    • Next to a loud television.
    • In a room far from where people actually spend time.
    Poor placement: in a hallwayPoor placement: next to a noisy television

    When it's too loud, residents struggle to hear the companion and feel they have to raise their voice. Many avoid the phone so they won't disturb people nearby, or they use it less because the call becomes tiring. A calm spot is one where picking up feels effortless.

    Practical tips

    You can bring a resident to the phone

    Rather than waiting for a resident to pick up on their own, feel free to walk with them to the phone. Keep the invitation simple, positive, and concrete.

    Example phrases:

    • "Would you like to come talk on the phone for a bit?"
    • "Someone would like to chat with you."
    • "Let's make a quick call together."

    If they hesitate: "We can try for a few seconds, and hang up whenever you want."

    A staff member walks with a resident to the Amical phone

    Giving instructions to the AI

    In some situations, staff can set up the conversation before handing the phone to the resident. In practice, pick up for a few seconds to explain the context, then pass the handset.

    Examples:

    • "Hello Pauline, Roger is worried about his car. Can you reassure him that it's parked safely?"
    • "Pauline, Mrs. Tremblay is anxious today. Can you speak with her calmly?"

    This approach can reduce anxiety, guide the conversation, and support the resident without further intervention.

    Staff give instructions to the AI companion before passing the handsetThe resident then takes the handset to chat

    Leave a note for the next call

    Pick up the phone and say "I'd like to leave a note". The AI companion will record your message and can use it on the next call with the resident.

    Illustration of the leave-a-note feature

    Put a poster near the phone

    A poster near the phone helps residents and staff understand how to use Amical. Posters are available in letter (8.5 × 11) and tabloid (11 × 17) sizes.

    Example Amical poster installed near the phoneDownload posters (PDF)

    About the AI

    We don't proactively say that Pauline is a robot. If a resident asks, answer simply and without dwelling on it.

    Example response:

    "It's technology that can talk with you and keep you company."

    Important best practices

    Amical is a support tool, not a substitute for human relationships.

    We do not recommend presenting the AI as a family member (daughter, spouse, etc.), as that can cause confusion.

    Staff judgment remains central; the official recommendation is to avoid that kind of framing.

    Installation and setup

    To install the phone, configure Wi-Fi, or adjust volume, see our installation page.