Caring for a loved one can be one of the most meaningful roles a person takes on, but it’s also among the hardest. Family members and friends often find themselves juggling appointments, emotions, and an unfamiliar healthcare system, trying to stay strong while learning how to support someone else’s healing process.
To make that journey easier, Edmonton-based Team CarePal has created a free app designed to reduce stress and connect caregivers with the support they need. It helps families coordinate tasks, share updates, and, using artificial intelligence (AI), monitor everyone’s well-being in one space.
“At the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Team CarePal is helping identify and support family caregivers earlier in their journey — often for the first time,” said Cindy Sim, CEO at Team CarePal. “Many people we meet feel unprepared for discharge, and our goal is to change that by connecting families with the right tools when they leave the hospital.”
That transition from hospital to home can be overwhelming. The safety net of healthcare professionals is gone, and caregivers can feel alone, scared, and unsure where to turn.
“One caregiver was in tears, unsure what to do next,” Sim recalled. “She’d heard of Caregivers Alberta but didn’t know where to begin. When we introduced her to the Team CarePal app and showed how it could connect her with the resources she needed, she immediately asked for a checklist of next steps. These stories remind us why we’re building a referral pathway to help every family get the right support when they need it most.”
Inside the app, Zolo — the AI-powered Care Navigator — offers personalized suggestions tailored to each caregiver’s situation and local resources. Shared calendars and task lists make it easier to divide responsibilities, while built-in messaging keeps everyone connected and mindful of their own well-being.
“By analyzing burnout assessments, Zolo helps caregivers recognize signs of stress early and access help before things worsen,” Sim added. “It’s an important innovation because it uses real-time insights, including the patient’s diagnosis, to guide both caregivers and healthcare teams toward proactive care.”
Support from the Glenrose Hospital Foundation and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is helping bring this technology to those who need it most. By offering an environment for learning, co-designing with the lived experience of families, and supporting testing and training, the app bridges the gap between innovation and patient care — turning ideas into practical solutions that improve lives for Albertans.
“Every recovery story includes the family and friends behind the scenes,” said Mark Korthuis, CEO of the Glenrose Hospital Foundation. “By investing in tools like Team CarePal, we’re shining a light on their role and giving them the resources to feel supported, informed, and empowered through every step of the rehabilitation journey.”
This collaboration is helping move innovation out of the lab and into real-world care, where it can make a tangible difference for patients and families.
“Working with the Glenrose Hospital Foundation has allowed us to engage directly within the healthcare setting, building relationships with social workers and learning firsthand from caregivers during the discharge process,” Sim said. “Together, we’re designing pathways to recovery that meet everyone’s needs, including the caregivers’.”
Rehabilitation is never a solo effort, rather it’s a shared journey of strength and hope made possible when patients and caregivers work together.
