Radar not Cameras Helps Cairns Health Keep an Eye on Elderly Patients

Cairns Health is tackling a key caregivers challenge: ensuring elderly patients receive consistent care without compromising their independence. At the heart of their efforts is Luna, a digital AI assistant designed to provide peace of mind and actionable insights without the use of cameras.

Healthcare IT Today sat down with Jamey Edwards, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Cairns Health to learn more about Luna and why more innovative caregiver solutions are needed in 2025.

Key Takeaways

1. Privacy-First Monitoring. Luna, Cairns Health’s AI assistant, uses radar instead of cameras to monitor patients, ensuring privacy while tracking vital signs and behavior.
2. Encouraging Care Compliance. By engaging patients in their care routines, Luna helps reduce non-compliance with chronic care plans, including medication adherence and daily health measurements.
3. Supporting Alzheimer’s and Sleep Disorders. Cairns Health partners with institutions like Indiana University Health and Mayo Clinic to deploy Luna in programs for Alzheimer’s care and REM sleep behavioral disorder detection.

Privacy by Design: No Cameras, Maximum Security

“Luna combines intelligent ambient sensing and a large language model to detect patient states and intervene when necessary,” explained Edwards. Using radar—not cameras—Luna can monitor vital signs like heart rate and breathing, track movement, and even sense changes in behavior patterns. This privacy-conscious approach reassures users that Luna is there to help, not intrude.

“The radar captures data without violating patient privacy, making it a trusted companion in caregiving,” continued Edwards.

Partnerships Expand Utilization

Cairns Health’s impact is already being felt. The company has forged partnerships with respected institutions like Indiana University Health and Mayo Clinic. Through these collaborations, Luna is being integrated into programs to support Alzheimer’s care and detect REM sleep behavioral disorders.

“We’re also addressing a key issue in chronic care: non-compliance,” shared Edwards. Luna encourages patients to follow care plans, reminding them to take measurements and stay engaged with their health.

Elder Care Innovation Needed

According to the World Health Organization, in just 5 years (by 2030), 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. This “silver tsunami” will strain healthcare infrastructure. Keeping older adults living independently is therefore becoming increasingly important.

Technology solutions like Luna will be needed, not just to help keep older adults healthy but to also relieve the stress on family and caregivers who will be shouldering more of the healthcare burden.

“Imagine that you are a caregiver, and you wake up in the morning and you get a report that says your mom is doing great,” said Edwards. “Her vitals look awesome. She at breakfast and she is on her way to physiotherapy. As a caregiver you can breathe a big sigh of relief.”

Keeping Things Simple

By keeping their solution simple to use for patients, caregivers, and clinical team, Cairns Health is positioning itself well in this increasingly crowded space. Without cameras, there is less concern over privacy. Using gentle nudges rather than reminders means their Luna solution is more of a companion than an annoyance.

As Edwards put it, “We’re here to create a fundamentally better experience for everyone involved in the care process.”

Learn more about Cairns Health at

Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.

And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube.

Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.