A simple guide to getting started.
The Elderwell mentors run through the ChatGPT platform.
Most people can access them using a free ChatGPT account.
Steps:
- Create a free account at the ChatGPT website if you do not already have one.
- Open the Elderwell mentor you would like to use.
- Begin by asking a question that matters to you.
You can use the mentors as often as you like and return to conversations whenever you wish.
Choosing the Right Mentor
Mentor
Personal Mentor
Civic Mentor
Future Pathways Mentor
Purpose
Reflect on personal dilemmas, values, and life decisions
Explore public issues, politics, and social systems.
Discover deeper perspective on long-term change and possible futures.
If a question touches more than one area, that is completely fine. Many questions do.
Asking Good Questions
The quality of reflection often improves when questions are clear and thoughtful.
Examples:
Instead of:
“What should I do?”
Try:
“What are the ethical considerations in this situation?”
or
“What perspectives should I consider before making this decision?”
The mentors are designed to help explore questions rather than provide simple instructions.
Privacy and AI Training Settings
Some users prefer to ensure that their conversations are not used to train AI systems.
On the ChatGPT platform you can adjust this setting.
General steps:
- Open Settings in your ChatGPT account.
- Go to Data Controls.
- Turn off the option that allows your chats to be used for model training.
This prevents your conversations from being used to improve the system.
Users should check the latest platform guidance for the most current instructions.
Using Elderwell Thoughtfully
The mentors are designed to support reflection and understanding.
Important: Elderwell is intended to support reflection and perspective. It does not provide professional, legal, financial, medical, or mental health advice. Any decisions or actions taken after using Elderwell remain the responsibility of the user, and where needed, users should seek guidance from a qualified professional familiar with their circumstances.
They are not a substitute for professional advice in areas such as medical care, legal matters, or mental health support.
If you are dealing with serious personal or professional situations, it may be helpful to consult qualified professionals in those fields.
A Note on Reflection
The mentors work best when approached with curiosity and openness.
They are designed to help people examine questions, consider perspectives, and deepen their understanding of complex issues.
Begin with a question that matters to you.