Decatur Co. native creates AI startup to improve family caregiving

(ST. PAUL, Ind.) – A Decatur County native is using her experiences to help other families when it comes to caregiving for loved ones. 

Alexandria Arbuckle grew up in St. Paul and her work has led her to living in major cities including New York, San Francisco and London. 

For the past 15 years, she has worked with startup companies in both the healthcare and tech industry on a global scale. 

Arbuckle was most recently living in London when she came back home in October to care for her mother who was battling lung cancer. 

It wasn’t her first time being there for a family member who is navigating a difficult medical journey. 

Her father, Russell “Rusty” Arbuckle, passed away in 2022 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. 

“Between both of those experiences — and juggling caregiving across states and continents — I realized how few tools exist that actually meet the needs of families caring for someone they love,” Arbuckle said. 

Alexandria is now launching a tech startup called “Rusty AI” which has been named after her father. 

Rusty is an AI companion for modern family caregiving. It helps people coordinate care, communicate better, and feel less alone — whether they’re living in the same house or spread across time zones.

“Rusty is for the caregivers who didn't choose this, but show up anyway. For the grown kids doing it all. For the ones balancing family care with work, parenthood, grief, guilt, and love,” according to the company website. 

Although she is working with a global team, Rusty AI is is the first company Alexandria has built while in Indiana. 

“I didn't set out to build an AI company. I set out to survive caring for my parents,” she added. 

You can learn more about Rusty AI by clicking here.