I built a SMS-based wellness check service for elderly users | Hacker News Reader

I built a SMS-based wellness check service for elderly users

checkdaily.org

2 pointszknowledge5 comments

Hey folks, this is an entirely free, non-profit project of mine focused on individuals who want to communicate they're doing okay while still maintaining their privacy, social threshold or other reasons.

The wellness-check apps I've seen either have pretty steep pricing or if free, require technical proficiency that most elderly folks don't have.

Looks interesting! A couple of thoughts. 1. I love the idea of this being a "low-tech" solution for the elderly. (That said, my late grandfather and me were the two most advanced tech geeks in my family back in the 90s. Go figure.) 2. What is the benefit of checkDaily over just calling/texting my elderly loved one? I assume that the USP is that I can easily forget about it and a machine cannot, right? 3. Looks like you've changed the name but did not update the ToS and privacy policy.

>2. What is the benefit of checkDaily over just calling/texting my elderly loved one? I assume that the USP is that I can easily forget about it and a machine cannot, right?

I personally have it reversed, i.e. it is the elderly (my mom in my case) that calls me in the morning.

One reason is that she needs to have her earing aids on to be able to use the telephone and it is much better when she is sitting comfortably than when (say) she is around the house or walking outside (or - as often happens - her line is busy as she is talking on the phone with someone else).

If I don't get her call by 10:30-11:00, I try calling her.

The "one touch reply SMS" idea is anyway a nice one.

Thanks for the comment :) I also documented the process of building this on twitter. It was fun: https://twitter.com/zedkay22/status/1630010230531563522

1. Thanks for the comment! Go figure indeed haha.

2. I'd always recommend calling and keeping in touch with elderly loved ones. Some individuals however, may want additional quick non-verbal check-ins that this platform enables. Also, aging can be tough on the mental health of elderly people. With the loss independence on day-to-day activities and generally feeling like a burden to their loved ones, some individuals may prefer the 1-click check-in.

This platform allows for privacy, respect to any social threshold limitations and keeps the power of the response to the elderly individual through the simple 1-click SMS message.

Ultimately, I'm hoping to assist with dignified aging for the elderly with thoughtful - yet simple - systems.

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