Recommendatons for daily check-in services

[ElyceB]

Hi.  I hope I'm posting this in the correct forum.  Please let me know if there's one that's more appropriate and I'll copy and paste this accordingly.

I live alone and I'm looking for recommendations for a daily check-in service (phone call, text, or choice of either).  I came across one called "Iamfine" on Google that looked like a possibility and was what I would consider reasonably priced.  Has anyone here used this particular service, or is there another one that you or a loved one has used that you would recommend (or conversely, any that I should stay away from)?  What would be even better is if I can find something that's in combination with a "Life Alert" type notification service so that I could have one source for both purposes, but I don't know if this exists anywhere except in my imagination! 😄

Thanks in advance!

[AdamCBee]

Hi everyone, 

CheckinBee sends daily check-ins via text message with an hour window to respond. Family/friends are automatically alerted for any missed check-in. Check-in schedule and check-in time can be customized. Free two week trial and then $14 per month. www.checkinbee.com

[EdgarJ444310]

There’s a daily check-in app designed specifically for this purpose. The app provides daily check-ins for your loved ones, giving you peace of mind even when you're far away. You'll receive notifications if they don’t check in, offering a reassuring way to know they’re okay, even when you can't call or text. This is a simple, yet effective way to ensure their safety and well-being.

For your reference, this is the daily check-in app. It's called WellCheck

[cynde1]

A friend told me about SNUG safety app that you can download.  I found it in the app store on my phone.

[JacquelineL293773]

Hi there,

Thanks for the recommendation. I am curious to know if you tried it out. If so, what was your experience? I am looking for a good fit.

[Jadzia23]

I really like SNUG and have used it since the inception. When I was recovering from surgery I could switch to up to three check-ins/day. When I go on vacation with friends or family I can pause the checkins. 

when I miss the check-in I get a text, then a phone-call and then my emergency contacts are notified. If none of them answer emergency services are called. 

[AdamCBee]

That's really useful to know, thank you. SNUG is a great option if you don't mind your location being tracked and needing to download an app to your phone. I believe they have a free plan too.

[AdamCBee]

@JacquelineL293773 CheckinBee offers a two week free trial to test it out with no risk on your side. It's a simple and flexible check-in via text message so there is no app to download. Let me know if you'd like any more information.

[AARPRachelA]

Hi @ElyceB! AARP Friendly Voice is a service where volunteers call to check in and say hello. It's different than a Life Alert type service, though. Perhaps this could work for you?

[ElyceB]

Hi, RachelA.  While AARP Friendly Voice seems like a lovely idea, it's not quite what I'm looking for.  What I was asking about was a company where you could call or text them every day to let them know that you're alive and well.  I came across a company called "Iamfine" where you do this by a pre-designated time each day and if they don't hear from you by then, they will try you four more times for an hour after that and if they still don't hear from you will then alert a pre-designated contact person or persons that they haven't been able to get in touch with you and that person will take it from there.  I was hoping that someone could offer opinions on that company or other companies that provide that similar service.

So it's not quite like Life Alert where you press a button in the event of an emergency, but it's a better option than the prospect of being deceased for days or weeks before anyone knows that something is amiss!  My late Dad lived in a senior apartment building where there was a plastic disc on each apartment door that the resident flipped down by a certain time each morning, and a staff person would then walk the hallways looking for for discs that hadn't been flipped down which would signify that something was wrong and they could then check on that resident.  I live in a regular high-rise, so there's no such service currently available to me.

[BettiS720642]

I was feeling fragile last year after my husband died and signed up for iamfine. I set the time for them to call me for 1PM. You can text them, so I would try to remember to text them first thing when I woke up. If I forgot, they would call me at 1, and then every fifteen minutes four times, and then call my Caring Circle. My phone was in my purse a couple of times and I was busy and totally forgot, and nearly gave my son a heart attack. I felt stronger after a year and it became kind of a bother, so I tried to unsubscribe, only to find that they make it nearly impossible. Even though the credit card I used to sign up with them has expired, so they are no longer getting paid, they still bother me every day. There is also no way to take someone OFF your Caring Circle. I was happy with them up until now, but if the other services are more flexible. I would go with them. 

[GotzK916096]

Thanks for sharing your experience. If you’re looking for more than just flexibility, check out CareCall. It’s a call based check-in service where our trained agent has a warm, engaging conversation with you every day—you can ask any question, share how you're feeling, or just enjoy a friendly chat. We also make it super easy to adjust call times, update your Care Circle, or unsubscribe anytime hassle-free. Give it a try and see the difference!

[AdamCBee]

That is so sad to hear about your poor experience with iamfine. The CheckinBee text-based check-in service can be cancelled easily at any time and care circle members can be adjusted/removed at any time. Flexibility has always been so important for the service and check-ins can be fully customized with weekly schedules, multiple check-ins per day and even custom check-in windows. We are always here if anyone would like to try it out risk free (and no credit card needed) or just to ask us questions.

[Hannelore99]

Yes I am also looking for a company that will check on me daily but give me time to respond. I have animals and my worry is that I may not be there in the morning to take care of them I do not have children that check on me daily. So I do not want life alert just some one to check on me inthe morning just to make sure that I got out of bed

[JacquelineL293773]

Hi there,

I am in exact same situation. I really, really worry about my dog. 

If you find a service you like, pls share.

Thanks so much,

Jackie

[AdamCBee]

@Hannelore99 Hi there, CheckinBee sends daily check-ins via text message with an hour window to respond. Family/friends are automatically alerted for any missed check-in. Check-in schedule and check-in time can be customized. Free two week trial and then $14 per month. www.checkinbee.com

[MonaM135226]

Me too.  Worried about my dogs and who would find me

[AdamCBee]

@MonaM135226 Hi there, CheckinBee sends daily check-ins via text message with an hour window to respond. Family/friends are automatically alerted for any missed check-in. Check-in schedule and check-in time can be customized. Free two week trial and then $14 per month. www.checkinbee.com

[kalimasala]

@MonaM135226, Check out ConfirmOk. We can help out give you peace of mind.

[wordbee]

I have the exact same situation, and I've been using Calling Care for years, which works well. I just thought I'd look around to see if anyone likes another check-in service.

[AdamCBee]

@wordbee Hi there, CheckinBee sends daily check-ins via text message with an hour window to respond. Family/friends are automatically alerted for any missed check-in. Check-in schedule and check-in time can be customized. Free two week trial and then $14 per month. www.checkinbee.com

[ElyceB]

Does Calling Care work the same way that iamfine does, where you check in at or before a designated time and they get in touch with your people if you don’t respond after they try to reach you?

[DianeJ390357]

  Hi, I use Iamfine and have for several years. I can be called once or twice a day and I select the times. I chose 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. I can call ahead of those times if i think I will be unavailable, and I can check in online as well. They will call me several times after the first call if I have not answered- I think up to 45 minutes - before they contact my  Care List. My reason for having them is same as yours - I have 5 dogs and live alone. They are extremely reliable. Twice, I missed the        calls and my care Circle person called the police! You can set up multiple people on the Circle and they can indicate how they want to be contacted. Check it out!

[ElyceB]

Thank you.  I’m the originator of this thread and it’s helpful to hear from someone with real life experience.  

[kalimasala]

Hi @Hannelore99 , I have a service that does just this. I would be happy to give you free access if you're still interested.

[JuicyCrone]

What's your service? 

[kalimasala]

It’s called ConfirmOk. A daily check-in service. If a check-in is missed, your care group is notified. You can also leave voice messages during each check-in.

[DeahWA]

Elyce, when my mom was in an assisted living place they had that door disk system like you describe. As I've aged alone in a condo and especially during this pandemic, I've started thinking a digital system for still independent seniors would be a good idea. IamFine looks interesting, and would be good for younger people with mobility limitations too. There is an iPhone / Android app called Snug Safety that looks good, but only allows a 10 minute window for checking in at a pre-set time. KiteString dot io is another possibility, maybe, tho it might require leaving home to activate. And there's HelloHibou dot com that might work too. There are probably more. That was just a quick Google check.

With something like 14 million seniors living alone, daily check in services are sure to grow in coming years.

[Anonymous]

Hi @ElyceB what exactly are you looking for? Someone to contact you EVERY day or for you to call in EVERY day? I also live by myself with one child in another state. We check on each other EVERY day. Whoever gets up 1st, texts good morning to the other one. We do the same at nights. Whoever heads to bed sends a goodnight to the other. In between those, we will email or video call as we need to and have the time for. Do you have someone who cares to do this with maybe. Lol, I am cheap and do not trust that machines or folks I am paying to be reliable. But that is just me. Great post 🙂

[JacquelineL293773]

You're so lucky!