Frequently Asked Questions

envoyatHome is a remote elderly monitoring system that finds unseen behaviors that might put a person at safety or wellness risk while they’re home alone. As the risk behavior is happening, the system sends a text or voice notification to a team of caregivers, so they can intervene before an emergency occurs.

envoyatHome answers the question “Is my loved one ok RIGHT NOW?” with 24 hour, 7 day a week full time remote monitoring that finds risky behavior while it’s happening, and notifies a caregiver team immediately.

We also answer the question “How can I keep my older adult living independently longer?” by reporting subtle changes in behavior that may be indicative of safety, wellness, or cognitive issues that can be addressed if you know about them!

We help caregivers overcome the “assume everything is ok until it isn’t” caregiving strategy so caregivers and their supporters can intervene as early as possible to introduce safety measures, new treatments, or more help to keep the care recipient living independently for as long as possible.

First and foremost, we built envoyatHome for caregivers of at-risk people who spend a great deal of time at home alone.

Responsibility for a loved one aging in place can be a rewarding, yet at the same time a stressful, expensive, and frustrating experience. There’s only so much yoga class, self-care, and outside help that we can afford or have the time to do.

envoyatHome was designed from scratch for caregivers. Everything from the user experience, operation, product support, and product features is caregiver-centric.

We know one of the highest barriers to caregiver peace of mind is objections to solutions by the care recipient. The health care industry calls this “the reluctant older adult.”

This reluctance can come from many places. It can be a result of dementias or cognitive issues, pride, not wanting to appear needy, or even the fear of losing one’s independence if impairments are discovered.

We took this phenomenon into account too, making it easier for a caregiver to achieve peace of mind with respect for a care recipient’s privacy, dignity, independence, and autonomy.

We can help with strategies for overcoming the objections of reluctant older adults – just give us a call. Your peace of mind and their well-being is worth it.

Our software transforms simple motion sensor output into clinically relevant human behavior. 

Here’s how it works. Motion sensors placed in the home send us data – on, off, on, off. We transform that simple on / off data into behavior, then compare it to your customized care plan to determine whether that behavior is a risk. We call this output Behavior Data.

When envoyatHome recognizes a behavior that your care plan determined to be a risk, our app notifies you immediately – as it’s happening.

Additionally, envoyatHome is constantly analyzing the behavior data, so that you can tap a button in the app to generate a behavior report. These insights give you the full landscape of behavior against your care concerns, including any changes in behavior you might want to address. You’ll see even the most subtle changes over time, helping you to make better care decisions.

We like to say “caregiving made smarter” for a reason. While we use smart home sensors in our solution, we use them to make YOU smarter, not the house. Your care decisions matter.

From the caregiver point of view, envoyatHome is personalized for your specific care concerns – an older adult’s risky behaviors that concern you or desirable behaviors that give you peace of mind – each is equally important!

• Toileting and bathroom concerns
• Morning wake and evening retire concerns
• Safety and risks around hazards like stairs, thresholds, basements, attics, garages
• Nutrition and hydration concerns via access to fridge, freezer, cabinets, drawers
• Social isolation concerns
• Sleep concerns
• Physical inactivity, physical overactivity, sedentary behavior concerns
• Exercise and activity concerns
• Wandering, pacing, and elopement concerns (clinical criteria as determined by your clinician)
• Day/Night confusion
• Leaving home and returning home routines
• Home temperature extremes with optional sensors
• Window or door open with optional sensors
• Water leak with optional sensors
• Remote control of door locks with optional, compatible locks. (Remotely unlock a door for a neighbor or first responder, or unlock a door for a senior who’s forgotten their keys!)
• Remote control of garage door with optional, compatible automation
• Eating (via cabinet or fridge access)
• Hydration (via access to cabinets or fridge)

Unlike some other remote senior monitoring solutions, envoyatHome is delivered to you with the full capability to monitor and report for over 35 care concerns. You can personalize the care plan for as many or as few care concerns as you like, and change your care plan at any time.

According to research by the New England Journal of Medicine and others, at 40% behavior is the most significant determinant of health – medicine is only 10%! Understanding an individual’s behavior, especially while they’re home alone, is a powerful indicator of risks to safety, wellness, cognitive wellness, and gaps in their capability to live independently.

Caregivers and clinicians have the tools to intervene when a behavior puts an individual at risk. But we can only intervene when we know the behavior exists! And especially for older adults just beginning a cognitive journey, behavior in the presence of loved ones can be very different from when they’re alone. 

Here are some real envoyatHome client examples:

• If an individual is wandering at night, a clinician may be able to treat insomnia
• If we see increased frequency of bathroom visits, a clinician can test for a UTI
• An individual who typically starts their day around 8AM but hasn’t arisen by 8:45AM may be in distress
• A resident who hovers by the front door for hours after his caregiver leaves for the day may benefit from a clinical check and treatment for anxiety

Passive Behavior Discovery is why envoyatHome is so much more powerful than location trackers (Mom is in the kitchen, Mom is in the bathroom) or panic buttons that rely on an older adult in distress to exercise sound judgment, or even fall detectors that can’t see behind walls or furniture.

The bottom line – behavior gives caregivers and clinicians the power to take action – action to help to keep people living independently longer.

envoyatHome is delivered with everything you need for full, comprehensive digital caregiving. You’ll receive 8 smart home sensors, an internet hub, and the envoyatHome app to download for as many caregivers as you like.

We include all the services you need for installation, personalization, and ongoing support for the life of your subscription.

Our standard equipment package is ideal for an average sized home or apartment. All you need is internet service, an empty port on your loved one’s home router, and power for the hub.

Also included is all the service and support you’ll need to get the system up and running. We include virtual installation services, an expert by your side to build your care plan, and access to support via email or phone for the life of your subscription to envoyatHome. 

envoyatHome uses small, smart home motion sensors that are inconspicuous, discreet, and easily blend with any decor. They securely affix to surfaces with residential grade “no damage when removed” double sided tape product, much like you would affix holiday decorations.

We work closely with every envoyatHome family to understand their individual needs. Our standard equipment package provides enough sensors for a typical home. Extra sensors may be required for larger homes or unusual layouts. 

Our mission is to make  full time care affordable and accessible for almost everyone. You’ll pay a one time fee for the envoyatHome equipment, then a monthly subscription fee for the service. Please call us for current pricing.

For consumers who purchase a subscription from envoyatHome directly, there is no long term obligation. If you no longer need the service, just call us to cancel.

You can include as many caregivers on your team as you like for the same low monthly subscription fee.

We love our pets too.

For most users, pets are not an issue. In some cases, a pet may interfere with the motion sensors, which may affect some system features. Please give us a call and we’ll help you determine whether we’re a good fit. 

envoyatHome uses no cameras, no microphones, no listening devices, and no wearables that can be misplaced, lose a charge, or consciously left behind. There’s no video surveillance, no eavesdropping, and no GPS tracking in envoyatHome’s patented technology.

No personally identifiable information is transmitted over the internet when envoyatHome is operating.

Once installed and personalized, envoyatHome is virtually maintenance free. The sensors are powered by long lasting batteries. While the batteries are rated for multiple years, we remind you to replace them yearly. If a battery is low before then, you’ll receive a notification through the app.

Caregiver notification of a power or internet outage is built in to envoyatHome. You’ll receive a notification if the power goes out – a real benefit in extreme weather.

During the outage, monitoring will be unavailable, but when the power or internet is restored, envoyatHome will automatically restart and monitoring service will resume. There is nothing for your loved one (or you) to do!

This is a very common arrangement for envoyatHome families.

envoyatHome has many clients who supplement part time, in-home care with envoyatHome to provide a 24 hour, 7 day a week blanket of protection.

We have many clients who share a home. Please give us a call to discuss your specific care concerns and your loved one’s living situation.

Absolutely! Many families put emergency response in the hands of their loved one.

However, this approach has some limitations. envoyatHome can overcome some of the limitations of PERS buttons.

envoyatHome is entirely passive, meaning your senior doesn’t purposefully engage envoyatHome. There’s no charging or devices to misplace or conspicuous lanyards or buttons to push. There isn’t even a power switch.

Most importantly, your loved one doesn’t have to recognize a risky situation and make a decision under duress to engage envoyatHome. It’s always on.

With a tap on our app, envoyatHome shows you all the behavioral data collected via your care plan over time. It’s presented to you in easily understandable charts, graphs, and narratives that makes it easy to see subtle changes in your loved one’s behaviors, routines, or risk factors.

While envoyatHome is never a substitute for medical advice, caregivers have recognized subtle symptoms of cognitive decline and memory concerns, UTIs, or the need for more supervision.

Sharing envoyatHome data at a doctor’s visit overcomes the limitations of reluctant senior self-reporting, casual observation by non-clinicians, or a senior’s inability to self-recognize concerning issues. envoyatHome data is objective, consistent, and contextual, giving your clinician better insight.

Check out the envoyatHome blog pages for stories and examples.

Many symptoms of cognitive decline, dementia, memory loss etc can be identified through behaviors at home. For example, envoyatHome has alerted caregivers to signs of day/night confusion, night wandering, sundowners syndrome, door confusion, pacing, insomnia, anxiety, and even lack of eating and drinking.

One client was alerted to her father leaving his apartment at 4AM during a blizzard – he was quickly and safely intercepted thanks to a real time notification from envoyatHome.

Another family was notified when their mother’s overnight bathroom frequency increased. She was diagnosed with a UTI by a physician.

Families have brought envoyatHome data to doctor’s appointments, resulting in changes to medications and new diagnoses.

It might surprise you that yes, we have many clients who live in senior living or assisted living. Why? Because senior living isn’t senior care.

We have families who use envoyatHome to validate loved ones receive contracted services like bed checks, nurse visits, meal deliveries, toileting assistance, etc.

A family with a senior living alone in any arrangement is a candidate for envoyatHome.