As our population ages and elderly individuals want to retain independence, there is an increasing need for smart tech that can assist and connect loved ones. Enter Amazon‘s newest offering – Alexa Together.
Launched in 2022, Alexa Together is a subscription service built around Amazon‘s popular voice assistant. It aims to help caregivers remotely monitor and aid senior relatives using an intuitive app interface and connected Alexa devices.
But what exactly is Alexa Together, what does it offer, and could it be useful for you and your loved ones? This comprehensive guide examines all aspects so you can make an informed decision.
I‘ll cover everything from features and capabilities to compatibility, set up, limitations and expert insights on Amazon‘s approach in the assisted living space. Let‘s dive in!
Overview of Alexa Together
First, let‘s quickly summarize what Alexa Together aims to provide:
For caregivers:
- Remote daily wellness check-ins without frequent visits or calls
- Alerts for falls and ability to contact emergency services if needed
- Review activity trends and usage with app history/timelines
- Provide reminders, lists and device assistance remotely
- Peace of mind with 24/7 professional emergency response
For seniors:
- Tools for independent living built using familiar Alexa devices
-Fall detection and one-touch access to emergency agents - Ability to share daily activity summaries with caregivers
- Support for managing calendar, lists, news and entertainment
The concept is certainly promising – using smart devices to provide connectivity and confidence for both caregivers and seniors facing health challenges.
Industry projections also show a growing need for assisted living solutions:
- Over 52 million Americans will be over 65 years old by 2030 (Source)
- 90% of seniors want to age in their own homes (Source)
- $20 billion remote senior care industry projected by 2024 (Source)
Alexa Together aims to be at the forefront of this trend, using familiar voice AI and connected devices to bridge physical distance between caregivers and seniors.
Alexa Together Key Features and Capabilities
Alexa Together centers around an app for caregivers paired with Alexa-powered hardware for seniors. This enables remote support across several areas:
Urgent Response
The senior simply says “Alexa, call for help” to instantly reach 24/7 emergency agents who will contact loved ones and dispatch emergency help if needed.
Proactive Fall Detection
Integrated sensors can automatically detect falls and alert emergency services without needing to push a button. This also works with compatible third party fall detection wearsbles.
Remote Wellness Checks
The caregiver app provides a daily activity feed showing device interactions, health trends and any concerning changes in established patterns.
Assistance Features
Caregivers can remotely manage shopping lists, reminders, calendar appointments and device settings through the app. This allows assistance without full device access.
Customizable Alerts
Any range of triggers can be set to notify caregivers of events like:
- Missed medication alerts
- Inactivity after a set morning wake up time
- Erratic sleep patterns overnight
- Infrequent meals per motion detection
- Changes in news/TV interests
Alerts provide peace of mind while trends protect privacy until concerning deviations occur.
Compatible Devices and Set Up
Alexa Together has some hardware/software requirements for full functionality:
For Seniors
- Alexa Built-In device like Echo Show 8
- WiFi internet connection
- Amazon account
For Caregivers
- iPhone, Android or Fire smartphone
- Alexa app
Once accounts are created, the steps are:
- Enable "Alexa Together" skill on senior‘s device
- Approve skill permissions when promoted
- Caregiver links via app to associate accounts
- Configure alerts and settings appropriately
- Add emergency contacts
It‘s also recommended to install Alexa Together onto all Alexa devices the senior uses for full coverage.
Optional compatible additions also include:
- Vayyar Care Fall Detection Sensor
- SkyAngelCare Smart Pendant
- AltumView Movement Tracker
These unobtrusive devices provide backup protection and share insights without cameras in private spaces.
Pricing and Plans
One major perk of Alexa Together is affordable pricing, making it accessible for most caregiver budgets.
It‘s just $19.99 per month with no long term commitments required. It also qualifies for Amazon Prime‘s 30 day free trial to test it out.
Considering alternatives like daily in-home care can cost over $150 per day, Alexa Together provides excellent value. It‘s about 65% cheaper for 24/7 technological support.
Usage Considerations
While useful, some important considerations apply when using Alexa Together:
Internet connectivity issues – Like any smart home tech, consistent WiFi and power are required. Use backup hotspots/batteries where possible.
Privacy controls – Seniors must proactively enable permissions, with ability to restrict access. Discuss monitoring preferences/concerns transparently.
Account security – Use strong passwords and 2-factor authentication to prevent unwanted account access. This protects app control.
Supplemental protection – Alexa Together compliments in-person check-ins rather than replaces them. Use a mix of tools.
Like with any technology solution, human oversight is still beneficial when possible. But Alexa Together aims to fill the gaps in between while providing support independantly when needed.
Expert Opinion: An Important Milestone for Assisted Living
As a technology analyst, I‘m quite bullish on what Alexa Together signals for the future. Amazon has massive reach with Alexa and AI expertise with AWS.
Leveraging their position with subscriptions for assisted living represents a milestone in converging senior care with smart devices and telehealth.
The population stats show a huge impending need for hybrid high-touch/high-tech elder care support. Alexa Together puts Amazon in a strong position to lead this charge.
And with 24/7 emergency response plus remote monitoring of daily patterns, it provides tangible utility for concerned families right now.
I predict we‘ll see the platform expand over time as well. Support for additional third party health devices, computer vision analytics and medication management could all be on the horizon.
The integration with everyday appliances to enable independent living plus connections to caregivers sets the framework for significant innovation assisting vulnerable individuals. Alexa Together provides a glimpse of what mainstream potential assisted living technology has moving forward.
While still early and not without limitations, Alexa Together delivers actual daily value while pointing to an increasingly connected but still human-focused future between caregivers and their loved ones.
