Private pilot · welcoming a small group of families
Tether is a short, friendly voice check-in for an aging parent — and a plain-language summary that tells you how they really sounded. Less worry. Fewer anxious calls. One more way to stay close.
Or create an account to set it up for your family.
Caregiver summary
Overall
Mary sounded cheerful and chatty today.
Activity
Category Sprint — named 14 animals in a minute.
Similar to her usual pace over the last few weeks.
Suggested follow-up
Ask how the tomatoes are coming along and whether she has groceries for the week.
Talk with Tether
Listening“Let’s do a quick word game, then I’ll ask how your garden is doing.”
Illustrative product previews. The pilot is early — features and flows will evolve with the families using them.
Why we built Tether
If you live miles from your parent, you know the feeling — the quiet worry between phone calls, the wish that you could just look in for a minute and know they’re alright. You’re already doing a lot. Tether isn’t here to add another task; it’s here to lift a little of that worry, so your check-ins go further and feel warmer.
63 million
Americans are family caregivers — nearly 1 in 4 adults.
AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, 2025
7 million+
Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today.
Alzheimer’s Association
~13 million
people give unpaid care to someone with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association
How it works
Tether is one small, repeatable routine — a friendly check-in, a light activity, a plain-language summary, and one thoughtful follow-up.
Add your parent’s preferred name, a few favorite topics, and anything to steer around. It’s a quick, friendly setup — not a medical intake. Your parent says yes before anything begins.
Tether opens with a warm hello and a gentle reminder of what it does, then talks for a few minutes and plays one easy word game. It’s a conversation they own — they can pause or stop any time, by voice or a big tap.
Afterward you get a short, plain-language summary: how the chat went, what came up, and one specific thing worth following up on. So your next call is about the tomatoes, not “just checking in.”
No account or microphone needed — it’s a sample.
For families
When care happens from a distance, you want to know whether your parent sounded like themselves this week, whether anything is on their mind, and whether there’s something worth following up on. Tether gives you a quiet, consistent way to know — and one concrete thing to do about it.
Adult children, far from home
Hear how your parent really sounded this week without turning every call into a check-up.
Spouses and siblings
Share one clear, plain-language summary instead of repeating yourself across the family.
Older adults themselves
A friendly few minutes with a warm voice — and one light word game, never a test.
Caregiver summary
Overall
Mary sounded cheerful and chatty today.
Activity
Category Sprint — named 14 animals in a minute.
Similar to her usual pace over the last few weeks.
Suggested follow-up
Ask how the tomatoes are coming along and whether she has groceries for the week.
Why it might matter
Mary mentioned shopping but did not say whether she had meals planned.
One thing you could do
Call this evening, or add a quick reminder for tomorrow.
What you actually see
After each check-in, you get a short, plain-language read on the conversation — and one concrete thing to follow up on. Over time, Tether highlights gentle patterns relative to your loved one’s own baseline, never against population labels.
Walk through a sample check-in →How the conversation went
Mood, engagement, and the topics that came up.
How the activity went
A plain-language result for the word game, compared to your loved one’s own pace.
One thing worth following up on
A concrete suggestion, like asking about a missed meal or a grocery list.
Continuity over time
Gentle patterns relative to your loved one’s own baseline — never population labels or scores.
Built around trust
Tether only works if older adults actually want to use it, and if families feel okay receiving what comes back. Both of those are product principles, not afterthoughts.
Nobody is enrolled in secret. Your parent hears what Tether is, who sees their summary, and how to stop, in plain words — and confirms before any check-in. Every call begins with a friendly reminder.
Tether speaks to your parent as the capable adult they are — normal voice, normal pace, by the name they choose. No tests, no scores, no “you failed.”
Tether is a daily hello, not a tracker. It supports your parent staying independent in their own home, on their own terms. You see a gentle summary — not their every move.
Tether is a wellness and connection tool. It does not diagnose or screen for any condition, and it isn’t covered by HIPAA. It helps you notice changes worth discussing with a doctor — the doctor decides what they mean.
We tell every family exactly what is written down and stored before you start, and keeping audio is opt-in. We never sell your data and never share it with advertisers. You can export or delete it anytime.
They can see what’s shared and turn it off whenever they want. The care circle is opt-in, and anyone can be removed later. Nothing about Tether happens behind their back.
We never sell your data or share it with advertisers. Read our plain-language privacy note →
What a pilot looks like
We’re early, and we’re honest about it — the pilot is free, there’s no credit card, and we read every request personally. We’re looking for families caring for an aging parent who want a gentle, steady way to stay close. Here’s what to expect:
Tether is not for urgent health or safety concerns. In an emergency, contact local services or a qualified care professional.
Common questions
No. Tether supports friendly conversation and light word games, and gives you a plain-language summary after each check-in. It does not diagnose, screen for, treat, or replace medical care. It can help you notice changes worth discussing with a doctor — your doctor decides what they mean.
Most parents enjoy it — it’s a friendly chat they look forward to, not a test they could fail. Tether speaks to your parent as the adult they are, by the name they choose, and it’s built around their independence. They say yes before it starts, they can see what’s shared, and they can pause or stop any time.
Yes — always. Tether is built around clear, plain-language consent. We explain what Tether does, your loved one confirms they want to take part, and they can pause or stop whenever they like. We’ll never let you enroll a parent silently.
Only the people your loved one has approved. They see a short overview, the topics that came up, how the activity went, and one suggested follow-up. The care circle is opt-in, and anyone can be removed later.
We tell every family exactly what is written down and stored before you start, and keeping audio is opt-in. We never sell your data and never share it with advertisers, and you can export or delete it anytime. Tether is a wellness tool and isn’t covered by HIPAA — our privacy note explains how we protect your data anyway.
No. Tether is a gentle check-in, not an emergency service or safety alarm. If something is urgent, call local emergency services or a qualified clinician right away.