About
Built from a real family
Near & Dear was born when one child wanted to stay close to a father who lived far away and didn't love texting.
Why we made this
Distance makes caring harder. Phone calls miss the daily texture. Texting can feel like a chore, especially for older adults who didn't grow up with it. And health changes often show up first in small patterns — what someone ate, how they rated their morning, whether they said "worse" two days in a row.
Near & Dear is designed to catch those patterns gently. Angel, the voice inside the app, prompts the Star at the times their family chose, logs the answers, and keeps the Companion informed — with routine updates that can wait and clearer signals when something may need a closer look. It's a support tool, not a diagnosis, and never a substitute for calling a doctor or emergency services.
What the name means
Near is the feeling we want families to keep, no matter how many miles are between them.
Dear is the person on the other end — the one you worry about, check on, and love.
Together, Near & Dear is a promise: you can be both, even from far away.
The values behind the app
Presence over surveillance
Near & Dear is about showing up with love, not monitoring with anxiety. Every check-in is warm, not clinical.
Judgment-free conversation
No grammar corrections. No impatience. Just a friendly voice that meets people where they are.
The Star stays in control
Everything shared through Near & Dear is what the Star chooses to enter on their own iPhone. When a Companion connects later, the Star decides whether to share everything or only from today forward.
A note from the founder
I have complicated feelings about AI. I worry about the jobs it will displace. I worry about what it means for my kids and grandkids. These are real, legitimate concerns.
But today, I'm just grateful. Grateful that my dad is on the road to recovery. Grateful that Angel never rushes him, never judges his grammar, always shows up, and may have played a role in saving my dad's life.
— David, creator of Near & Dear