How it works
Three hearts, one rhythm
Near & Dear connects the Star, the Companion, and Angel — the friendly voice that asks the questions, within the wake-up and wind-down times you set.
The Star
The loved one who answers simple check-ins on their iPhone — a parent, grandparent, or anyone you care about who lives far away.
The Companion
The person keeping up with them. Companions set up the check-ins, review activity and alerts, send messages, and adjust settings over time.
Angel
The friendly voice inside the app. Angel prompts the Star at the right moments, logs their answers, and keeps the Companion gently informed.
What Near & Dear checks in on
Simple check-ins, answered with big buttons instead of forms. The Companion chooses which ones are turned on, and the Star only sees those.
Blood Pressure
A large keypad: enter the top number, tap the slash, enter the bottom number, submit. More keypad than form.
Heart Rate
Enter the reading on the keypad and submit it. That's the whole step.
Blood Sugar
Same simple keypad, logged in seconds.
Mood & General Feeling
Big buttons arranged from better to worse. Choose the most serious one and Angel asks a single follow-up — bad day, need to talk, need a doctor, or emergency.
Medications
Only the medicines that matter for that time of day, marked off and submitted with a tap.
What I Ate
Pick the meal, choose what was eaten, or tap "Something else" and type it in.
Designed for the people you love
Big buttons, plain words, and a warm welcome every time. Near & Dear is built so an 80-year-old can use it without a single lesson.
More than check-ins
What happens around the answers matters just as much as the answers themselves.
Alerts with a sense of proportion
Routine updates can wait. More concerning responses are highlighted more clearly, and emergencies are treated as urgent — so the app doesn't exhaust you with constant alarm.
A notifications list, not a nag
The Star's bell shows check-ins still waiting. If they already answered recently, Near & Dear quietly skips repeating the reminder.
Messages both ways
Companions can send a message; Stars can answer with a quick tap reply or type their own — no phone call required.
Activity, insights, and reports
Review mood, meals, readings, and medication responses over time, so you can look at patterns instead of one moment in isolation.
Invite, connect, disconnect
Companions invite a Star to join and can re-send an expired invitation. A Star who starts alone can connect a Companion later and choose to share Everything or Starting Today.
Trophies and encouragement
Consistent check-ins earn warm, encouraging moments. They're there to make the app feel human, never to pressure anyone.
Subscriptions live in the app
Sometimes a Companion pays and manages the setup. Sometimes a Star pays for their own use. Sometimes both. What matters is that the account has active subscription coverage to keep working normally — and Near & Dear explains what a change means before access is affected.
A support tool, not a substitute
Near & Dear helps families notice patterns and follow up sooner. It is not a replacement for emergency services, professional medical care, or immediate in-person help, and it does not make medical decisions. If something feels urgent, don't wait for the next check-in.