For families
Setting up Guardian for a parent
This page is written for an adult child who wants to set up Guardian for a parent or older relative. It covers what Guardian does, what it does not do, and what you need to do before handing over the device.
What Guardian actually does
Guardian pairs with a compatible smartwatch your parent already wears or will wear. It monitors accelerometer data (movement and impact) and heart-rate patterns in the background. When it detects a signature that may indicate a fall or a dangerous vital-sign change, it works through a six-stage escalation process before alerting anyone.
The goal is to reduce false alarms — which cause alarm fatigue and erode trust — while still catching real events quickly. The tradeoff is that Guardian is not instantaneous. There is a confirmation window of 60–90 seconds before your circle is alerted.
What Guardian does not do
- ✕Guardian does not call emergency services. You or another circle member must make that call.
- ✕Guardian does not provide medical advice or diagnosis.
- ✕Guardian does not guarantee detection. Falls in certain positions, or with certain movement patterns, may not be detected.
- ✕Guardian does not work without a charged, connected device. If the watch battery dies or loses connectivity, monitoring stops.
- ✕Guardian is not a substitute for a personal alarm button or a carer visit schedule.
Before you set it up
Talk to your parent first
Guardian works best when the wearer understands what it does and has agreed to wear the device. Explain the check-in prompt — if they see "Are you OK?" on their watch, they need to respond. If they ignore it, an alert goes to the circle.
Complete the medical summary
The medical summary (medications, conditions, blood type, GP contact) is sent to circle members during an incident. Fill it in accurately. A paramedic may rely on it.
Build the circle thoughtfully
Add people who are geographically close enough to respond, not just people who care. A sibling in another country cannot help in the first ten minutes. Include at least one person within 20 minutes of your parent.
Agree on a response protocol
Decide in advance: who calls emergency services if the circle is alerted? Who goes to the address? What is the backup if the primary responder is unavailable? Write it down somewhere the circle can find it.
During an incident
When you receive a Guardian alert, you will see a responder view with your parent's location on a map, their medical summary, and a timeline of what has happened so far. The most important thing to do first is assess whether you need to call emergency services.
If you can call emergency services yourself, do that first.
Do not wait for Guardian to escalate further. The app is a tool to help you respond — it does not replace your judgment.