Caregivers are as much our customers as the older adults they serve. We equip them with information that enables them to provide the best possible care. These caregivers understand aging like few others do. They see the beauty in it—the wisdom and calmness their residents gain through a fruitful life. Simultaneously, they witness the gift of health and the diverse realities of biological age. Some are 78 years old and struggling to walk, while others, at 102, play bingo down the hallway without a cane.

Caregiving is an emotionally and physically demanding profession. Each day, their work impacts lives. Their skills allow them to spot problems early, as they know their residents intimately, often accompanying them on their aging journey for years. With caregiving being complex and multifaceted, they need tools to assist them in their daily tasks. Helpany provides such tools. Specifically, Paul, our radar-based device, acts as a friendly companion to the resident, always present in their apartment—neither listening nor watching, but simply sensing and analyzing motion. Through Paul, caregivers gain previously inaccessible information that empowers them. The right information at the right time can make all the difference. The stakes are high on this journey of aging. If caregivers can spot problems earlier, their residents’ paths can change significantly. Preventing one fall by being there at night to help with a bathroom trip, or detecting a urinary tract infection earlier, can extend the quality and length of a resident’s life.

Caregivers have a profound impact on the lives of older adults. They deserve the best tools to excel in their important work, and they need access to information that helps them thrive as the best possible companions on the journey of aging.

As the 33-year-old CEO of Helpany, I am neither a caregiver nor an older adult. I am an engineer by training, and my daily work looks quite different from that of our customers. I believe that this outside perspective can create significant value, but only under one condition: walking in their shoes. To earn their respect, one must observe, learn, and embrace the reality that our customers are an endless source of wisdom, and we know very little.

And that’s exactly what I did: I flew to Phoenix to work alongside our clients’ caregivers for 72 hours, covering day, evening, and night shifts.

Day Shift

I was assigned to a caregiver in assisted living, and I introduced myself as the founder of Helpany, the company behind Paul, the radar-based device installed in every apartment. After explaining that I would work alongside her during the day shift and with her colleagues in the evening and night shifts, I noticed a slight confusion on her face. She initially thought I was there to perform some updates or something similar.

However, once I asked where I could change into my scrubs, she began to realize that I was serious. This made her a bit more suspicious, but she went along with it. After donning my scrubs, she gave me a name tag and started explaining what we were going to do.

It was early in the morning, and the electronic medical records system (EMR) displayed all the activities of daily living (ADLs) and medications we needed to administer. Some of the ADLs were time-bound, some were not. She opened the Helpany app and began tapping on some of the residents’ profiles. This was interesting to see, though I didn’t yet understand its purpose. She searched for some residents listed in the ADLs and then said, “Great! She is awake—let’s go!” We walked to that specific apartment, which was a five-minute walk from the nursing station, knocked on the door, and provided the necessary service. Immediately after, we walked back to the nursing station and documented this in the EMR.

From there, the pattern repeated—she opened the Helpany app, searched for residents, sometimes grumbling, “Uff… nope, I’m definitely not waking him up yet,” and then selected another resident before we set off again.

As we walked, I asked, “What exactly are you looking at in the Helpany app?” She responded, “I check if they are awake. Some residents don’t like to be woken up by us caregivers. They can get upset, and it affects their mood for the rest of the day. I always check the Helpany app before going to a resident’s apartment, in the morning, to see if they’re awake, or even if they’re in the apartment.” I took notes as she laughed and added, “It would be nice to have a Paul device in my home—my husband gets angry too if I wake him up.” I laughed, smiled, and nodded in agreement, thinking about how my wife is exactly the same. Some things are just independent of age.

After providing many ADLs to different residents, we received a message from a colleague that a resident had a fever and would stay in bed. “Thank you for letting me know! I’ll activate the preventive alarms.” As soon as she hung up, she opened the Helpany app and enabled the preventive alarms for that resident. “Now I’ll be informed by Paul if she gets up. She always forgets to press the pendant to alert us, especially if she’s having a bad day.”

I was pleased to see that the day shift was using the preventive alarms in such a way. They have clear procedures for when and for whom to activate these alarms in the Helpany app—such as changes in medications, releases after rehab or hospital stays, or when someone is bedridden due to illness. In all these cases, they want to be proactively informed if the resident starts to move.

It was equally interesting to observe the use of Helpany’s remote monitoring functionality. First, they checked if the apartment was occupied using the app. Second, they verified if the resident was awake in the morning. The first check is for efficiency. By noon, I realized how many steps we had already taken, and I still had two more shifts to go. The distances in such senior communities can be vast. Walking from the nursing station to an apartment, especially across floors, takes time. Being able to verify if a resident is in the apartment before walking saves time and steps—steps that caregivers are certainly not lacking.

The second check is what I call a “UX improvement” for the resident. While “UX improvement” might sound technical, it’s accurate—it’s a qualitative enhancement that matters for both the resident and the caregiver. Not waking someone up unnecessarily preserves a sense of freedom and independence. One resident told me he hated being woken up: “I hated it as a child and in the army.”

This is indeed a UX improvement, as it gives the resident a better experience. It can also positively impact the caregiver’s workday—working with residents in a good mood is always preferable to dealing with grumpy ones.

The day shift was dictated by the rhythm of daily activities. Interestingly, although these activities must be performed daily, they are not fixed-paced. It’s a dynamic environment with many moving variables. Residents can have difficult nights that impact caregivers’ mornings. Some are night owls, while others are early risers. The variety among residents is vast. Since every resident is different, caregivers need versatile, flexible, and simple solutions for their work. Ease of use is everything. What they definitely don’t need are gadgets and toys.

Evening Shift

The afternoon was less structured, mainly focused on handling pendant alarms, receiving preventive alarms on the Helpany app if the resident with a fever started getting up again, and regularly checking in to ensure everyone was doing fine. We were constantly busy—performing glucose measurements, taking special care of the resident with a fever, and talking with family members who visited their loved ones.

The variety of tasks was extensive, and context switches were frequent. The caregiver I worked with was so accustomed to this that she barely noticed it anymore. It was impressive to see how she could shift focus immediately while still being fully present when engaging with residents. Later in the afternoon, it was time again to administer medications. The caregiver used the Helpany app to verify if the residents were already in their apartments or if they were still elsewhere. Residents are busy—playing cards, engaging in activities, or conversing with other residents somewhere on the campus.

“Before I walk to a resident’s apartment, I always check the Helpany app to see if the resident is there. Especially if I have to provide meds. I can prepare all my materials in advance and only walk once, instead of twice like in the past. Previously, we walked to the apartment, verified the resident was there, and then brought the meds with us. I’m only allowed to pop the pills if I know the resident is there.”

I nodded in agreement, excited. I wasn’t aware of this use case for remote monitoring, but it made so much sense. She further explained that it’s a huge hassle if someone pops the pills and they have to be disposed of because the window of time passes and the resident doesn’t return. Again, such insights are only uncovered by working alongside caregivers. They are leveraging Helpany in unexpected ways, which is simply amazing. She was so savvy in using the Helpany app that it was clear she relies on it daily.

After we administered the medications, many ADLs followed throughout the rest of the evening. At the end of the evening shift, the caregivers started enabling preventive alarms for some of their residents. Some residents had received new medications, leading the caregivers to determine that they might have an increased risk of falling. Other residents reported not feeling well today. For these residents, the caregivers also enabled the preventive alarms. The evening shift ended with a handover and briefing for the night shift crew.

Night Shift

At 10:30 PM, the night shift started, and we were already off to the residents’ apartments. By this time, I had grown accustomed to the flow of providing ADLs, moving from one resident to the next. Our main focus was helping the residents prepare for a good night’s sleep—changing clothes, brushing teeth, and easing into the bedroom to wind down. The differences between residents become especially apparent at night. For example, witnessing someone in physical (and emotional) pain is heartbreaking. Understandably, these residents were less patient with the caregivers (and me) and could be perceived as ruthless, frustrated, and sometimes almost aggressive. Aging can be cruel. Some residents, due to advanced age, lose aspects of their personal freedom. If their hands shake so much that they can no longer do their beloved puzzles on their own, it affects their well-being. Similarly, if they are no longer able to walk around the campus independently without supervision, another aspect of personal freedom is lost. Aging is a journey, and every journey is unique.

On the other hand, there were also many moments of fun and joy. Some residents joked around, and I loved their sense of humor. They reflected on their days, bragged about winning every card game they played, and, of course, gossiped a little. Some had a dark sense of humor, which resonated well with me. They joked with the caregivers and made fun of me, saying I was a useless assistant, but at least I was cute.

Shortly after midnight, the majority of residents were asleep, and the duties of the night shift started to change. We had to perform assurance checks at regular intervals and remain on duty for pendant calls and the Helpany preventive alarms. There weren’t many pendant calls that night, but we regularly received preventive alarms on the Helpany app. Thanks to these alarms, caregivers were immediately notified if residents got up at night, allowing them to assist (e.g., with a trip to the bathroom). Some residents simply couldn’t sleep and wandered into the living room. Again, the caregivers were notified about these circumstances and were grateful to be informed. As we can all imagine, rough nights like these impact the next day for both residents and caregivers. At the end of the night shift, one caregiver shared with me:

“Paul is like my caregiver assistant. With Paul in the residents’ apartments, I know what’s happening behind closed doors and can assist residents if they get up at night. It’s like having a virtual night guard.”

As the early morning hours approached, the caregivers began opening the Helpany app to remotely check on the residents. By now, I had learned that we want to know who is already awake. The cycle repeats as we start providing services to the residents who are already up and about.

Conclusion

After spending 72 hours walking in the shoes of our caregivers, I was reassured of Helpany’s significant impact on their routines and the well-being of residents. Whether it’s the structured rhythm of the day shift, where Paul ensures caregivers approach residents at the right moment and alerts them if the most vulnerable begin to move, the spontaneous demands of the evening shift, where every saved step and timely notification makes a tangible difference, or the quiet vigilance of the night shift, where Paul acts as a virtual night guard—the value of our technology is undeniable.

Paul doesn’t just provide data; it offers peace of mind. It empowers caregivers to be more effective, more responsive, and more compassionate. It allows them to focus on what truly matters—the human connection, the gentle touch, the comforting words that define quality care. With Paul, caregivers can anticipate needs, are empowered with information to prevent accidents, and make informed decisions that can alter the course of a resident’s day—or even their life.

As the founder and CEO of Helpany, this experience has been deeply humbling. I’ve always believed in the power of technology to change lives, but seeing it in action, in the hands of those who dedicate themselves to the well-being of others, has given me a new perspective. Our caregivers are not just users of our products; they are heroes who navigate the complexities of aging with grace and resilience. They deserve tools that respect their expertise and amplify their impact.

Helpany is more than just a company—it’s a mission. A mission to ensure that our older adults can live with dignity and independence, and that those who care for them have the support they need to thrive in their vital roles. Because at the heart of it all, we are not just creating technology; we are helping to shape the future of care—one that is compassionate, informed, and deeply human.

And for that, I am profoundly grateful.

Sandro
CEO & Founder Helpany