Samsung Electronics Introduces SmartThings Family Care to Address Increasing Caregiving Responsibilities

Today, more individuals are stepping into caregiving roles for their loved ones. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States provides some form of caregiving¹, highlighting the need for solutions to ease the caregiving load.

To address this, Samsung has launched SmartThings Family Care, a new service available for U.S. SmartThings app users on Galaxy smartphones beginning August 16, 2024, tailored for the aging population along with individuals who are in need of assistance with their daily activities. This innovative service harnesses SmartThings, Samsung's global connected living platform, with Smart home devices to offer comprehensive schedule management, activity notifications, medication reminders, and location-based care.

"We developed Family Care to address the persistent, real-world challenges families face in a rapidly aging society," said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. "By integrating advanced AI technology, we aim to provide smarter, more intuitive solutions that enhance the quality of life for our customers and their loved ones."

Activity Notifications for Peace of Mind

One of the biggest struggles caregivers face is the constant worry about their loved ones. With SmartThings, caregivers can gain peace of mind by receiving alerts if any abnormalities are detected in their loved ones daily routine. For example, Family Care can recognize the first activity of the day- using their Galaxy phone-and sends a notification to a chosen caregiver, reassuring them that their loved one is ok.

Scheduling Medication and Appointment Reminders

By the age of 40, over half of Americans surveyed had taken at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,² and a third of American adults in their 60s and 70s use five or more prescription drugs regularly.³ Now, family members can receive reminders to check their blood pressure and blood sugar, and can schedule their doctor's appointments through their Galaxy smartphone or Samsung TV⁴ to ensure their loved one is staying on track with their medication.

Location-Based Notifications

Now, users can stay connected with their loved ones' location using their Galaxy smartphones. With Family Care, caregiver's receive alerts when their loved ones arrive or leave a place, helping to ensure their safety. This can be especially useful for scheduled medical appointments or regular visits to pharmacies.

By setting up automations, caregivers can help their loved ones save energy by turning off appliances when no one is home, and improve indoor air quality by automatically activating the air purifier when outdoor pollutants are high.

The Family Care service can be downloaded from the Life tab of the SmartThings app. Samsung plans to continue to expand and improve SmartThings Family Care, providing family members in need of care more convenience and those who support them with more ways to ensure a healthy and safe daily life.

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