Everything you might be wondering about — from how the calls work, to what happens in an emergency, to whether your parent will actually like it.
What it looks like to begin, what we ask, and how we make sure your parent feels comfortable from day one.
About four minutes. We ask for your contact information, your parent's first name and phone number, the time of day they prefer, and a few small details that help our calls feel familiar — a pet's name, an upcoming event, anything important happening in their life.
No. The waitlist is just your name and email — no payment, no commitment. When we open to your spot, you'll get an email with details and you can decide then.
Usually with a quick three-way call where you introduce us first. You explain to your parent that we'll be calling each morning to chat and check in, and we say hello and answer any questions they have.
If you'd rather not do a three-way call, we can send you a short script to walk through with your parent on your own.
We don't proceed without their consent. If they say no during the introduction, we don't call again. You're not charged.
If they say yes initially but change their mind later, we stop immediately and refund the unused portion of your month.
Yes. We're upfront about who we are and why we're calling on the first call. Honesty is part of how we earn your parent's trust over time. Most parents find the calls comfortable within a few days.
How long they take, what's discussed, what your parent can expect.
You should — and you do. Tellie isn't a replacement for your calls; it fills the days between them. We catch the small changes that don't come up in a Sunday phone call, and we give you the peace of knowing your parent had a kind, attentive conversation today, even when you couldn't be the one to have it.
About five minutes. Sometimes less if your parent is busy, sometimes a little more if they want to chat. We never overstay our welcome.
Yes. When you sign up, you tell us what to gently ask about — a recovery, a medication, an upcoming visit, a hobby. You can update these anytime. We weave them in naturally, never as a checklist.
We try again later in the morning. If we still can't reach them, you'll get a note letting you know. After two missed calls in a row, we send you a text so you can check in directly. We don't assume the worst, but we don't ignore a pattern.
Anytime. From your dashboard or by emailing us. Many families adjust the time as their parent's routine changes — earlier for early risers, later if they like to read in the morning.
Tell us in the signup notes. We adjust our pace and speak more clearly for parents with hearing aids or hearing loss. We can also call landlines if your parent prefers.
No. A regular phone — landline or mobile — is all that's needed. Your parent doesn't need to use the internet, an app, or a smart speaker. They just answer their phone.
What lands in your inbox, when, and what to expect from trend alerts.
Within 30–60 minutes of the call ending. If your parent's call is at 10 AM, you'll have your summary by 11 AM at the latest. Most arrive sooner.
A short, readable note covering sleep, appetite, mood, anything they brought up, and anything that stood out. Designed to read in 30 seconds. The full transcript is always available if you want it.
Either or both. Email by default. You can add SMS for a quick "all is well" notification, with the full summary in your inbox.
Yes. You can add up to four family members on one subscription. Helpful when you're sharing the load with siblings.
A quiet note we add to your summary when we notice something has shifted from your parent's normal pattern over a few days — disrupted sleep, appetite changes, low mood, repeated mention of pain, or memory slips that weren't there before.
It's not an alarm, just a heads-up. We're not trying to startle you — we're surfacing the things you'd want to know about.
Occasionally. If something seems off, you can always read the full transcript to see exactly what was said. We err on the side of accuracy and quietness — we'd rather miss an over-interpretation than create false alarms.
How we handle urgent situations, what we do, and what we don't pretend to do.
If we hear something urgent — a fall, sudden confusion, severe pain — you get a text within a minute and we attempt to call you shortly after. With your prior consent, we can also request a wellness check from your local non-emergency line.
We are not a substitute for 911. Your parent should always have a medical alert device for true medical emergencies.
We don't replace 911. If your parent describes an active medical emergency, we will guide them to call 911 themselves and stay with them on the line. We will also alert you immediately. We can request a wellness check through a local non-emergency line with your prior consent, but we are a check-in service, not an emergency service.
It goes in your summary, often near the top. If it's something we think you'd want to know about right away — but not 911-urgent — we may also send you a text so you see it before your usual summary arrives.
Our care team reviews flagged calls. As we grow, we'll have a registered nurse or geriatric care advisor on staff to review anything clinical. Today, we err on the side of contacting you and letting you decide on next steps.
How we handle recordings, transcripts, and your parent's privacy.
Yes — with your parent's consent, given on the first call. Recordings let us produce the summary and watch for changes over time. They are private to your family, encrypted, and never shared.
Anytime, from your dashboard. You can delete individual recordings or all of them. Deletion is permanent and immediate.
No. We don't sell data. We don't share recordings or transcripts with third parties. Your parent's calls are seen only by you, the family members you've added, and our care team. Read our full privacy policy for details.
Yes. They can ask us to pause recording on a specific call, or stop entirely. If they revoke consent, we end calls until things are resolved with you.
We're opening to a small first group of families soon. Add your name and we'll let you know.
Join the waitlist