Amazon Launches Service Help Care for Seniors

Amazon Alexa has a new role: helping seniors and caregivers. Amazon launched Alexa Together in an effort to help aging consumers and family members or friends who assist in caring for them.The subscription service requires an Alexa-supported device such as an Echo speaker or the Echo Show.The service includes an urgent response option giving users access to a 24/7 emergency hotline when they say Alexa, call for help.

From there, a trained professional can request police, fire department or an ambulance. Amazon Alexa helped spur a surge in voice assistants for our devices. Since then, Amazon has learned customers use Alexa for more than just setting an alarm or playing a song.

The service also supports fall detection in partnership with third-party devices, including devices from Vayyar and Assistive Technology Service, that can detect when someone needs help. If someone falls, Alexa will awaken and ask whether the user wants to call an urgent response.

Caregivers can receive activity alerts and have the option to remote assist to include reminders or add contacts.The service costs $19.99 a month, or $199 a year, but Amazon offers a free, six-month trial for a limited time.