CareRingmedicine reminder

Helping parents who live far away with their medicine, without calling every day

If asking your parents about their medicine every day feels like nagging, set up an easy reminder on their phone and share only their dose record. Setup steps and how to talk about it.

“Did you take your medicine?” Asking every day feels like nagging, and not asking leaves you worried. Your parents may not love being checked on either. Let their phone do the reminding, and let yourself quietly see the record.

1. Start with a reminder on their phone

Set it up together next time you visit, or over a video call.

  1. Install CareRing on your parent’s phone. There is no sign-up.
  2. Add each medicine they take. Copying the times from the pharmacy label keeps it accurate.
  3. Allow every permission it asks for on first launch. Then open Reminder check from the bell button at the top right and make sure nothing is off.
  4. On the add medicine screen, use Bell sound to preview the sounds together and pick one they hear easily.

The reminder says “It’s time to take your medicine” first, and if they don’t check it off, the bell follows. All they need to do is tap I took it on the notification.

2. Their record, only for the family they choose

With family sharing on, you can see what your parent checks off on your own phone.

  1. Both of you sign in with a Google account on the Family screen. On iPhone, an Apple account works too.
  2. One person creates a family group and sends an invite code. The code works once, within 24 hours.
  3. On your parent’s phone, choose who can see it under Show my records.

Medicine names are not sent by default; only whether a dose was taken or skipped. Make sure your parents know they can turn it off at any time.

3. Call to chat, not to check

You can turn on Family alerts to get a quiet notice when a dose goes unconfirmed, and set Quiet hours so nothing rings late at night. Then your calls can start with “What did you do today?” instead of “Did you take your medicine?”

How to bring it up

  • Be honest: “It’s not to watch you. It’s so I can stop worrying.”
  • Look at the screen together and show what is shared and what isn’t.
  • Show them they can turn it on and off themselves.

Family sharing works between Android and iPhone (the iPhone app is coming to the App Store). Always follow the doctor’s and pharmacist’s directions on taking medicine.