What is the Alexa Care Hub? How to use it with older parents

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – Amazon offers an Alexa feature – called Alexa Care Hub – that lets you use a parent’s Echo device to check in remotely.

What is the Alexa Care Hub?

Alexa Care Hub, according to Amazon, is a free way to feel closer to your elderly parents or grandparents, especially during the pandemic.

With it, Alexa can send you alerts when your loved one uses their Echo device in the morning or if they don’t use it for a while. You can then go to an activity feed to see their Alexa activity by type (but not the specific thing they asked Alexa or what they’re doing).

The idea is that you will see that your loved one is alive and interacting with his echo. Care Hub also allows your loved one to set your Amazon account as an emergency contact, so if they say “Alexa, call for help,” Alexa will call you, send you an SMS or a notification. You can also use Drop In to save them.

“With an Echo device in your loved one’s home and the Alexa app on your phone, you’ll know it’s on and active. You can also be notified if you ask Alexa for help. It’s a simple way to feel close even when you’re apart, ”Amazon explained in a blog post announcing Care Hub.

How to set up Alexa Care Hub

You and your loved one must approve the Care Hub setup to create a connection between the two of you.

To get started with Care Hub from the web:

1. Go to the Amazon Care Hub home page.
2. Click on “Create a relationship” and confirm your identity.
3. Alexa will ask if you want to provide or receive support
   • Let him know you want to support.
4. You will receive a setup invitation link to send to your parent.
   • Tell them to follow the instructions.
   • They will be asked to sign in with their Amazon account.
   • They will also need to create a profile.
   • If they get lost, Amazon has this guide to help you out.
5. When they are finished, you will receive an invitation email from your loved one.
   • It will go to the address associated with your Amazon account.
6. Click the “Get Started” link in that email, and that’s it.

To get started with Care Hub from the Alexa app:

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Open More (three-line menu button).
3. Select View more.
4. Select Care center.
5. Follow the onscreen steps to give help or receive help from a loved one.
   • You can send the invitation to any email address.
   • Your loved one must register with the same account registered on their Alexa device.

Also make sure to use the Alexa app to update the emergency contact in your Care Hub connection. Just open the Alexa app, then go to the More menu and select See more. From there, select Care Hub> Emergency Contact> then Edit Emergency Contact.

What can you do with Alexa Care Hub?

With Alexa Care Hub, you can see an activity stream of your loved one’s Alexa and Smart Home interactions. You can also set up alerts to notify you when your loved one is using Alexa. You can even ask Alexa to call and message your phone when your loved one asks Alexa for help.

Finally, you can get quick access to call or call your loved one from Alexa Care Hub.

How to view activity with Alexa Care Hub

Once the Alexa Care Hub is set up, you can use the Alexa app to see an overview of your loved one’s Alexa activity:

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Open More (three-line menu button).
3. Select View more.
4. Select Care center.
5. Select Show all activity.

How to receive notifications about your loved one

To receive alerts, first enable notification permissions for the Alexa app.

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Open More (three-line menu button).
3. Select View more.
4. Select Care center.
5. Select Alerts.
6. Choose to be notified when:
   • There is no activity
   • Or when your loved one first interacts with Alexa within a certain period of time.
7. Then click on Save.

Want to know more?

See the Care Hub website and Amazon Support Guide for details.

SQUIRREL_WIDGET_2683477

Written by Maggie Tillman. Originally published on November 12, 2020.