The SmartThings Blog

New role-based features, global availability, real-time alerts, and deeper health integrations designed for modern caregiving Caregiving is becoming an everyday reality for millions of Americans. In fact, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. provides some form of care to a loved one, according to the Mayo Clinic. Whether it’s managing medication schedules, checking in throughout the day, or coordinating doctor’s visits, caregiving can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. SmartThings Family Care is a service designed to bring peace of mind to caregivers and support daily independence for those receiving care. SmartThings Family Care is built into the SmartThings app on Galaxy smartphones and works with SmartThings-connected devices to make caregiving more intuitive, efficient, and proactive. With its latest update, SmartThings Family Care expands its reach to over 200 countries and introduces smarter, more personalized features that make caregiving simpler, more intuitive, and more supportive than ever before. Strengthened Role-Based Support SmartThings Family Care includes separate modes for caregivers and care recipients, ensuring each user has access to the tools and insights they need: Caregivers can monitor routines, receive alerts, track locations, and manage schedules. Care recipients can choose what information to share, helping maintain autonomy and privacy, while still receiving support. Simplified Setup and Invitations Inviting a loved one to join is easier than ever. Caregivers can invite loved ones, even those in other locations or unfamiliar with using apps, using a single invitation link with guided onboarding. Setup is intuitive, making it easy for families to connect. More Granular Information Sharing Users can now exclude unwanted data for more privacy, while caregivers can access what they need more quickly. Activities, locations, and schedules are now neatly organized into tabs, enabling faster access for caregivers while protecting privacy for care recipients. Real-Time Monitoring of Household Activity SmartThings Family Care supports advanced activity detection at home, like whether a TV or appliance has been turned on. Caregivers can customize inactivity detection intervals and even remotely deploy Samsung robot vacuums equipped with cameras to visually check in when needed, adding a new layer of passive monitoring.   Deeper Integration with Samsung Health To help caregivers understand the full picture, SmartThings Family Care now integrates with Samsung Health to track data such as wake-up times, sleep patterns, and step counts. This health-driven insight allows for a more personalized and proactive approach to health management. Everyday Tools That Make a Big Difference Alongside these new enhancements, SmartThings Family Care also includes familiar and essential caregiving features designed to reduce stress and improve quality of life: Activity Notifications for Peace of Mind - One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is uncertainty. SmartThings can detect when a loved one starts their day, such as by using their Galaxy phone, and send an alert to a designated caregiver, offering peace of mind without the need for constant check-ins. Medication and Appointment Reminders -Caregivers can schedule reminders for medications, blood pressure or glucose checks, and appointments, displayed directly on Galaxy smartphones or Samsung TVs, so nothing important gets missed. Location-Based Alerts -Family Care also lets caregivers stay connected to their loved ones’ locations. Get notified when they arrive at or leave specific places like a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Shared Reminders for Special Moments - Beyond health management, Family Care also lets users schedule and share reminders about family gatherings, special events, or routine check-ins, helping everyone stay connected. SmartThings Family Care is available for download through the Life tab in the SmartThings app. As caregiving becomes part of more families’ everyday lives, we’re committed to delivering technology that supports, not replaces, the human connection at the heart of care. Stay tuned as we continue expanding SmartThings Family Care with even more features, integrations, and ways to support your family’s well-being.