For caregivers
Frequently asked questions
Real questions from adult children, primary caregivers, and siblings figuring out how to look out for an aging parent. If you do not find an answer here, our Help Center goes deeper.
Common questions
Do I have to watch video footage?
No. Beside Care is summaries first, you will get brief, calm updates so you can stay informed without watching video. If something looks unusual, you can optionally open Live View or review the specific recorded clip tied to that summary.
Is this an emergency monitoring service?
No. Beside Care is for daily routine insights and check-ins, not emergency response. For urgent needs, we recommend a dedicated medical alert device.
Is this considered surveillance?
Beside Care is designed to reduce always watching. You get summaries by default, and video is only available when you choose to open it. We do not store your footage on Beside Care, we store text summaries and activity notes focused on patterns, not personal details.
Can I control when I get updates?
Yes. You can choose overnight, midday, and evening digests and adjust delivery times in your preferences. You can also tune what types of activity get flagged for your attention.
What if there is no activity detected?
Beside Care learns your loved one's daily patterns over time. If things are unusually quiet, for example no motion by mid-morning when they're typically up, you'll receive a gentle alert letting you know. You can optionally open Live View to check in.
What cameras do I need?
We currently support Ring cameras. If you already have Ring devices, you can link them, no new hardware required.
Do I need a Ring Protect subscription?
Yes. Beside Care requires a Ring Protect subscription so that video clips are available for AI review. Without it, Ring does not store footage and clip-based summaries won't be available.
Can I get alerts by text message?
Yes. Beside Care can send priority care alerts via SMS in addition to email digests. You can configure your phone number and alert preferences in your account settings.
How much does it cost?
$19.99 per camera per month. No contracts, cancel anytime.
Can Beside Care staff watch my cameras?
No. Beside Care does not provide staff access to your Live View or recordings. You control access through your Ring account, and Beside Care only stores summaries and activity notes.
Where does the video live if I can replay clips?
Playback uses your Ring recordings. Beside Care stores summaries and activity notes, not your video.
Caregiver questions
Will it wake me up in the middle of the night?
No. Beside Care delivers three calm digests per day: overnight, midday, and evening. The overnight digest summarizes what happened while you were asleep, so the digest itself will not wake you up at 3am. You can turn priority care alerts on or off in your settings, and tune what counts as flagged.
Can my siblings get the alerts too?
Yes. Multiple caregivers can share access to the same digest. Three siblings can see one shared picture of how Mom is doing, instead of trading "did you call her today" texts. Each caregiver controls their own delivery preferences.
What if I am at work and miss a digest?
Digests do not disappear. They are waiting for you when you check your phone or email. Priority care alerts are delivered the moment they happen, so the things that matter reach you in real time even if you are mid-meeting.
Will my parent know I signed them up?
Beside Care is something you set up together. We recommend talking with your parent first, since the cameras are in their home and they control their Ring account. The product is designed to feel like a safety net, not surveillance, and that conversation makes a real difference.
What happens if the camera goes offline?
Beside Care will let you know if a camera stops sending data for an extended period. That way, a quiet digest always means a quiet day, not an offline camera you did not know about.
Can I share alerts with my siblings without giving them camera access?
Yes. Add alert recipients to your account and they will receive copies of your daily digests and priority text alerts when something needs a check-in. They do not see Live View and they do not have any Ring account access. You stay in control of the cameras.