Each person owns their Plan
Each person chooses their time, grace period, Backers, and note. Help them decide what fits their routine without deciding for them.
For programs serving people who live alone
Help people choose their own check-in.
Senior centers, libraries, and local programs already connect people who live alone. BackBy gives them a simple daily habit to share, with each person choosing their own time and trusted Backer.
- No member roster or dashboard
- Participants choose their Backers
Where BackBy fits
A familiar habit, introduced together.
Senior center or program
Teaches the habit
Person living alone
Owns the Plan
Trusted Backer, family or neighbor
Follows their instructions
No organizer dashboard or shared Plan list
No staff dashboard
BackBy is designed without a staff dashboard for daily check-ins. Notes and pairing details stay with the people involved.
Agree who will respond
Each pair agrees who will check the app and what to do after a missed check-in. Running a workshop does not assign staff as Backers.
Large text and plain words
The app supports large type and uses short, familiar words: I’m safe, I need help, Add time. It is available in English and Spanish.
How you can help
Introduce the habit. Help it grow.
Teach both roles
Give everyone a turn as the person checking in and as a Backer. Let participants read the screen, try the controls, and ask questions at their own pace.
Let people choose to take part
Offer a poster or link in your program space. People can learn about BackBy and choose who they would like to check in with.
Share local resources
Share a general list of verified local support services. Let each person choose what belongs in their own note.
A session you can leadIntroduce BackBy in five steps View the five steps
Choose a check-in time
Start with a trip or a daily routine. Choose a check-in time and agree how much extra time to allow before the Plan needs attention.
Choose a Backer
Pair privately by QR code or 12 words. Choose someone who can check the app and follow the agreed response.
Write the next steps
A useful note says who to contact and what they need to know. Emergency Only is the default; Right Away is an option for immediate sharing.
Review what each status means
Walk through Scheduled, Late during grace, and Needs Attention. Explain what each person sees and when a response is needed.
Rehearse the next step
Talk through the first message or call and the next step if there is no answer. Give each person a turn in both roles.
Conversation starters
- Five o’clock: “If I miss my check-in, try calling me first.”
- The key: “Does my note tell you which neighbor has a spare key?”
- Next steps: “If I don’t answer, who will you try next?”
A habit that can grow
Start with one pair. Share what works.
- 01
Agree the response
Ask each pair who will check the app, how they will try to make contact, and what they will do if there is no answer.
- 02
Try both roles
Help people get comfortable with I’m safe, Add time, and responding to a missed check-in.
- 03
Explain the privacy choices
Explain what is stored, who can read a note and when, what an optional map pin shares, what happens if a phone is lost, and what BackBy cannot do.
- 04
Make it part of the routine
Bring the lesson into regular meetings and conversations. Keep the instructions simple and let people choose how it fits their lives.
Clear responsibilities
People keep control of their own Plans.
- Keep personal details with the people involvedDo not copy members, Backers, phone numbers, or Plan details into a shared spreadsheet or dashboard.
- Do not promise emergency responseBackBy cannot detect falls or illness and does not call emergency services. Keep existing care, contact, and response arrangements in place.
- Let each person chooseParticipation belongs to the person making the Plan. They choose the time, the details, and who backs them.
Bring BackBy to your community.
Introduce BackBy at your next group meeting. We can help you explain the daily check-in and get people started together.
Get in touch