Let's be close (BądźmyBlisko) – Better Relationships & Mental Wellbeing

Two interfaces. A healthier relationship.

Instead of control — trust. Instead of constant questions — discreet signals. The care recipient gains independence, the caregiver gets peace of mind and less stress.

Let's be close app — senior view: a shared outing proposal with a Yes / Maybe / No reply

For the Senior

Independence

“I don't have to explain myself.”
The care recipient decides for themselves when to reach out. A simple interface, zero pressure. Support without feeling controlled.

Let's be close app — caregiver's home screen with the day's plan and the care recipient's routines

For the Caregiver

Peace of mind and balance

“I don't call just to check up on them.”
You can see that everything's fine. You call to talk — not to check. A relationship free from stress.

Science in service of seniors

Effectiveness confirmed by research

We didn't design Let's be close on guesswork. We tested the interface with seniors and their caregivers — watching what worked and what caused friction. The result: a simple, legible design a senior can operate without help.

👁️

Tested with seniors

User research confirmed that seniors find the key features on their own — no instructions, no frustration.

✅

Big buttons, plain language

No jargon, no tiny icons. One screen, one task — that's what Let's be close looks like on the senior's side.

Senior view in the Let's be close app — large “Call” buttons next to helpful contacts

Communication & relationship support

Instant communication and everyday routine support in one place. The care recipient sends a signal with one tap, and you have the certainty that the relationship runs on trust, not control.

Communication

Senior View

Always within reach

A widget on the home screen. One tap, no hunting for the app.

Caregiver View

A clear signal

You know instantly when contact is needed. The care recipient feels safe, without worrying that they're "bothering" anyone — at any age.

Senior View

Helpful contacts

Doctor, neighbor, brother — the most important numbers always on one screen. One big "Call" button, no digging through a phone book.

Caregiver View

Full privacy control

You decide what you see. Location, battery, activity — every permission can be switched on or off. Trust instead of surveillance.

Safety net

GPS location

"I know where my loved one is."
Location is hidden by default — we respect privacy. But when the care recipient asks for help or leaves a safe zone, you get their exact location. Works for seniors and children who need discreet care.

Quick support widget

Two big buttons on the home screen: "I need help" and "Call me." The care recipient doesn't have to search through a menu. This simple solution gives them a sense of agency — help is within reach, but the initiative stays with them.

Clear messages

The confirmation screen reassures the care recipient that the signal was sent and the caregiver notified. A clear "Help is on the way" message gives peace of mind, and the caregiver a clear picture of the situation. Technology that cares about the emotions on both sides of the caregiver–care recipient relationship.

Safe zones

New

You mark the places on the map that are safe for you both — home, a garden, a clinic. As long as the care recipient stays inside, no one checks up on them. A notification only arrives when they leave the zone or return to it.

Set a zone

Home, a garden, a clinic — you point to a place and a radius (e.g. 150 m). Every zone switches on and off with a single toggle.

You know when they leave

"Jan left the Home zone." One glance at the map instead of a string of phone calls — especially important with dementia-related conditions and with children.

…and when they're safely back

Returning to the zone is a signal too — this time a green one. You don't have to wait by the phone wondering if they've arrived.

A calm timeline

Departures and returns line up in a simple list with timestamps. Instead of constant live tracking — a short summary whenever you have a moment.

Supporting routine & independence

A daily structure that supports

You add visits, tasks and reminders in your own app. They automatically appear for the care recipient as a clear plan for the day. For seniors, that's memory support. For neurodivergent children, it's a key element of therapy: predictability and routine reduce anxiety and improve functioning.

Caregiver

Plans visits

“Cardiologist appointment, 2:00 PM”

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Senior

Sees the day's plan

A simple list, large text, no extra options.

Routines & shared plans

Both sides

Routines without asking “did you take it?”

Medication, a walk, exercise — recurring tasks line up along the day's timeline. The care recipient checks them off with one tap: Done or Skip. You see the status, so you don't have to call to check up.

New

Shared plans — ask, don't assume

You propose a shared outing, and the care recipient answers with one tap: Yes, Maybe, or No. No explaining themselves and no awkward phone calls — both sides know where they stand right away.

New in the app

AI Companion — a conversation when no one else is around

A caregiver isn't available around the clock — and doesn't need to be. The AI Companion is a gentle conversational partner on the care recipient's phone: it asks how they're feeling, brings up old memories, offers suggestions. Because silence in an empty home can be the hardest part.

Topic-selection screen for talking with the companion: Memories, Family, Today, Music, Nature & walks, Cooking

Step 1 — Choose a topic

Nothing to figure out

Memories, family, music, cooking, nature. The senior doesn't have to figure out "what to say to a computer" — just tap a tile, and the companion starts the conversation.

A conversation with the AI companion — a question about going for a walk and a calm, friendly reply

Step 2 — Conversation

A conversation, not a manual

"Mr. Jan, that depends on how you're feeling" — the companion asks, listens, and replies in calm, simple language. No jargon, no rushing, no judgment.

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Starts first

The companion asks the first question. For someone who hasn't exchanged a word with anyone all morning, that's the difference between "I don't know what to say" and an ordinary conversation.

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Speaks with respect

Large type, a courteous tone, a calm pace. The same simple interface we tested with seniors — except this time, someone answers on the other side.

🤝

Supports, doesn't replace

The companion isn't a doctor or a caregiver, and it doesn't pretend to be human. When something matters, it points to family — the "Request a call" button is always one tap away.

Get started in 3 minutes

See how simple setup is — you and your loved one's phones ready in 3 minutes! The process is friendly and intuitive. Choose the path you want to see:

Step 1

Welcome to Let's be close

Step 2

Enter your details

Step 3

Add your care recipient

Step 4

Add contacts

Step 5

All set!

We improve relationships. We protect wellbeing.

We're looking for families and institutional partners — foundations, non-profits, and care facilities — who care about the mental health of caregivers and those they care for. ⏳ We invite foundations and organizations working in mental health to partner with us.

Join as a family ➔ Free Partner with us as a foundation or institution

Questions? Email us: fundacja@wschodzaceslonce.org.pl

Voices from the research phase

Let's be close is being built in close collaboration with families — of seniors and of children with neurodevelopmental needs.

M

Marta, 45

Daughter of a 78-year-old mother

"The constant worry was the worst part. With Let's be close I know Mom is active and doing well — without having to call all the time. Our relationship has improved."

S

Stanisław, 82

Senior

"One button and my daughter knows everything's fine. I feel like she's watching over me, not controlling me."

K

Katarzyna, 35

Mother of a 9-year-old with FASD

"Olek needs a steady routine. Let's be close helps him see the day's plan and check off tasks himself. We argue less, and he's proud he can manage on his own."

Trusted Institutions

Project Leaders & Partners

Innovation happens where technology meets empathy. Meet the organizations behind Let's be close.

Project Lead

Fundacja Wschodzące Słońce

Since 2018 we've supported intergenerational relationships and families' mental wellbeing through technology. Let's be close is our flagship project, connecting senior caregivers with families of children with neurodevelopmental needs.

Public Benefit Organization KRS (Polish registry): 0000405669

Strategic & Expert Partners

Strategic Partner

Fundacja RC

Developing a caregiving volunteer network and organizational support.

Public Partner

ZPS Gdynia

Pilot rollout in public institutions and community care.

Clinical Expertise

Mobilna Terapeutka

Oversight of mental health modules and caregiver relationship support.

Medical

Poradnia Przystań

Expert consultation on long-term care and neurodevelopmental support.

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Become a Partner

Join the consortium.

Want to join our strategic partners?

Contact the Foundation's Development Team ✉

Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Check the answers to the most common questions about the app and the pilot.

Is participating in the pilot paid? ⌄

No, participating in the pilot program is completely free for the first 100 families. Your feedback matters to us as we refine the app.

What do you need to get started? ⌄

Just two smartphones: one for the care recipient (Android or iOS) and one for the caregiver. The app doesn't require any extra hardware, wearables, or cameras.

Is it safe for the care recipient's privacy? ⌄

Absolutely. Let's be close doesn't spy, record calls, or transmit video. We only analyze activity patterns (like phone movement or battery charging) and send signals only to the designated caregiver. Data is encrypted.

What are safe zones, and isn't that just tracking? ⌄

A safe zone is a place marked on the map with a radius — for example, home within 150 m. The difference from tracking is fundamental: as long as the care recipient stays inside the zone, no one checks exactly where they are. A notification only appears when they leave the zone or return to it. Each zone can be switched off with a single toggle, and the care recipient knows when it's active.

What is the AI Companion, and does it replace contact with family? ⌄

It doesn't replace — it complements. The AI Companion is a conversational partner available whenever the caregiver happens to be working or asleep. The care recipient picks a topic (memories, family, music, cooking), and the companion leads a calm conversation in simple language. It doesn't give medical advice and doesn't pretend to be human; for anything important, it directs the person to family or a doctor. The "Request a call" button is always one tap away.

Will the care recipient be able to use it? ⌄

Yes! The care recipient mode is as simple as possible — practically maintenance-free. It runs in the background, and the screen shows just one big button to request contact. For children with neurodevelopmental needs, the interface supports predictability and routine.

Does Let's be close also work for families with children? ⌄

Yes. Let's be close also supports families of children with neurodevelopmental needs (e.g. ASD, ADHD). Day planning, reminders, and confirmations help build the child's independence and reduce tension at home.

How does the app support caregivers' mental health? ⌄

Let's be close reduces the need for constant checking and monitoring — the caregiver gets discreet signals about their loved one's activity, which lowers anxiety and stress. Research shows that 40–70% of caregivers experience burnout symptoms. Our goal is to ease that burden.

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