Support
Email us at max@memorycarecompanion.org and we will get back to you within 3-5 business days. If something is not working, tell us what happened just before it stopped, and that is usually enough for us to find it.
Getting started
1. Read the privacy notice. The first time the app opens it explains what is sent to OpenAI, the service that powers the conversation. Tap I Agree to continue. You can read it again later, and take your permission back, under Privacy & Data in the menu.
2. Set up a profile (optional). Open the menu and tap User Profile. Add a preferred name, family members, hobbies, and a few favorite memories. You can skip this entirely, the companion learns as you talk.
3. Allow the microphone. The first call will ask. The companion cannot hear you without it.
4. Tap the big button. That starts the call. The companion speaks first. Talk normally.
Common questions
The companion does not respond when I speak
Check that the microphone is allowed: open the Settings app on the phone, go to Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and make sure the companion is switched on. If it was already on, end the call and start a new one.
It says “Couldn't connect”
The companion needs an internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to talk. Check the connection and tap Tap to try again. If the phone was in Airplane Mode, turn it off first.
It waits too long before replying, or interrupts me
Open the menu and adjust Voice Detection Sensitivity. Set it low if the companion jumps in while you are still thinking of a word, and high if it takes too long to realize you have finished. This is the setting to change for anyone who speaks slowly or pauses often.
It does not know my name
Add it under User Profile in the menu, along with anything else worth knowing. The companion also picks up details from conversation over time, so it grows more familiar on its own.
Where can I see past conversations?
The menu has Conversation History for full transcripts and Conversation Summaries for short highlights of recent calls.
How do I delete everything?
Open the menu, tap User Profile, scroll to Privacy, and tap Delete All My Data. That permanently removes every saved conversation, summary, and profile detail from the phone. Deleting the app removes all of it too.
Who can hear these conversations?
Conversations and profile details are stored on the phone, not on our servers. Your voice is sent to OpenAI to generate the companion's replies, and is never used to train AI models. Full details are in our privacy policy.
Does the screen stay on during a call?
Yes. The phone will not go to sleep while a call is in progress, so the End button stays visible. Normal sleep behavior returns once the call ends.
Is it really free?
Yes. No subscriptions, no advertising, nothing to buy. Memory Care Companion is a California nonprofit corporation.
Still stuck?
Email max@memorycarecompanion.org. Let us know what phone you are using and what happened, and we will help.
Important: Memory Care Companion provides conversation and companionship. It is not a medical device and is not a substitute for medical care, professional caregiving, or emergency services. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent dementia or any other condition. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.