Remembering pills is hard when the days look alike. In Shaterian you simply say what you want, and Smith, the companion inside the app, sets it up after you say yes.
In short
- Tell Smith “Remind me to take my tablets at 8” for a single reminder, or “Remind me to take my pills every day at 8 and 8” for a routine that repeats.
- He says what he is about to set, and nothing is set until you tap Set the reminder or Set the routine. Reminders arrive as notifications on your iPhone.
- A pill routine's notification has a Taken button, and Shaterian keeps the record. For doses, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
One reminder, by asking
For a single reminder, say the task and then the time.
- Open Shaterian. Smith's screen is the first one.
- Tap the microphone and say “Remind me to take my tablets at 8.” Tap the microphone again when you have finished. You can also type it.
- Smith asks whether he should remind you to take your tablets, and says the time and the day.
- Tap Set the reminder, or Not now if it is not right.
If you leave out the time, Smith asks when. Your iPhone asks once whether Shaterian may send you notifications: say yes, or the reminders cannot reach you.
Every day: a routine
Pills are usually taken every day, so ask for a routine. Say “every day” and the times:
- Say “Remind me to take my pills every day at 8 and 8.” The second 8 is read as the evening.
- Smith asks whether he should remind you every day at those times, and says that each one will have a Taken button.
- Tap Set the routine.
Routines are not only for pills. “Remind me about physio every Monday at 10” works too.
When the reminder arrives
The reminder comes as a notification, like a message. A pill routine's notification has two buttons:
- Taken, which notes the dose in your medication diary;
- In 15 minutes, which brings the same reminder back a quarter of an hour later.
The doses you mark as taken are counted on the Medication card in Health (Settings › Lab › Health), and they go into the Summary for your doctor, a PDF that you choose to share. Logging doses, ON or OFF explains the Medication card.
Seeing and stopping your routines
Your routines are listed in Settings, under Reminders, then Routines. To remove one, tap the bin next to it, then Remove. Or tell Smith “Stop my pill reminder.” He checks which one you mean and asks first; tap Stop it.
For families helping a parent
If you help an elderly parent with their pills, they can let you see their routines. Through Your circle, in Settings, Shaterian connects with the Shaterian Caregiver app. In the Shaterian Caregiver app you see their routines and reminders, when they press Taken, and only the memories they choose, and you can suggest a reminder, which waits for their yes. They can stop at any time. For caregivers says more.
What it does not do
- Smith is not made to tell you what to take, how much or when, so ask your doctor or pharmacist. Questions like “Should I take another tablet?” are turned back to your care team.
- It reminds you at the times you chose. It does not know whether the times are right for your medicine.
- Shaterian is not a medical device.
Questions people ask
Is there an easy pill reminder app for seniors?
Shaterian is one. You say “Remind me to take my pills every day at 8 and 8”, tap Set the routine, and the reminders arrive as notifications on your iPhone.
Does it remind me every day, or only once?
Both. Ask with a time for a single reminder, or say “every day” with the times for a routine that repeats until you remove it.
Can I set up pill reminders for my elderly parent?
The reminders are set on your parent's iPhone, by asking Smith there. Through Your circle, they can let you see their routines in the Shaterian Caregiver app and you can suggest a reminder, which waits for their yes.
Will it tell me if I am taking the right dose?
No. Shaterian is not made to advise on medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What does it cost?
Two weeks free, then $2.99 a month, through the App Store.
