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How to use Dawnwren

Set it up once in a few minutes. After that, it’s one tap a day — and it quietly watches your back.

Register screen
1Get started

Create your account

Open the app and tap Create account. You only need an email and a password.

  • Use an email you check — it’s how caregivers link to you and how alerts can reach you.
  • Already have an account? Just Sign in instead.
Tip: Setting this up for a parent? You can create the account together on their phone — Dawnwren lives on the older adult’s device.
Home screen with the I'm OK button
2Every day

Tap “I’m OK”

The home screen is one big button. Once a day, tap I’m OK — that’s your check-in.

  • Your streak grows each day to make it an easy habit.
  • After checking in, the button confirms you’re set until the next one is due.
  • The timeline shows your check-in history at a glance.
Emergency contacts list
3Your safety net

Add emergency contacts

Go to Emergency Contacts and add the people who should be reached if something’s wrong.

  • Emergency contacts don’t need the app — they’re reached by SMS or email.
  • Add a name and a phone number and/or email for each person.
  • These are also who your Help button messages (see step 6).
Private by design: contacts are stored on your device. A copy is kept securely so alerts can be sent even if your phone is off.
Caregivers screen
4Stay linked

Invite a caregiver

A caregiver is another Dawnwren user who can see your check-in status. Open Caregivers and invite them by email.

  • They receive an invitation and must accept — no one is added without consent.
  • The free plan includes one caregiver. Premium unlocks unlimited caregivers and care circles.
  • Only accepted caregivers are ever notified.
Reminders screen
5On your schedule

Set reminders & a sleep window

Under Reminders, choose when Dawnwren nudges you to check in. Under Sleep, set the hours you don’t want to be disturbed.

  • Reminders fire within your chosen time window — pick what fits your routine.
  • During your sleep window, Dawnwren won’t nudge you and won’t escalate.
Why it matters: the sleep window means a missed 3 a.m. check-in won’t wake your family — escalation waits until you’re normally awake.
Help confirmation screen
6When you need it

The Help button

Need someone now? The Help button messages your emergency contacts immediately.

  • It sends your pre-written message by SMS/email so you don’t have to type in a stressful moment.
  • You can customise the wording under Message templates.
Not an emergency line: Help notifies the people you chose. For a medical or safety emergency, always call your local emergency number.
Health monitoring screen
8Premium

Care circles & health monitoring

Premium adds tools for families who want more coverage:

  • Care circles — a group of caregivers with tiered, rule-based escalation (e.g. notify one person at 2h, more at 4h, everyone at 8h).
  • Health & smartwatch — optional heart-rate, steps and activity from Health Connect or a Bluetooth watch passively confirm wellness.
  • SMS alerts to emergency contacts for the fastest reach.

What happens if a check-in is missed

Dawnwren escalates gently and in stages — it doesn’t alarm everyone the moment you’re a minute late. You define the timing; the defaults below assume a 12-hour check-in.

Check-in due
Grace period. A short buffer — maybe you’re just busy. Nobody is notified yet.
A little later
Gentle nudge. Dawnwren reminds you again on your own phone.
Still nothing
Final warning. A last reminder before anyone else is involved.
Escalated
Your people are alerted. Caregivers get a notification; emergency contacts get an email or SMS — even without the app.
Keeps trying
Repeats. If you’re still silent, Dawnwren re-alerts each interval — and flags a possible offline device — until you check in.

The moment you tap I’m OK, everything resets to normal. Escalation is always sleep-aware.

Frequently asked questions

Does my caregiver need the app?

Yes — a caregiver is another Dawnwren user, linked by email, who can see your status. Emergency contacts do not need the app; they’re reached by SMS or email.

What if I forget to check in one day?

Nothing dramatic happens right away. There’s a grace period and gentle reminders to you first. Only if you stay silent past those stages are your caregivers and emergency contacts alerted — and never during your sleep window.

Will it bother my family in the middle of the night?

No. Set a sleep window and Dawnwren won’t nudge you or escalate during those hours.

Is my data private?

Yes. No mood tracking, no AI guessing, no social feed, no ads. Dawnwren only reports facts and the rules you set. See our Privacy Policy.

What’s free vs. Premium?

Daily check-ins, streaks, the Help button, emergency contacts, reminders and one caregiver are free. Premium adds unlimited caregivers, care circles, health & smartwatch monitoring, and SMS alerts.

How do I delete my account?

In the app: Settings → Delete account. It permanently removes your data. You can also read the process on our account deletion page.

Dawnwren is not a medical device or emergency dispatch service.
In a medical or safety emergency, always call your local emergency number.