Families, Guardians and Caregivers
Supporting someone you love without taking over their life
For parents, spouses, adult children, guardians, and caregivers. Assistive technology and support that keep everyone in sync and respect the person’s choices.
A team effort
Help without taking over
Families can
- Plan and compare options
- Share what they know about routines
- Learn the tools alongside the person
- Get updates the person agreed to
- Work with case managers, with the person’s OK
The person decides
- Their goals
- What is shared, and with whom
- Whether to use safety features
- When to change their choices
- Their voice in the plan, even with a guardian
What families run into
How we help your family
Tap what feels hardest.
Too many options
Hard to tell what fits from what is marketing.
- Plain-language guidance
- We say when something is not a fit
Everyone has a piece of the picture
Family, caregivers, and professionals each know something.
- We work with the whole team, with the person’s permission
- Case managers and support coordinators
Routines that only work when you are there
The day runs well when you are around.
- Reminders and picture schedules
- Simple messages that keep helpers in sync
Wanting to know, without hovering
You want reassurance. They want privacy.
- Optional fall-related notifications, with the person’s agreement
- Many families never use them
Needs that keep changing
Aging, a move, or a health change.
- Training for the helpers the person picks
- Follow-up as needs change
Our clinicians work with the person’s therapists and care team. In Missouri, they also offer home modification evaluations and OT assessments. Ask about your state.
Only some families need this
Planning location awareness together
For someone who walks away when upset or sometimes gets lost. The goal is more freedom, not tracking.
- 1Listen to the personTheir walks, places, and limits.
- 2Agree on placesAreas that feel safe and familiar.
- 3Choose who is toldOnly the few who need it.
- 4Plan the responseWhat the family does if they can’t reach the person.
- 5Review togetherAs routes and confidence change.
Location awareness supports the family’s plan. It does not replace it.
Illustrative examples
Examples of family support
Made-up families. No result is promised.
An adult child moving into their own place
- GoalKeep his routines while gaining independence
- ChallengeParents have run his reminders for years
- ApproachReminders he sets up with them, then takes over
- BenefitMore independence, a new role for his parents
He decides what updates, if any, his parents see.
Caring from another state
- GoalStay informed without intrusive daily calls
- ChallengeShe worries. He values his privacy.
- ApproachFall-related notifications and short summaries he agreed to. No cameras.
- BenefitBetter talks on his terms
He can change his choices anytime.
A son who sometimes walks away
- GoalKeep the walks he loves
- ChallengeLocked doors. He feels treated like a child.
- ApproachAgreed routes. Parents are told only if he leaves them.
- BenefitMore freedom, fewer locked doors
He helps set it up. It does not replace the family’s plan.
- 1Reach outYour role and situation. Keep it general.
- 2Map the teamThe person’s goals, and who helps.
- 3Explore options and fundingWhat may fit, and how to pay.
- 4Set up, train, follow upAround the person’s choices.
CompassCare, if it fits
Stay informed on their terms
The family and caregiver experience of the GMA MyCompass System. Not every family needs it.
CompassCare
- Short summaries from Nora
- Data, not cameras
- Alerts that matter, not every data point
- Each helper sees only what their role allows
See CompassCare and Nora Caregiver Intelligence.
Privacy and choices
- Location is for safety planning, not tracking
- Set up with consent, for a clear reason
- Limited to the people who need it
- Nora supports your judgment. It does not decide.
Technology supports people. It does not replace them. Security overview.
Paying for it
Funding paths families can explore
The person’s case manager is usually the best partner for waiver questions.
- Medicaid waiverApproved provider in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
- TRICARETRICARE-authorized non-network provider, for military families.
- Private payBuy equipment or tools directly.
- Other pathsCase by case.
See the coverage map. The person’s program, plan, or payer decides coverage. We cannot promise funding, eligibility, or payment.
Questions families and caregivers ask
Can I contact you on behalf of someone I support?
Yes. Many talks start with a family member or guardian. We include the person’s own goals as we go.
Does supporting a family member mean setting up monitoring?
No. Many families use reminders, equipment, or talking tools only. If monitoring fits, it works from data, without cameras, and follows what the person is comfortable sharing.
My brother and I both help Mom. Do we see the same things?
Not always. Access is based on permission and each helper’s role, so the person who handles daily routines may see more than someone who helps now and then. Wherever your family member is able, they decide what is shared and with whom.
Can I see where my family member is at all times?
That is not how we work. Location awareness is set up for a clear safety need, like a history of getting lost. It is agreed on with the person and anyone legally authorized to decide with them. Access stays limited, and the plan is reviewed.
If an alert comes in at 2 a.m., who handles it?
Your family and the person’s caregivers or providers, following the plan you agreed on. GMA does not run a response center. We provide the tools, setup, training, and ongoing support, and help you decide ahead of time who checks in.
Let’s talk about what your family needs
Tell us about your role and what you hope to make easier. We will follow up with options that respect the person you support.
Talk About Your Family’s Support NeedsPlease don’t include medical or other sensitive personal details in your first message.
Person-centered technology, equipment, services, and ongoing support. Every recommendation begins with the person.
Office: 122 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301
Mailing: 119 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301
314-266-2678
info@graymattersalliance.com
