Safety and limits

What JeanScreen is

A support aid: a large, clear screen that shows the day, the time and today’s tasks, reminds the resident gently, and tells family if something needs attention.

What it is not

• It is not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat or prevent any condition, and it does not measure health.
• It is not an emergency service. JeanScreen does not contact emergency services. In an emergency, call 911. The Call Carer button calls and texts family contacts, it needs Wi-Fi, and nobody monitors it.
• It is not a replacement for care or checking in. It cannot tell if a pill was taken, if someone has fallen, or if they are well.
• It has no camera, no microphone in use, and no location tracking.

The Call Carer button should never be a person’s only safety measure

Some people with memory problems do not press a button when something is wrong, or forget what it is for. Keep your usual arrangements: regular visits and calls, a neighbour, and, where suitable, a monitored alarm service.

What the research says, honestly

The summary below is based on the project’s own review of published research. It is not medical advice. Talk to the resident’s doctor or care team about health questions.

• No one has proven that a device like this helps people with dementia. Careful reviews found very little good-quality testing of memory-support gadgets, and the largest English trial of home technology and alarms found no clear gain for people with dementia or their carers.
• Several of its ingredients are well supported: large, high-contrast writing; spoken reminders (a small study found spoken instructions more useful than beeps); reminders for medication; and involving family from a distance.
• So treat JeanScreen as something to try gently and adjust, with the resident’s agreement, and not as something guaranteed to work.

Part	How strong is the evidence?	In plain words
Big, clear text	Fairly good	Older adults prefer larger text; dementia-friendly guidance recommends strong contrast and no glare.
Day, date and time on screen	Small studies	It can help; it should inform, never test or correct.
Spoken reminders	Small studies	Spoken instructions worked better than beeps in one home study; starting a task often still needs a person.
Medication reminders	Real need, unproven fix	People with memory problems often miss doses; reminders look promising but studies are small.
Hearing	Common, so check	Many older adults have some hearing loss, so test the volume at the resident’s chair.
Temperature alerts	Good reason, no trial	Heat is a known risk and people may not say they are too hot or cold.
Call Carer button	Helpful but limited	Some people do not press a button when something is wrong.
Family messages	Gentle, little proof	Warm and low risk; not shown to reduce loneliness.
Reports and alerts to family	Mixed	They keep you informed; studies do not show they reduce carer stress.

Things we deliberately do not do

• Promise that it keeps anyone safe, improves memory, or prevents falls or illness.
• Add an always-on microphone or cameras.
• Add sensors or tracking without talking with the resident and family first.

Using it kindly

• It is the resident’s home. Explain what it does, and ask them.
• Use it to support, not to check up. A task not ticked is not a failure.
• Watch how they react. If a reminder upsets them, change it.
• Tell us what helps and what does not: that is the evidence that matters most for this device. Email us via the link at the bottom of the page.