How Technology Can Support Complex Care at Home: Free & Low-Cost Tools for Parents

Technology can be a useful tool to help children communicate, understand routines and feel more comfortable in their daily lives Many families already have access to tools that can help without needing to buy specialist equipment or expensive apps. This article explores free and low-cost technology that could help parents of children with complex care needs. Click here to also see our article on free and low-cost technology to support children with complex medical needs.

Please note that we are unable to endorse any company or app included here. You should carry out your own due diligence and consider your family’s personal situation.

Built‑in smartphone features

Your phone already includes simple tools that can help you stay on top of routines, track information, and reduce the mental load of day-to-day care. You could consider using:

Clock alarms or calendar alerts

Clock alarms or calendar alerts can be used for:

• Medication
• Feeds
• Treatments
• Routine interventions

Repeating reminders

Repeating reminders can be helpful for:

• Turning or repositioning
• Equipment checks
• Medication administration
• Prescriptions or supplies to reorder

Notes apps

Notes apps can be used to track:

• Symptoms or side effects
• Questions for appointments
• “What worked / what didn’t” during the week

Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri or Google Home)

Hands‑free tools can be especially helpful when you’re busy providing care. You could consider using voice assistants for:

• Hands‑free medication reminders when your hands are full
• Timers during feeds or therapies
• Voice‑controlled shopping lists for medical supplies
• Asking for help in emergencies

Free medication reminder apps

If your child has a complex medication schedule, dedicated apps can provide structured reminders and help you track doses more easily. You may find the following apps useful:

My Child’s Meds (iPhone only)

• My Child’s Meds is a free app developed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Neonatal & Paediatric Pharmacy Group in partnership with WellChild.
• It helps parents manage children’s medicines safely, with reminders and sharable medication charts.
• This app is particularly well suited to children with complex medication regimes.

Medisafe (iOS & Android)

• Medisafe is free app with reminders, images of medicines and alerts if doses are missed.
• Some paid premium features are optional.

MyTherapy (iOS & Android)

• MyTherapy is a free app with medication reminders.
• It also offers optional symptom and health tracking, which can be useful when reviewing care with professionals.

Communication and information sharing

Keeping information organised and accessible can make a big difference when working with multiple professionals or sharing care with others. The following tools may help with this:

Shared calendars

Shared calendars can be particularly helpful with partners or carers for appointments and routines.

Shared notes or documents

You could create shared notes or documents containing:

• Emergency care plans
• Medication lists
• “About my child” summaries for new professionals

Photos or videos

Photos or videos can help to:

• Show equipment set up
• Record seizures, spasms or behaviours to share with clinicians

Smart home tools

Simple smart home devices can add convenience and support safety. These don’t need to be complex or expensive to be helpful. Small changes can help reduce stress, improve safety and make daily routines easier You could consider the following tools:

Smart plugs

Smart plugs can be used to:

• Turn medical equipment on or off remotely
• Schedule devices to run at specific times

Smart lights

Smart lights can support night‑time care by:

• Automatically turning on when movement is detected
• Providing low‑level lighting to avoid disturbing sleep
• Helping guide safe movement around the home at night

Temperature monitoring devices

You could use smart thermometers or temperature sensors that:

• Monitor the room environment (temperature and humidity)
• Send alerts if it becomes too hot or too cold
• Help maintain a safe, stable environment for your child

Door sensors

Door sensors can be useful for children who wander by:

• Sending alerts when a door is opened
• Allowing caregivers to respond quickly, especially at night
• Adding an extra layer of safety alongside supervision

Consider accessibility features

When choosing smart devices, you may want to:

• Look for accessible features such as visual alerts, adjustable sounds, or simple controls
• Consider your child’s sensory preferences (for example avoiding harsh lighting or loud notifications)
• Adapt settings over time as your child’s needs and preferences change

Safety considerations for smart tools

If you decide to use smart home tools, you should consider:

• Adding password protection to devices and apps
• Who has access to monitoring equipment and information
• Data protection (e.g. how recordings or data are stored, who can view them, and how long they are kept)

Please remember that monitoring tools can support care but do not replace supervision

Wearables

Wearable technology, such as smart watches, can offer discreet alerts and monitoring, helping you stay informed without adding extra interruptions. You may find them useful for:

• Delivering silent alerts overnight
• Allowing emergency calling
• Tracking sleep and stress patterns

Top tips for using technology in a simple, manageable way

Technology can support care, but it should feel helpful rather than overwhelming. The following tips may help when getting started:

Start small

You might begin with one or two devices that meet a clear need, rather than trying to set everything up at once.

Choose simple, compatible systems

Look for devices that work well together and are easy to use, especially when you may already be busy or tired.

Prioritise what helps most

Focus on tools that make daily care easier, not more complicated.

Create a backup plan

It may help to have a backup plan in case:

• Power goes off
• Wi‑Fi stops working
• A device fails or needs charging

Review and adapt over time

You can adjust or add technology as your child’s needs and routines change.

Free and low-cost technology to support children

Click here for suggestions on free and low-cost technology specifically tailored to supporting children with complex medical needs.

More support

To find out more about how WellChild can support your family with all things digital, please visit our Driving Digital Inclusion page. For more information on any of the above, please contact our Digital Inclusion Officer by email at [email protected] or by phone at 07562 945651.

If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions about this article please contact us at [email protected]

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