Sarah
Mike
If their hands shake
Big buttons. No tiny screens.
A light tap or a firm press works just as well. No more trying to hit tiny buttons on a touchscreen.
Video calling for people who struggle with phones.
Porch is an app that turns your own iPad or Android tablet into a simple video phone. Connect a big-button phone with photos of loved ones on the buttons, and one press starts a video call.
It’s made for people with Parkinson’s, dementia, unsteady hands, or anyone who finds today’s phones difficult to use.
What’s hard for them?
Mike is calling
Answering automatically
If they have memory loss
Always in the same place.
Porch stays plugged in and ready to use. No lost phones, dead batteries, or remembering how to answer. Porch can do that for them.
If English isn’t their first language
Speak their language.
Porch supports Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish, and can translate and read your text messages aloud in their language. More languages coming soon.
If you worry about scams
Only people you trust.
You decide who can reach your loved one. Unknown callers are blocked automatically.
Four steps on a phone.
- Unlock the phone
- Find the video app
- Scroll to Sarah
- Tap the tiny camera icon
One on Porch.
Call Sarah
Who can call
Only the people you choose get through.
Call any time and Porch picks up for them, but only for family you’ve approved. It says who’s calling out loud, and counts down before answering. Numbers you haven’t approved are blocked by default so scam calls never reach them.
- Family you approve can drop in any time
- Porch says who it is, out loud, first
- Unknown numbers are blocked by default
A few more things it does.
Messages that play themselves
Send your loved one a video or text message. When they sit down in front of Porch, it plays the video or reads the message aloud. No tapping or navigating required.
Bring others into the call
Add a friend or family member to the conversation. You can even bring in a bank representative when they need to speak with your loved one directly.
Video first. Regular phone if needed.
Porch calls you on video first. If you don’t pick up, it automatically tries your regular phone instead.
Your devices. The Porch app.
No special tablet to buy. Porch works with devices your family provides.
Your tablet
Install Porch on a compatible iPad or Android tablet.
A big-button phone
Connect a familiar corded phone with photos on the buttons.
Family phones
Family and friends use Porch on their iPhones or Android phones.
“My mom is 78. She has advanced Parkinson’s and dementia. Her hands have become slow and stiff, she forgets where her phone is, and more often than not it isn’t charged. So people call, but they can’t reach her. That’s why I’m building Porch.”
What we’re building next
Our own keypad.
Photo buttons for the people they call most, and a red button that calls everyone on their list until someone picks up.
In design
Sarah
The Porch pilot
Help us test Porch.
The Porch app runs on your own compatible iPad or Android tablet, connected to a big-button phone. We’re inviting families to try it and tell us what works and what doesn’t.
Join the pilot Family members use the Porch app on iPhone or Android.
Waiting for the Porch keypad? It’s still a while away. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.