For families

Five misconceptions adult children have about setting up Daily View for a parent

When you’re thinking about a day planner for your mum or dad, it’s natural to worry that it will be complicated, expensive, or one more thing for you to keep on top of. Here are five things families often assume before they start — and what it’s actually like.

By Phil Martin, founder of Daily View · 5 minute read

1. “Mum will have to learn how to use it”

This is often the biggest worry, especially if your parent has never been comfortable with technology. But there’s nothing for them to learn. The screen shows the day, date, time and what’s happening today — including what’s next — in large, calm type. There are no settings to change and no password to remember.

All your parent has to do is look at it. Many families find it helps to sit together the first few times and say, “Shall we see what’s on today?” so it becomes a familiar place to check.

If they do touch the screen, it opens My calendar, a simple view of the days ahead, which goes back to Daily View by itself after a few minutes. To begin with it’s for looking only. If your parent would like to, you can let them add or change things themselves — or switch My calendar off. How families manage Daily View remotely explains the options.

If you’re concerned about the tablet being tapped by accident, an iPad’s Guided Access setting can keep it locked on Daily View so nothing else opens.

2. “I’ll need to buy expensive new equipment”

Daily View runs in an ordinary web browser, so in most cases you won’t need to buy anything. An older tablet that’s sitting in a drawer is often ideal. What matters most is:

• a screen of around 8–10 inches or more, so it’s easy to read from a chair
• a browser that still receives updates
• Wi‑Fi in your parent’s home, and somewhere it can stay plugged in
• a simple stand or case to prop it up

If you do need to buy one, an everyday, affordable tablet is plenty. Choosing a tablet for Daily View covers what to look for.

3. “I’ll have to live nearby, or do it all myself”

You only need to be with the tablet once, to connect it to your account — and that takes two short steps. It’s something you can do on your next visit.

After that, everything is done from the dashboard, on your own phone, tablet or computer, wherever you are. Changes appear on your parent’s screen within about a minute.

You don’t have to carry it alone, either. You can invite brothers and sisters, other relatives or visiting carers to help, and choose what each person can do. Many families agree on one person who looks over the week ahead — perhaps every Sunday evening — while others add things as they come up. How families manage Daily View remotely explains how this works.

4. “The more I put on it, the more helpful it will be”

It’s tempting to add every detail, just in case. But for someone with memory difficulties, a long list can be harder to take in than a short one. A few important things, clearly written, usually help most.

• Keep titles short and familiar. Write them the way your parent would say them — “Sarah visiting” or “Doctor” rather than “GP review – Dr Patel”.
• Think about timing. Hearing about an appointment a week early can mean a week of worrying. You can choose how far ahead each event is shown, and regular events like a weekly lunch club don’t need to be announced in advance at all.
• Leave some things off the screen. A surprise, or something that might cause worry if seen too early, can stay on the family calendar without appearing on your parent’s screen — untick both Show on Daily View and Visible in My calendar.

5. “It will take the place of my calls and visits”

Some families worry that a screen might feel like a substitute for them — or that their parent will see it that way. It isn’t, and it doesn’t need to be.

Daily View is a reliable place to look in between your calls and visits. Instead of asking “What’s happening today?” and worrying about bothering you, your parent can check for themselves. That often means your conversations can be about other things. And when you are on the phone, “Have a look at your screen — I’m coming on Thursday” is an easy way to reassure them.

It isn’t a camera or a monitoring device, either. It simply shows the day.

Talk it through with your parent first

However well-meant, a new screen that appears without warning can feel unsettling. Where you can, involve your parent in the decision: explain that it’s there to show them what’s coming up, and ask where they’d like it to go — somewhere they naturally look, such as beside their favourite chair or in the kitchen.

If your parent’s confusion increases suddenly, over hours or days rather than months, speak to their GP or call NHS 111. For wider advice, Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK are good places to start.

Questions or thoughts on this guide? Email phil@dailyview.org.