How Aasta works, step by step
Aasta has two sides: the older adult’s, and the family member who looks out for them. Each sees an app built for their role — not the same screen shown twice.
1. The family member creates the account
Usually the adult child, or whoever’s taking the lead. Install Aasta, create an account with an email, and the app generates an invite code.
2. The older adult installs Aasta and enters the code
They install the app on their own phone, enter that code (or scan it, if that’s easier), and the two accounts are paired. No complicated account setup, no passwords to remember.
3. Each side sees its own screen
The older adult sees a big help button and one-tap voice messages. The family member sees status — battery, last activity, location if it’s turned on — and a history of alerts.
4. Aasta only speaks up when there’s something to say
No routine notifications. An alert arrives when battery drops below a threshold, when the phone hasn’t moved in too many hours, or when the help button is pressed.
One-tap contact
Built for not typing: the older adult replies with a tap ("I’m okay", "Call me") or a voice message, instead of writing.
- Two one-tap replies, always the same two — not configurable
- From your side: call with one tap, or share through whichever app you already use — Aasta has no text chat
- No forced "read" receipts that create pressure to reply
Phone battery
The number one reason an app like this stops reporting isn’t a bug — it’s a dead phone battery. That’s why Aasta watches it from the Free plan onward.
- Alert when battery drops below a threshold (configurable on paid plans)
- Alert if the phone powers off entirely
- Alert if the app stops reporting for more than 3 hours — catching a dead phone, no signal, or one simply left in a drawer
Location, when it makes sense
Location is optional and turned on by the older adult themselves, from their own phone, never in secret. There are two levels.
- Free: the family member can request a one-off location check up to 5 times a day ("where are they right now?")
- Plus: continuous location with adaptive updates (every 5 minutes while moving, every 10 while still). On Android it keeps working with the app in the background; on iPhone, today, only while the app is open — the permanent background permission is coming in a later update
- Coming soon: geofences (an alert when entering or leaving an area) — not active yet while we complete the special app-store review this kind of permission requires
- Never running silently in the background without the older adult’s explicit consent
Help button
A large, always-visible button on the older adult’s main screen.
- A short countdown before it sends, so an accidental tap can be cancelled
- Immediate alert to every connected family member — it doesn’t wait for the next battery or location cycle
- Does not replace calling emergency services in a real emergency — see the legal disclaimer
FAQ
Can more than one family member be connected to the same person?
Yes, depending on the plan: Free allows 1 family member, Plus up to 3, and Total up to 8 — built for siblings sharing the load.
What happens if my family member gets a new phone?
Install Aasta on the new phone and generate a fresh pairing code from your side. It’s the same process as the first time.
Can the older adult turn the app off or stop sharing something?
Yes, at any time, from their own phone. Aasta is a family-trust tool, not a control system — and it’s built so that shows.
What exactly is the "inactivity alert"?
An alert if the phone hasn’t moved for a configurable number of hours (14 hours by default, with an overnight window excluded to avoid false alerts while sleeping). Available on the Plus plan.