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The short answer: Four new AI helpers arrived in fall 2026 for older adults who live on their own. JoyTablet 7 turns a tablet you already own into a talking companion with reminders and auto-answer family video calls. Loved has an AI voice named Claire phone your loved one on a schedule and send the family a short summary. The HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition puts an AI companion named Mary behind one button, but it is only a small trial in France and the UK. havn uses small room sensors with no cameras to spot falls or unusual quiet, and it reaches the US on November 30, 2026. None of them replace family, a doctor or 911.
The four helpers at a glance
| Helper | What it is | What your loved one does | Where you can get it | Cost shown by the maker (Oct 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JoyTablet 7 (ONSCREEN) | An app that turns an iPad or Android tablet into a talking companion named Joy | Says "Hey Joy" from across the room. No tapping needed. | Available now for iPad and Android tablets | 14-day free trial, then $19.99 a month |
| Loved (Kindable) | A family app plus an AI voice named Claire who phones your loved one | Answers a normal phone call. Works on any cell phone or landline. | Available now. The family app is on iPhone and Android. | Free plan has no calls with Claire. Premium is $29.99 a month with 120 minutes of calls, 7-day trial. |
| HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition with Mary (HMD and inTouch) | A simple flip phone with one button that starts a chat with an AI companion named Mary | Presses the Mary button and talks. | Limited trial in France and the UK only. Not sold in the US. | Phone €79.90 or £79.99, 5 free hours with Mary, then €19.90 or £16.90 a month |
| havn (cortekAI) | Small plug-in sensors, one per room, that learn the daily routine. No cameras, nothing to wear. | Nothing. It works in the background. They can also talk to family through the sensor. | US availability starts November 30, 2026 | Two subscription plans. No price shown on the maker's site yet. |
JoyTablet 7: a talking companion on a tablet you already own
ONSCREEN released JoyTablet 7 on October 19, 2026. It is an app, not a new gadget. A family member installs it on an iPad or Android tablet, plugs it in, and the tablet becomes a simple screen built around one person.
- "Hey Joy" works hands free. Your loved one can talk from across the room without touching the screen. That helps with arthritis, shaky hands or low vision.
- Spoken reminders and timers. One time, daily or weekly, such as "Every day at 9 a.m., remind me to take my pills."
- Music, videos, local news and weather just by asking. Safe Search is always on.
- Family video calls answer by themselves when they come from approved family in the ONSCREEN JoyFamily app. Family can also send photos and home screen messages.
- Also built for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). ONSCREEN says it co-designed these features with an I/DD service provider.
Good to know: the tablet needs Wi-Fi, and ONSCREEN's own FAQ says Joy is an AI, not a person, and "not a substitute for a caregiver or emergency help." Check that your tablet is on the compatible list in the App Store or Google Play before you start the trial.
Loved: Claire calls every day and tells the family how it went
Kindable launched the Loved app on October 8, 2026. Your loved one does not need a smartphone or any new device. Claire, an AI voice, simply calls at the times your family picks.
- A friendly daily check-in call. Claire asks about sleep, mood, appetite and medicines, gives reminders, and remembers earlier calls.
- A short summary goes to the family, who Kindable calls the "care circle." The app tracks changes over time.
- Needs turn into to-do items. If your mom mentions a leaking faucet or a ride to the doctor, it becomes a shared task the family can claim.
- Missed-call alerts let the family know if a call was not answered.
- Your loved one can also call Claire any time of day.
Good to know: the free plan has no calls with Claire. The calls are part of Premium, which includes 120 minutes of calls a month. Loved says full call transcripts are stored but not viewable in the app by anyone, and the family sees only summaries, based on permissions the account owner sets. Loved says it gives observational insight, not medical advice.
HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition with Mary: one button, but not in the US
HMD and inTouch announced this phone on October 21, 2026. It is a familiar flip phone with one extra button. Press it and Mary, an AI companion, starts a conversation. She can answer questions, help recall information and simply chat, 24 hours a day.
Important: this is a limited-edition trial in France and the UK only. It is not sold in the US. We include it because it shows where this is heading: AI help on a phone older adults already know how to use.
Good to know: inTouch says conversations are encrypted and stored in the EU under GDPR, and personal data is not sold or used for advertising. They also say plainly that "Mary is a companion, not an emergency service."
havn: camera-free sensors that notice when something is wrong
cortekAI announced havn on October 26, 2026. It is different from the others. It is not mainly a chat companion. You put one small sensor in each room your loved one uses. It learns their normal routine from motion and sound, then alerts family and caregivers if something changes, such as a fall or an unusual stretch of no activity.
- No cameras, nothing to wear, nothing to charge. The maker's site also says no conversations are recorded.
- Serious alerts go to caregivers first, then emergency services (EMS), according to cortekAI.
- Family can talk into the room through the sensor, and leave voice reminders.
- Setup takes minutes per room with an app, no tools needed.
Good to know: havn will be available in the US starting November 30, 2026, from havnwellness.com and through partners like home care agencies. There are two plans, Essentials (up to four sensors) and Whole House (no limit). The maker has not posted prices yet, so ask before you sign up.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- Privacy: Is anything recorded? Where is it stored, and for how long? Is it ever sold or used for ads? Can we delete it?
- Who hears the calls: Which family members see summaries or transcripts? Can any company staff listen in? Does my loved one know, and agree, that family will get updates?
- Monthly cost: What is the price after the free trial? Is there a limit on minutes or sensors? How do I cancel, and is there a contract?
- Emergencies: What happens if my loved one falls or says they feel sick? Does it call anyone, or only send an app alert? Most AI companions are not emergency services. Keep a real medical alert plan in place.
- Internet and power: What happens if the Wi-Fi or power goes out?
- Comfort: Will my loved one feel cared for, or watched? Ask them first. A helper they agreed to is one they will actually use.
None of these run privately on your own PC
All four helpers work through the company's online service. What your loved one says, or what the sensors notice, goes to that company under its privacy policy. That is normal for this kind of service, but it is worth knowing. Read more in Is AI spying on me?
If privacy matters most, the private alternative is AI that runs on a computer at home, where nothing leaves the house. It will not phone anyone or watch for falls, but it can chat, read letters out loud and help with reminders and notes. Start with What is Ollama? or our Local AI hub. For free tools already on your phone or PC, see AI that helps with vision, hearing, hands and memory.
Blake's honest take
I live alone too, with my cat. If I were choosing for a parent, I would start with the one that asks the least of them. Loved works on the phone they already have. JoyTablet reuses a tablet in the drawer. havn asks nothing at all once it is set up. Whatever you pick, use the free trial, sit with your loved one for the first few days, and keep calling them yourself. These are helpers, not replacements for you.
Optional, only if it helps
Gear that can make this easier
You do not need any of this to get started. These are simple add-ons that people often find helpful. Read reviews and check the return policy first.
Android tablet
JoyTablet runs on a compatible Android tablet. Check the app's compatibility list before you buy.
See options on AmazoniPad
JoyTablet also runs on a compatible iPad. An older iPad already in a drawer may work.
See options on AmazonTablet stand
Keeps the tablet upright on a counter so Joy and video calls are easy to see.
See options on AmazonBig-button amplified phone
Loved's Claire calls any phone or landline. A loud, simple phone helps if hearing is a problem.
See options on AmazonCommon questions
What is the best AI helper for a senior who lives alone?
It depends on what they are comfortable with. Loved works on any phone or landline because Claire simply calls. JoyTablet 7 suits someone who would enjoy a talking tablet with video calls from family. havn suits families who mainly want to know about falls or unusual quiet, without cameras. Start with a free trial and ask your loved one first.
Is the HMD flip phone with Mary available in the US?
No. As of October 30, 2026, the HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition with Mary is a limited-edition trial in France and the UK only.
When can I get havn in the US?
cortekAI says havn will be available in the US starting November 30, 2026, directly at havnwellness.com and through partners such as in-home care agencies. Prices were not posted on the maker's site when we checked.
Can these AI helpers call 911?
Do not count on it. ONSCREEN says Joy is not a substitute for emergency help, and inTouch says Mary is not an emergency service. cortekAI says havn escalates critical alerts to caregivers first, then EMS. Keep a real emergency plan in place either way.
Do these AI helpers keep what my parent says private?
They all work through the company's online service, so the company handles the data under its privacy policy. Loved says full transcripts are not viewable in its app and family see summaries. inTouch says Mary's conversations are encrypted and stored in the EU. havn says it uses no cameras and records no conversations. For fully private AI, use local AI on your own computer.
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Check my PC →Who writes this: Blake, the guy behind AI Pick Vault. He has spent 47 years fixing things and sorting out PCs for regular people. He is 56 and still learning AI too, so these pages explain things the way he wishes someone had explained them to him.
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