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From SanoLabs, the makers of the Sam app

Know when to call and when to act

If you are worried about your parents: symptoms count for more than any number. If something is new, severe or worrying, call the practice, and call emergency services right away for emergency signs.

Who to call

Who do you call, and when?

  1. Emergency signs: emergency servicesThe list is further down. Do not wait, even if the symptoms ease.
  2. Urgent but not life-threatening: out-of-hours doctorThe out-of-hours service helps when the practice is closed and it cannot wait until tomorrow. In the UK, call 111.
  3. New or worrying: the practiceDescribe what you have noticed and ask how urgent it is.
  4. Falls or medication problems: the family doctorTell the practice if your parent has fallen or seems unsteady. A current medication list helps.

What can a watch or app not replace?

A smartwatch or wellness app does not make a diagnosis and does not replace a medical check. Trends are material for the conversation with the practice, not a verdict.

Sam for your parent

Tell the practice exactly what happened

Worry gets easier when you have something concrete. Your parent notes in Sam what the last weeks looked like.

  • Note symptomsIn Sam your parent taps a day and notes symptoms and severity. You can look up later what happened.
  • Data from Apple HealthSam reads sleep, heart rate and steps from Apple Health. The monthly report pulls them together with the symptom days.
  • A report for the practiceThe monthly report can be shared as a PDF. One of the eight programs (each with a diary) adds a doctor report.
  • Read along if they wantIf your parent chooses, they share symptoms with you through Care Circle. You see them read-only and without alerts.
Example

Concrete instead of vague

  • Instead ofa memory that things got worse some time last week

    In SamThe days with symptoms are noted in Sam, with severity.

  • Instead ofa call to the practice without specifics

    In SamA report that shows what was noted over the last weeks.

Sam records and shows what your parent enters; emergency signs and assessment stay with emergency services and the practice.

Keep reading

What adult children often ask

EmergencyWhen should I get help right away?+

This is general safety information, not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you whether a health condition is present.

  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe chest tightness or chest pain
  • Drooping mouth, weakness in one arm or slurred speech
  • Sudden confusion or vision problems
  • A seizure or loss of consciousness

If you see any of these signs, call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) right away. If it is urgent but not life-threatening, your doctor's out-of-hours service helps outside practice hours. Do not use this list to decide on your own whether something is wrong.

Is it normal to worry this much?+

Yes, it is understandable, especially from a distance. Worry becomes useful when it turns into a plan: call the practice or prepare the next appointment.

Will a smartwatch tell me when something is wrong?+

No, you cannot rely on it. Some watches send notifications, but that is not a diagnosis, and Sam cannot replace a doctor's assessment either. What counts are symptoms and the doctor's assessment.

The numbers look bad but my mother feels fine. What now?+

Numbers are context, not a verdict. Call the practice and ask what they advise. If your mother also has emergency signs, get help right away (see the first question).

When should a parent stop living alone?+

You decide together, ideally with the family doctor's practice. Repeated falls or trouble with medication are a reason to raise it.

Sources

Last updated: October 2026

Stay calm and be prepared

Sam keeps a record of the last weeks so you can show it to the practice.

This is general health information, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Sam is a wellness companion and not a medical device, does not diagnose or treat anything and does not replace a doctor. For acute symptoms call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).