SAN DIEGO, CA, APRIL 15– The premise that older adults who use a daily check-in app are less
independent is incorrect, says a new survey from Snug. The second annual survey of 1800
customers between 60 and 85 with the easy to use, free check-in app showed that the majority
see themselves as “very independent” – with dog owners reporting a slight edge: 88% vs 86%.
“We know that healthy aging is more than just an absence of disease or the ability to take care
of yourself,” said Preet Anand, Snug’s co-founder. “It incorporates social connections and a
sense of purpose. We created Snug to give our customers a safety net so they can live their
lives confidently and with purpose.”
Users can download the Snug app, add emergency contacts and set a time for the daily check
in. Snug will check in with users daily at the set time. If the user does not tap the button to
confirm the check in, Snug will alert the emergency contacts by text at no monthly cost to
ensure that someone checks in. With the paid plan, Snug will phone the user, then her contacts
– and if no one is reached, will call for a wellness check.
How do these Snug users describe themselves?
• This is an independent, connected group of 60- to 80-year-olds, 77% female, with
94.6% living alone.
• They use a range of tech devices in their daily lives: 79% use computers, 63% tablets,
61% smart TVs, 34.5% smart speakers and 25% video doorbells.
• They're on social media, with 83% on Facebook and 33% on Instagram.
• They have companionship: 62% report living with a pet. According to a University of
Rochester study, pet owners were 36% less likely to report loneliness.
• 61.5% are rarely or not lonely. 39.5% are sometimes lonely.
• Connecting with friends and family is very important, according to 69% of users: with
43% connecting daily and 33% weekly.
• The majority are planners, especially about their safety, with 89.8% having talked with
someone about what to do if they miss a check-in and 81% having a plan for accessing
the home if they don’t respond.
“Snug users are reflecting a trend that has been seen increasingly in older adults,” Anand notes.
Those 65-85 living alone report enjoying their independence. The higher the level of
independence they describe, the lower the level of loneliness: 62.7% of the very independent
report they are not or rarely lonely vs 42.7% of the somewhat independent reporting they are
sometimes or often lonely.
“What they have in common is they appreciate the technology that enables this independence
to continue. To date, we have had almost 20 million check-ins, and 82% say they would be very
disappointed if they didn’t have Snug, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining that sense
of freedom.”
Martha Kean, an early Snug user, echoes this. “Since I started using the Snug app, I know that
someone will help me if I have a health crisis. As I’m living alone, I have three individuals to
check in on me if I don’t check in every morning. Snug gives me the confidence to continue
living independently,” she adds.
For more information, please go to www.snugsafe.com.
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Contact: edasko@daskocommunications.com
