Questions families ask

Dorris uses small, discreet sensors to notice the everyday rhythms of life at home. This includes things like whether the kettle has been used, whether the front door has opened, the general level of movement around the home, room temperature, and whether lights or curtains follow their usual pattern.

Over the first couple of weeks, Dorris learns what a typical day looks like. After that, it quietly flags when something seems noticeably different from the usual pattern. It doesn't track specific activities or record any images or sounds — just the simple, factual data points that tell a story about how the day is going.

No. Absolutely not. Dorris will never place a camera or microphone in someone's home. This isn't an optional setting or a premium feature — it's a fundamental design principle.

Our system uses sensors that detect patterns — door openings, movement, appliance use, temperature, light levels. There is no hardware in our system capable of capturing images, video, or audio. We believe you can care for someone without watching them, and everything we build reflects that.

Family members who have been set up to receive notifications. This is decided by the family when Dorris is configured, and it can include multiple people — a son and daughter, siblings, a close family friend — whoever the family decides should be in the loop.

This means the sense of responsibility is shared, which many families find helpful. You don't have to be the only one keeping an eye on things.

No — and it's not designed to. Dorris is a supportive layer that sits alongside the care and contact your family already provides. It's there to fill the gaps between visits and phone calls, not to replace them.

If your loved one needs in-person care, professional support, or regular medical attention, Dorris works alongside those arrangements. It can give you useful information that helps inform those conversations, but it doesn't replace human presence, professional carers, or medical advice.

Dorris can be a helpful tool for families where dementia is a factor, particularly in noticing changes in daily routine over time. Because it works passively — with no input needed from the person at home — it can provide valuable information without adding any burden or confusion.

However, Dorris is not a specialist dementia care product and should not be relied upon as the sole form of support for someone living with dementia. Every situation is different, and we'd always recommend discussing your particular circumstances with a healthcare professional or dementia support organisation to ensure the right combination of support is in place.

Dorris is professionally installed. We visit the home, have a conversation about the layout and daily routine, then place the sensors in the right locations. The sensors are small and discreet — most people wouldn't notice them.

We make sure everything is working properly before we leave, and we'll walk you through what to expect in the first couple of weeks as Dorris learns the routine. The person living at home doesn't need to do anything — there are no buttons to press, nothing to charge, nothing to remember.

If the daily pattern shifts noticeably — for example, if the kettle hasn't been used by its usual time, or there's been no movement by mid-morning — Dorris sends a calm notification to the family members set up to receive them.

It's not an alarm — it's a heads-up. You then decide what to do with that information. Maybe you'll give them a ring, maybe you'll pop round, maybe you'll check in later. The decision is always yours.

Dorris also adapts over time. If routines naturally evolve — perhaps someone starts getting up a bit later, or stops going out on Wednesdays — Dorris gradually adjusts its understanding of what's normal. It's designed to account for the natural evolution of daily life, not just flag every minor variation.

Yes, absolutely. Multiple family members can receive notifications and stay informed. This is often one of the most valuable aspects of Dorris — it gives everyone a shared picture, so conversations about Mum or Dad are based on the same information rather than assumptions or worry.

It can also help distribute the sense of responsibility. When more than one person is keeping an eye on things, the weight doesn't fall entirely on one pair of shoulders.

We're currently finalising our pricing structure. We want to make sure it's fair, transparent, and accessible to the families who need it most.

If you'd like to be kept informed as pricing details become available, or if you'd simply like to have a conversation about your situation and whether Dorris might be a good fit, please get in touch. There's no obligation and no pressure.

We'll get back to you to arrange a conversation — usually by email or phone, whichever you prefer. There's no hard sell, no pressure, and no obligation.

We'll listen to your situation, explain how Dorris works in more detail, and help you decide whether it's the right fit for your family. If it isn't, we'll tell you honestly. We'd rather help you find the right support — even if it isn't us — than sell you something that doesn't fit.

Their wishes are important, and they should be respected. We always recommend having an open, honest conversation with your loved one about Dorris — what it does, what it doesn't do, and why you're considering it.

Many people are more comfortable with the idea once they understand that there are no cameras or microphones, and that it's designed to support their independence rather than restrict it. The sensors are discreet, there's nothing to interact with, and life carries on exactly as normal.

That said, if someone is strongly opposed to any form of monitoring, that's a conversation the family needs to have together. Dorris works best when the person at home understands and is comfortable with it.

Yes. Dorris is designed to complement existing care arrangements, not compete with them. Whether your loved one has a carer who visits regularly, attends a day centre, receives meals on wheels, or has support from neighbours and friends, Dorris adds a quiet additional layer of awareness.

It can be particularly useful in the times between care visits — giving you confidence that things are going smoothly even when no one else is there.

Dorris requires an internet connection and mains power to operate fully. If either is interrupted, the system's ability to monitor and send notifications will be affected.

We are actively developing our approach to handling outages — including how we notify families, how quickly the system recovers, and whether any local data can be preserved during short interruptions. Full details will be published in due course.

We want to be honest about this: it's an area we take seriously and are working hard to get right. If you have specific concerns about connectivity or power reliability in your area, we're happy to discuss them.

Data protection is a core priority for us. The data Dorris collects — sensor readings like door open/close events, motion detection, temperature, and appliance usage — is encrypted both in transit and at rest.

We are committed to storing data within the UK and will never sell, share, or trade your data with third parties for any commercial purpose. Your information is used solely to provide the Dorris service to your family.

We're currently preparing our full data protection documentation, which will provide complete details of how data is handled, stored, and protected. In the meantime, if you have specific questions about data safety, please don't hesitate to ask.

Every Dorris installation includes a small, discreet hub, its own WiFi network and mobile internet connection, contact sensors for all doors and windows, temperature sensors for each floor, presence detectors for bathrooms, bedrooms and living spaces, and smart plugs for key appliances like the kettle. Everything is installed professionally, and the system is tailored around the person and their home during a face-to-face consultation.

No. Dorris comes with its own mobile data connection, so it works independently of any existing broadband or WiFi in the home. This means Dorris won't go offline if the person changes their internet provider, or if they don't have an internet connection at all.

The Dorris hub includes a battery backup, so brief power interruptions won't affect the system. If a longer outage occurs, our team will be aware of it through our 24/7 monitoring and can take appropriate action.

Alerts are sent as push notifications through the secure Dorris app. Multiple family members can receive alerts, so caring responsibilities can be shared. If required, the person at home can also receive notifications.

Dorris is currently in its beta programme. We're looking for a small number of families to help us refine and improve the system. Beta testers receive the full Dorris system — installed and supported — completely free, forever. If you're interested, register your interest through our contact form and we'll be in touch.

Dorris includes a presence sensor in every bathroom. If someone has been in the bathroom for longer than usual — especially overnight — Dorris can alert family members.

This is important because research shows that around 1 in 5 falls in over-65s result in being on the floor for more than an hour, and that traditional call alarms are often not pressed in these situations.

Dorris doesn't claim to prevent falls, but it can help families become aware sooner when something doesn't seem right.