Frequently Asked Questions¶

Common questions about CareKeeper, organized by topic.

General¶

What is CareKeeper?¶

CareKeeper is a fast, collaborative activity tracking app for iOS and watchOS. It helps multiple caregivers coordinate care for children, pets, or anyone who needs support by tracking activities like feeding, sleep, and more.

How much does CareKeeper cost?¶

Pricing information will be here when app is released.

Current development status: Pre-release

What devices are supported?¶

iOS: - iPhone running iOS 18.0 or later - iPad running iPadOS 18.0 or later

watchOS: - Apple Watch running watchOS 10.0 or later

Not supported: - Android devices - Windows/Mac desktop apps (no web version)

Is an internet connection required?¶

Mostly yes, with offline support:

✅ Works offline: - Track activities (saved locally) - View recently loaded data - Edit activities

❌ Requires internet: - Initial sync after install - Sharing carees - Syncing between devices - Accepting shares - Push notifications

Activities tracked offline will sync automatically when you reconnect.

Is iCloud required?¶

Yes. CareKeeper requires an iCloud account for: - Syncing between your devices - Sharing with other caregivers - Backup and recovery

You must be signed into iCloud in iOS Settings.

Features & Capabilities¶

Yes! Sharing is completely optional. You can: - Track activities just for yourself - Keep all carees private - Sync only between your own devices

Sharing is only needed if you want to collaborate with other caregivers.

How many carees can I have?¶

Unlimited. Create as many carees as you need: - Multiple children - Multiple pets - Family members - Yourself (personal health tracking)

How many activity types per caree?¶

Unlimited on iPhone.

Practical limit on Apple Watch: - ~50 activity types per caree (performance optimization) - More activity types = slower watch app

Can I track historical data?¶

Yes. Use the custom date/time picker when tracking: 1. Tap the activity type 2. Tap the date/time field 3. Select past date and time 4. Complete and save

You can backfill data from weeks or months ago.

Can I edit or delete activities?¶

Yes, both:

Edit: - Swipe left on activity (iOS) - Tap activity > Edit (watchOS) - Change quantity, time, notes, location

Delete: - Swipe left > Delete (iOS) - Tap activity > Delete Activity (watchOS) - Confirmation required

How do reminders work across my devices?¶

iPhone/iPad – CareKeeper saves a reminder to Apple’s Reminders app. That reminder syncs through iCloud like any other reminder tied to your Apple ID, so you’ll see it (and get the alert) on every Apple device signed into the same account, including Apple Watch.
Apple Watch – Apple does not let third-party apps create Reminders.app entries on watchOS, so CareKeeper schedules a device-local notification on the watch instead. It fires only on that watch until you edit the reminder on iPhone/iPad; saving there “upgrades” it into an iCloud reminder. The original watch notification may still fire at its original time, so you might see one extra alert during the transition.
Cross-device behavior – The bell indicator shows the device you touched most recently (📱 for phone, ⌚️ for watch). Turning the reminder off on iPhone removes the Reminders.app entry and clears any watch notification. Turning it off on watch cancels just the watch notification. Deleting the activity removes reminders/notifications everywhere.
Why this split? – This isn’t a design choice; Apple’s watchOS SDK simply doesn’t expose EventKit reminders to third-party apps.

See How to Schedule Reminders for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Can I export my data?¶

Yes. Export to JSON format: - All data or single caree - Includes caree, activity types, activities - Human-readable and machine-parseable - Import back into CareKeeper or analyze externally

See How to Export Data.

Does CareKeeper integrate with Apple Health?¶

Not currently. Apple Health integration is under consideration for future versions.

Can I create custom reports or charts?¶

Not in the app. CareKeeper focuses on fast tracking, not analytics.

For custom analysis: 1. Export data to JSON 2. Import into Excel, Google Sheets, or custom scripts 3. Create your own charts and reports

You share a caree via share link (Messages, Mail, etc.)
Recipient taps link and accepts share
Both have access to caree, activity types, and activities
Changes sync automatically via iCloud
Everyone can track activities and see updates

See How to Share a Caree.

What can shared participants do?¶

Participants can: - ✅ View all activities and activity types - ✅ Track new activities - ✅ Edit existing activities - ✅ Delete activities - ✅ Create new activity types - ✅ Edit activity types - ✅ Edit caree details (name, photo) - ✅ Leave the share voluntarily

Participants cannot: - ❌ Delete the caree entirely (owner only) - ❌ Remove other participants (owner only) - ❌ Stop sharing (owner only)

Can I have read-only participants?¶

No. All participants have equal edit access. CareKeeper is designed for trusted collaborators, not hierarchical permissions.

If you need read-only access, consider: - Regularly exporting and sharing reports instead - Using screen sharing to show data without granting access

Unlimited. Share with as many caregivers as needed: - Both parents - Grandparents - Babysitters - Day care providers - Pet sitters - Healthcare providers

No. Share each caree individually. This gives you granular control: - Share baby with partner and grandparents - Share dog only with roommates - Keep personal health tracking private

Can I revoke access?¶

Yes (owner only): 1. Open caree detail view 2. Tap Share button 3. Tap participant's name 4. Tap "Remove Access" 5. Confirm

Removal is immediate. The participant loses access to the caree, activity types, and activities.

What happens if I delete a shared caree?¶

Owner deletes: - Caree deleted for everyone - All activity types and activities deleted - All participants lose access - Cannot be undone

Participant leaves: - Caree remains for owner and other participants - Only that participant loses access

Privacy & Security¶

Is my data private?¶

Yes, with caveats:

Private from: - ✅ Other CareKeeper users (except those you invite) - ✅ Third-party advertisers (no ads) - ✅ Analytics companies (no tracking)

Accessible by: - ❌ You and people you share with - ❌ Apple (with legal warrant, but not used for ads/profiling)

See Security & Privacy.

Is my data encrypted?¶

Yes, infrastructure-level encryption:

On device: AES-256 encryption when device locked

In iCloud: Encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest on Apple servers

Not end-to-end encrypted because that would break sharing (participants couldn't decrypt your data).

This is the same model as iCloud Notes, Reminders, and shared photo albums.

Can Apple see my data?¶

Technically yes, but: - Apple doesn't access user data for advertising - Only accessible with legal warrant - Protected by Apple's privacy policy - Not sold or shared with third parties

CareKeeper uses Apple's infrastructure encryption, trusting Apple's security practices.

Is CareKeeper HIPAA compliant?¶

No. CareKeeper is not HIPAA compliant: - No Business Associate Agreement - No audit trails - Infrastructure encryption (not end-to-end) - No access logs

Do not use for Protected Health Information (PHI) subject to HIPAA.

OK for: Personal care tracking, pet care, baby care (non-regulated)

What happens to my data if I uninstall?¶

Data remains in iCloud: - Not automatically deleted - Still accessible if you reinstall - Synced to other devices (if any)

To fully delete: 1. Delete all carees in the app 2. Wait 24 hours for iCloud cleanup 3. Then uninstall app

Can I use CareKeeper without iCloud?¶

No. iCloud is required for: - Syncing between devices - Sharing with others - Backup and recovery

Without iCloud, CareKeeper cannot function.

Technical Questions¶

Why does the watch app only show 24 hours of activities?¶

Memory optimization. Apple Watch has limited memory (~30-50MB for apps). Loading full activity history would: - Use too much memory - Cause crashes - Slow down the app

24 hours covers recent activities while keeping the watch app fast and reliable. View full history on iPhone if you need more history.

Why can't I create carees on the watch?¶

Intentional limitation. Complex operations (caree creation, activity type configuration, sharing) belong on the larger iPhone screen.

The watch app focuses on speed: - Track activities in 2 seconds - View recent activities - Quick edits

Does CareKeeper drain battery?¶

No, minimal impact. Normal usage (<5% battery per day) includes: - Tracking 10-20 activities - Viewing activity lists - Background sync

Higher usage if: - Location tracking enabled for many activities - Notifications enabled for high-frequency carees - App left open continuously

Why is sync sometimes slow?¶

Possible reasons: - Poor network connection (use WiFi for initial sync) - Large data set (hundreds of activities) - CloudKit service delays (Apple's infrastructure) - Device in Low Power Mode

Normal speed: - New activity appears on other devices within 5-15 seconds - Initial sync after install: 10-30 seconds

Can I use CareKeeper on multiple iPhones?¶

Yes! Sign into the same iCloud account on both devices: - All carees appear on both - Activities sync between them - Share from either device

This is useful for: - Personal phone + work phone - Old phone kept as backup - iPad + iPhone

Not directly. Each person needs their own iCloud account and CareKeeper installation.

To collaborate: - Each family member installs CareKeeper - One person creates carees - Share carees via CloudKit sharing (not Family Sharing)

Support¶

Why aren't my activities syncing?¶

Quick fixes: 1. Check internet connection 2. Verify both devices signed into same iCloud account 3. Pull down to refresh 4. Force quit and reopen app

Common causes: - Not the owner (participants can't share) - Not signed into iCloud - No internet connection

How do I contact support?¶

Before contacting support: 1. Check this FAQ 2. Export your data (Settings > Export Data) as backup

Contact methods: - 📧 Email: francis.kareem+carekeeper@gmail.com - 🐛 Github Issues

Include: - iOS/watchOS version - Device model - Steps to reproduce issue - Screenshots if helpful

Feature Requests¶

Can you add [feature]?¶

CareKeeper is focused on fast, collaborative tracking. Feature requests are considered based on: - ✅ Aligns with core mission (speed, collaboration) - ✅ Benefits majority of users - ✅ Doesn't add significant complexity

Likely additions: - iOS widgets - Siri shortcuts - Additional export formats - Accessibility improvements

Unlikely additions: - Android version - Web app - Advanced analytics (use export instead) - Third-party integrations - HIPAA compliance

Submit feature requests: Github Issues

Will CareKeeper be open source?¶

The project will be open-sourced in the future to enable: - Community contributions - Transparency - Custom forks for specific use cases

No firm timeline yet.

Comparison Questions¶

CareKeeper vs generic note apps?¶

CareKeeper advantages: - ✅ Purpose-built for care tracking - ✅ Fast entry (2-second tracking on watch) - ✅ Structured data (quantity, location, time) - ✅ Real-time collaboration - ✅ Searchable and filterable

Generic notes: - Flexible for any use case - But slower, less structured, harder to collaborate

CareKeeper vs spreadsheets?¶

CareKeeper advantages: - ✅ Mobile-optimized - ✅ Much faster entry - ✅ Watch app support - ✅ Real-time sync - ✅ No setup required

Spreadsheets: - Better for complex analysis - More customization - But clunky on mobile, slow to track

Best of both: Use CareKeeper for tracking, export to spreadsheet for analysis.

Still Have Questions?¶

Documentation: - Getting Started Tutorial - How-To Guides

Support: - Email: [when available] - GitHub: [if open source] - Community: [if forum exists]