30% of Seniors Live Alone – Why Families Are Installing Safety Apps like iSharing This Thanksgiving

As winter approaches, iSharing reports higher GPS safety app setup completion rates during Thanksgiving and Christmas when families gather together

As families gather around holiday tables this season, a growing number are having an uncomfortable but necessary conversation: convincing aging parents to install GPS tracking apps before winter’s dangers set in. According to iSharing‘s data, family invitation completion rates are significantly higher on days when families gather together, such as weekends, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The timing isn’t coincidental. Winter poses unique threats to older adults, especially the nearly 30% of adults age 65 and older who live alone according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That figure jumps to 43% among women age 75 and older. Cold weather, early sunsets, icy sidewalks, and holiday travel create what safety experts call “a perfect storm” for falls, disorientation, and life-threatening delays in emergency response. For families separated by distance, the anxious daily phone check is no longer sufficient protection.

“Winter is not only the most dangerous season for older adults, it is also the one time of year when most families are physically together,” said Yongjae Chuh, CTO and Co-Founder of iSharingSoft. “We’re encouraging families to install the app during Thanksgiving and Christmas when parents are more likely to accept help and family members have time to set up alerts and walk them through how it works.”

The holiday installation approach addresses a common barrier: resistance from parents who see safety monitoring as an invasion of privacy or admission of decline. When the conversation happens face-to-face, during a time associated with family care and togetherness, seniors are more willing to participate. The in-person setup also ensures the technology is properly configured before adult children return home.

iSharing, which serves more than sixty million users worldwide, has seen dramatic growth in senior adoption – 75.3% in the United States alone during 2025.

The risks facing elderly adults living alone are significant. A study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy examined 207 missing elderly drivers with dementia over a 10-year period and found that approximately one-third were never found. Even small changes like missing the same exit, taking longer than usual to return home, or adding unexplained stops can be early warning signs worth tracking before they escalate into a crisis.

For families navigating the difficult transition between full independence and assisted living, winter presents daily anxieties. Did Mom make it home from the grocery store? Is Dad driving in the dark? Has anyone checked in since this morning? These questions multiply during the holiday season when routines are disrupted and weather is unpredictable.

iSharing’s Elderly Care GPS features are designed specifically for these concerns. The platform automatically alerts families when no movement has been detected for an extended period—critical during winter months when a fall on ice could leave someone stranded in cold temperatures. Real-time location awareness provides peace of mind, while geofencing notifies caregivers if a parent unexpectedly leaves designated safe zones around home, senior centers, or familiar routes.

iSharing’s Elderly Care GPS features are designed specifically for these concerns. What sets iSharing apart from other GPS tracking apps is its automatic inactivity alert system – a feature not commonly found in competitor apps. The app automatically notifies families when no movement has been detected for an extended period, which is critical during winter months when a fall on ice could leave someone stranded in cold temperatures. Real-time location awareness provides peace of mind, while geofencing notifies caregivers if a parent unexpectedly leaves designated safe zones around home, senior centers, or familiar routes.

The app also includes instant SOS emergency alerts and driving behavior monitoring to detect concerning patterns. Perhaps most importantly, users can access an entire year of location history, allowing families to identify gradual changes in behavior that might indicate cognitive decline or health issues—the kind of subtle shifts that are easy to miss during brief holiday visits.

“The hardest part is starting the conversation,” Chuh noted. “But when it happens around the dinner table, with family present and love evident, parents understand it comes from a place of care, not control.”

The platform’s design acknowledges the reality of how seniors use technology. Battery conservation features ensure that parents who forget to charge their phones regularly aren’t left unprotected. The interface is simple enough for older adults to navigate, and the ability to share access with multiple siblings means caregiving responsibilities can be distributed rather than falling on one person.

Traditional safety solutions like emergency pendants require seniors to remember to wear them and press a button during a crisis. Medical alert systems need specialized hardware and monthly fees. By contrast, iSharing works on the smartphones many seniors already carry, requires no additional equipment, and focuses on preventing emergencies rather than just responding to them.

The holiday timing strategy reflects a broader understanding of family dynamics. Adult children often feel guilty about living far from aging parents, while seniors struggle with accepting help that might signal loss of independence. Thanksgiving and Christmas visits provide natural opportunities to address safety concerns in the context of family bonds rather than clinical necessity.

“We’ve heard from thousands of families who say the same thing,” Chuh explained. “I wish we had done this sooner. Someone got lost, or fell, or didn’t answer the phone for hours, and that’s when they realized they needed better tools. Our message is: don’t wait for the emergency. Use this holiday visit to protect the people you love.”

The company has created step-by-step guides for adult children to help navigate the conversation with parents. The approach emphasizes mutual peace of mind—children worry less, parents gain access to quick help if needed—rather than framing it as surveillance or acknowledging decline.

As winter deepens and families return to their separate homes after the holidays, the safety questions intensify. The next snowstorm, the next icy morning, the next time a parent doesn’t answer the phone—these moments of anxiety are when families most regret not having taken action during their Thanksgiving visit.

This winter, iSharing is placing its focus on one message: Do not wait for an emergency to wish you had acted earlier. Install now while you are home. Protect the people you love before the worst happens. The holiday table is where difficult conversations happen, where family decisions are made, and where love translates into action.

For families dreading the “safety talk” with aging parents, the alternative is worse: the phone call that comes too late, the hours of not knowing, the regret that arrives after tragedy. The few minutes it takes to install an app during a holiday visit could make the difference between prevention and crisis.

Statistics Focus

With 60.3% Global Senior Growth in 2025, iSharing Emerges as Leading Platform for Families Managing Elderly Parent Safety From Distance

Location-Sharing Platform Reaches 60 Million Users Worldwide with 75.3% US Senior Growth in 2025, Marking Major Shift in Elder Care Technology Adoption

The location-sharing app iSharing has experienced unprecedented growth among senior users, with a 75.3% increase in the United States during 2025 as adult children seek modern solutions to keep aging parents safe from a distance. Globally, senior usage on the platform jumped 60.3%, with Japan seeing the highest growth at 75.7%.

The surge reflects a growing crisis in elder care: nearly 30% of adults age 65 and older live alone according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with that figure rising to 43% among women age 75 and older. For adult children living states or countries away, the anxious daily phone check is proving insufficient, especially during winter months when cold weather, early sunsets, and icy conditions create what safety experts call “a perfect storm” for falls, disorientation, and life-threatening delays in emergency response.

“We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how families approach senior safety,” said Yongjae Chuh, CTO and Co-Founder of iSharingSoft. “What started as a tool for parents to track their children has evolved into one of the most widely adopted platforms for elder care. The 75% growth in the U.S. alone tells us that families are actively seeking better solutions.”

The platform now serves more than sixty million users worldwide, a number that continues to climb as awareness grows. Industry analysts point to several factors driving adoption: an aging Baby Boomer population, increased geographic dispersion of families, and growing recognition that traditional safety tools aren’t designed for mobile, independent seniors who still drive and live active lives.

The medical data underscores the urgency. A study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy examined 207 missing elderly drivers with dementia over a 10-year period and found that approximately one-third were never found. Even small changes like missing the same exit, taking longer than usual to return home, or adding unexplained stops can be early warning signs worth tracking before they escalate into a crisis.

iSharing’s rapid growth in the senior demographic has prompted the company to develop specialized features specifically for elderly care. The Elderly Care GPS tools automatically alert families when no movement has been detected for an extended period, provide real-time location awareness, and notify caregivers if a parent unexpectedly leaves designated safe zones around home, senior centers, or familiar routes. Additional safety features include instant SOS emergency alerts and driving behavior monitoring to detect concerning patterns.

What differentiates iSharing from competitors is its comprehensive approach to location history. Users can access an entire year of location data, significantly more than most alternatives, and can share access with siblings or caregivers for coordinated support. The system is also engineered to conserve battery so seniors who forget to charge their phones are not left unprotected.

“The growth numbers reflect a deeper truth,” Chuh explained. “Millions of families have been struggling with the same anxiety: How do I make sure my parents are safe when I’m not there? Technology is finally catching up to that need.”

The company has identified what it calls “the hidden safety gap”—the period between when seniors are fully independent and when they require assisted living or memory care. During this transition, which can last years, families often lack effective tools to monitor safety while still respecting independence.

Traditional solutions like emergency pendants and medical alert systems play a valuable role, but many require specialized hardware and are not designed for real-world mobility. Most are triggered only after a fall or emergency has already occurred. iSharing’s philosophy centers on prevention rather than reaction.

Market research suggests the demand will only intensify. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be over age 65, and the senior population in the United States is projected to reach 73 million. With adult children increasingly spread across states and countries, the need for remote monitoring solutions is not just practical—it’s becoming essential for family peace of mind.

Winter amplifies every risk factor. Cold temperatures increase fall hazards, shorter days mean more driving in darkness, and holiday travel adds confusion and stress. iSharing is encouraging families to use upcoming holiday gatherings as an opportunity to install the app in person, when parents are more likely to accept help and children have time to properly configure alerts and safety zones.

“Every year millions of families have the same thought,” Chuh added. “We should have done something sooner. Our goal is to remove that regret and give people a simple way to care for elderly parents before a situation becomes life threatening.”

The platform’s accessibility—requiring only a smartphone rather than specialized hardware—has been key to its adoption. The app is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, making it easy for families to set up during holiday visits without waiting for equipment to arrive or dealing with complicated installation processes.

As the senior population continues to grow and family structures become more geographically dispersed, iSharing’s 75% growth rate suggests that GPS-based safety monitoring is transitioning from novelty to necessity. For families facing the challenge of keeping aging parents safe while respecting their independence, the numbers tell a clear story: modern problems require modern solutions.

About iSharing

iSharing is a leading real-time location sharing and safety platform designed to protect families and give peace of mind across generations. With more than 60 million users worldwide, the app provides live GPS tracking, inactivity detection without requiring specialized hardware, instant SOS alerts, location history, and driving-related features. The platform has experienced rapid growth in the senior care market, with 75.3% user increase in the United States and 60.3% globally during 2025. iSharing’s mission is to prevent emergencies before they happen and to make modern safety accessible to every family, everywhere.

The app is available for download in the App Store and Google Play.

For more information, please visit isharingsoft.com

Yunjoo Park

iSharingSoft

yunjoo.park@isharingsoft.com

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