Everything begins here on our website, echobox.ca. Tap the ‘Join for FREE’ button and register a new account by entering an email and the verification code provided. After choosing a password and filling out some basic contact information, the account will be created. Every account allows the administrator to add one Storyteller (someone receiving care), and add one Caregiver (a therapist, staff member or loved one). 

Caregivers are automatically invited to accounts via email and they join by clicking the link, downloading the Echobox Memory Vault App and signing in on their smartphone or tablet. Every Echobox account also comes with one complimentary Story! This free Story is provided to show the Caregiver how to simply capture a memory like a favourite song, an old road trip or a cherished family recipe. On their device, Caregivers use the dark green bar at the bottom of their screen to navigate around the account. They will add the Storyteller to their Dashboard by checking the box next to their name. Moving over to the Dashboard, they can open up the Storyteller’s Echobox, add a profile picture, add some information and browse the Topics list. Topics categorize the Stories that are entered and offer supportive suggestions to help encourage memory-keeping! After choosing a Topic to add, it’s time to take advantage of that complimentary Story. Back in the Storyteller’s Echobox, the Caregiver selects the Topic they’ve just added, then selects “Add New Story” near the bottom of the screen. 

Echobox Stories can be titled, host 1,000 words of text (including links to online information and YouTube videos), contain 3 photos, a video and an audio recording. Whether it’s a favourite song, a cherished family recipe, talking about workplace achievements or listening to the sound of a loved one singing Happy Birthday – each Story offers a powerful opportunity for comfort, insight, connection, expression and engagement. With the entire workforce able to access these Stories entered by current and previous staff members, sundowning episodes and other daily challenges can be communally approached with love, kindness and squarely addressed with an emotionally intelligent solution that provides an enormous return on investment.

Every paid account allows the administrator to add as many Caregivers as required and capture as many Stories as they wish – all of which only costs a dollar a day per Storyteller! That’s less than the price a cup of coffee. We feel Quality of Life’s worth a lot more than that. Families everywhere anguish over choosing the right facility or service, the best care team or community. Having Echobox in place proves there is a focus on genuine, person-centric engagement and that their loved one is in the hands of those who truly care. The better we know somebody, the better care we can provide for them!