Video Calls: seeing a face when typing is not enough

To use Video Calls, sign in first.

This page explains how it works. The tool itself is inside your SeniorThrive account.

Sign in, or create a free account.

Some conversations do not work well in writing. The ones where you want to see a face. Hear a laugh. Show someone the new puzzle. Say goodnight before they go to bed.

SeniorThrive has a built-in video call feature for the people in your Circle. No app to download. No dialing phone numbers.

Video calls are part of Essential, and pause on the Free plan.

Where to find it

Open Family & Friends and tap Video Calls.

Your calls open up once someone in your Circle has accepted your invitation. Until then, there is no one to call yet.

To start a call

1. Tap Start a Video Call.
2. Pick the people you want to see. You can pick more than one.
3. SeniorThrive lets them know right away. It lands in their notification centre, rings live if they have SeniorThrive open, and reaches their phone if they have call alerts on.
4. Your call begins when they join.

A regular call

Having a set time to talk each week means you always have something to look forward to. Tap Pick a Day and Time to set one up.

When someone calls you

If someone in your Circle calls you while SeniorThrive is open, a notice tells you who is calling. Tap Join Call to see them face to face, or Decline to close the notice.

What you need

• A device with a camera (your phone, tablet, or laptop).
• A decent internet connection.
• Permission to use your camera and microphone, which your device asks for the first time.

You do not need to give anyone your phone number. Calls happen inside SeniorThrive, between people who are already in your Circle.

A few small tips

• Find the light. Sit facing a window, not with a window behind you, so the other person can see your face.
• Prop the phone up. A small stand, a book, anything that keeps the camera steady. Hands get tired.
• Use earbuds or headphones if the sound echoes. Most people hear better that way.
• Do not worry about how you look. The people who love you want to see you, not the you that spent an hour getting ready.

If something is not working

If the call will not connect, check your internet. If you can hear but not see, check that your camera is on and permissions are granted. If a family member cannot hear you, check that your microphone is not muted.

If you are still stuck, Avery can walk you through it. Tap the chat bubble.

Seeing a face, even once a week, is something to look forward to. That is what this feature is for.