A warm voice,
whenever
it matters most
Nearness delivers warm, scheduled companion calls to older Australians — bringing genuine connection, comfort, and peace of mind, right to their phone. No apps. No tech. Just a friendly voice that calls.
Nearness
Calling Margaret, 74
Companionship by phone.
Backed by science.
Nearness is an Australian owned and operated phone companionship service — warm, scheduled calls designed to reduce social isolation in older Australians. Using smart, human-like voice technology, it delivers tailored conversations, gentle check-ins, and genuine connection to seniors living alone or in aged care. No apps. No devices. No tech headaches. Just the phone they already use.
Loneliness isn't just a feeling — it's a health crisis. Nearness helps older Australians feel heard, remembered, and cared for, one conversation at a time.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020
Warm, Natural Voices
Friendly, human-sounding voices that feel familiar and kind — never robotic, never scripted. Just a natural chat.
Scheduled to Suit You
You choose the time, tone, and how often calls happen. Daily chats, weekly catch-ups — whatever feels right for your family.
Genuinely Personal
Nearness remembers names, interests, and topics from past calls — so every conversation feels like it was made just for them.
Gentle Reminders
Appointments, birthdays, and daily habits — soft prompts woven naturally into the flow of conversation, never intrusive.
"Loneliness kills.— Prof. Robert Waldinger, Harvard Study of Adult Development (80 years of research)
It is as powerful as smoking or alcoholism."
A familiar voice,
every single week.
Choose the voice you'd like your loved one to hear. Both companions are warm, clear, and unhurried — designed to feel like a familiar friend on the end of the line.
Warm, gentle and unhurried. Lucy has a clear English accent and a natural ease that makes conversation feel effortless.
Steady, easy-going and reassuring. James has a gentle voice that never feels hurried — the kind that makes you feel like you've got all the time in the world.
Not sure? You can choose at sign-up and change anytime from your dashboard. Lucy and James are AI companions — not people, but designed to feel like one. Learn more →
How Nearness works
It's not just a call — it's a comforting, consistent presence. Set it up once, and Nearness takes care of the rest. No apps, no passwords, no tech hurdles for your loved one. Just the phone.
You set up a profile
Tell us about your loved one — their name, interests, daily routine, language, and how often they'd like a conversation.
Nearness calls them
At the scheduled time, Nearness rings their regular phone. No apps. No internet. Just a familiar, friendly voice.
A real conversation happens
Nearness greets them by name, asks about their day, shares a story, or revisits a topic from last time.
You stay in the loop
After each call, authorised family members can review a summary — mood, topics discussed, and anything worth noting.
It gets better over time
Nearness remembers every conversation, growing more personal and familiar with every call.
Always safe, always caring
Nearness never asks for personal or financial information. If distress is detected, family and emergency contacts are alerted.
Connection is
medicine.
As we age, connection becomes more than comfort — it becomes essential to health. In Australia, 1 in 5 older adults feel lonely on a regular basis, and up to 61% of aged care residents report chronic loneliness. These aren't just sad statistics. They carry real health consequences.
The good news? Regular social interaction — even a friendly phone call — is one of the most effective and accessible ways to protect cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and even physical health. That's exactly what Nearness does.
of Australians 60+ report feeling lonely — yet most never ask for help (National Academies, 2020)
increased risk of coronary heart disease in socially isolated older adults (National Academies, 2020)
annual cost of loneliness to the Australian economy (AIHW, 2023)
higher risk of death for heart failure patients who are lonely (National Academies, 2020)
We have a loneliness epidemic. I wish we could all look back on this time and say it was the turning point, that this was when we started treating human connection as the priority it deserves to be.
Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population.
In Australia, 1 in 4 people over 65 are socially isolated — and most will never tell their family. The gap between how connected older adults appear and how connected they feel is wider than most families realise.
One of the most consistent things we hear from families is that they didn't know how lonely their parent was until something went wrong. A regular, friendly call is often the earliest signal that something has changed.
Made for everyone
who cares.
Nearness supports older Australians, brings genuine peace of mind to families, and sits comfortably alongside the work of carers and aged care professionals. Australian owned, built with Australians in mind.
For Older Australians
- A friendly voice that calls regularly — just to chat, no agenda
- Eases loneliness, anxiety, and low mood through warm, genuine conversation
- Soft reminders for appointments and daily routines, woven naturally into the call
- Personalised to their name, interests, language, and cultural background
- Stimulates the mind and supports cognitive engagement over time
- Private and dignified — never intrusive, never monitoring
- Gives them something to look forward to — a regular, familiar call that becomes a highlight of the week
For Families & Carers
- Real peace of mind between visits — someone is genuinely checking in
- Call summaries and wellbeing notes accessible through a simple family dashboard
- Early signals — subtle mood or conversation changes flagged before they become problems
- Complements your relationship, not replaces it — regular check-ins are shown to increase family connection
- Leave a message for Nearness to pass on during the next call — a small thing that means a lot
- Personalised conversation topics so every call feels familiar and natural
For the Community
- An accessible solution to chronic loneliness in residential and home care settings
- Complements human care — works alongside families, support staff, and care workers
- Helps surface early signs of cognitive change or distress before they escalate
- Reduces pressure on healthcare systems by keeping older adults connected and well
- Supports culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia
- Simple to implement — no new devices, staff training, or infrastructure changes required
Your family's privacy
comes first.
Nearness is an Australian owned and operated service, thoughtfully built for older Australians and their families. Dignity, security, and simplicity aren't afterthoughts — they're baked into everything we do.
Safe and Secure
Nearness never asks for personal, financial, or sensitive information during a call. Full stop.
No Tech Skills Needed
No apps, no logins, no setup for your loved one. It's just a phone call — the one skill they already have.
Fully Customisable
Choose the voice, conversation topics, and how often calls happen. You're always in control.
Transparent for Families
Authorised family members can access call summaries and wellbeing notes — staying informed without hovering.
Australian Owned & Operated
Built in Australia, for Australians. We understand the culture, the context, and the communities we serve.
What Nearness will never do
Ask for money, bank details, or personal information during a call
Record calls for marketing, training, or third-party use
Share your loved one's data with advertisers, insurers, or third parties
Pretend to be human if sincerely asked — Lucy and James are AI companions, and we're transparent about that
Make medical diagnoses or give health, legal, or financial advice
Contact your loved one outside of scheduled calls — no unsolicited outreach, ever
*Free trial includes up to 10 calls.
Start a conversation
that matters.
Whether you're caring for a parent, supporting a client, or simply want peace of mind between visits — Nearness offers a warm, simple, Australian-made way to stay connected with the people you love.
Run a care, cleaning or services business?
When a worker is running late, off sick, or can’t make a visit, NAS automatically phones every affected client to let them know — in about 60 seconds, and every call is logged.