Does Independa sell my personal information?
No. Never. Period.

Does Independa share or rent my personal information?
No. Never without your knowledge and only to help as you with auto-filling your contact information during Partner registration processes. Period.

Can people read my messages or somehow see my videos?
No. Everything is encrypted from the TV straight to Independa, and to your party on the other side … and back.

How long does it take to set up my Independa system?
It’s a matter of minutes. On LG TVs, Independa comes with the TV, and the registration process on an app takes a few minutes. If installing an Independa AnyTV Companion™on a non-LG TV, this adds another 5-10 minutes to the process.

Can I set up the system myself?
If you’re comfortable setting up electronic equipment, such as an audio system, a TV, an AppleTV or Roku, etc, you can set up your Independa AnyTV Companion™. Otherwise, ask someone to do this for you. If on an LG TV, if you are comfortable registering with an Apple or Android mobile app, you’re good to go. Otherwise, again, a friend can register the TV for you.

Is there help during setup?
Yes, we have video of the entire setup process for our business partners. This is typically for the Independa AnyTV Companion™ setup, as there’s no guarantee each TV is an LG TV. There’s an “unboxing and setup” video that covers this simple process. Whoever is setting up the system can follow the easy steps. The system also comes with an easy to follow setup guide. For LG TVs, there’s no device setup and the screens on the mobile app step you through the simple process.

Do I need to get anything else for my Independa AnyTV Companion™ device setup?
No, your system comes with everything you need, including an HDMI cable and batteries for your Independa Simplified Remote. Even the velcro to put the chat cam on your TV is included.

For LG TVs, everything you need is already within the system, other than your video chat camera. You can purchase the camera of your choice from here and simply connect th camera to the TV’s USB port.

Do I need an internet connection for Independa to work?
Yes. Your LG TV needs to be connected to the internet, however way you would normally do this. If using the Independa AnyTV Companion™, you need to have a WiFi connection that is reachable where your TV is located, or an ethernet cable. This way, Independa connects to the Internet for connectivity and engagement.

Do I need to have a special kind of TV?
Your best, simplest and most cost effective option is to purchase an LG TV with Independa embedded inside. Currently, model years 2021 and later will have the Independa Health Hub™ Ecosystem included. LG is looking to deliver further backward compatibility in the future, but that has not been finalized yet.

For the Independa AnyTV Companion™, the only requirement for the TV is that it accepts HDMI and has at least one input available. TVs manufactured in the last 16+ years have HDMI built in, if you don’t have an LG 2021 TV or later, and if you’re not buying one, then you should be good with pretty much any TV you already have.

What if my non-LG TV has HDMI but I’m not using the input, and I’m using it only as a smart TV?
You can still use Independa. However, it’s best if there is some HDMI feed coming in, for example from a DVD player. This is only because when Independa is not running, the screen would not be black, which is what will happen if there’s no HDMI feed coming in.

This is a non-consideration if you have an LG TV from 2021 or later. Everything will work, not matter what external device is being used on the TV, or what service is being streamed, or what app is being used, or what game is being played!

What if I’m using Roku or Apple TV on my non-LG TV, will Independa still work?
Yes. However, it’s best if the feed from your HDMI cable is going into the Independa system. If you have two feeds, and you’re using a splitter, that’s great … you can have the output of that splitter go into Independa’s input. For example, the two feeds can be from Roku and a cable provider, both coming into the AnyTV Companion via one HDMI cable.

This is a non-consideration if you have an LG TV from 2021 or later. Everything will work, not matter what external device is being used on the TV, or what service is being streamed, or what app is being used, or what game is being played!

What if I’m using my TV only as a smartTV to watch Netflix or other streaming services?
On your non-LG TV, you can still use Independa, but you’d have to be on the HDMI input that Independa comes in on. Note that in this situation, Independa doesn’t interrupt the streaming services, since that service is not coming in through HDMI, but via an app on the TV. You can still back out of the app and enjoy Independa to do video chat, receive pictures and messages, check out calendar events, etc. But for reminders, they will not pop up on your TV if you’re on a streaming service, or if the TV is off of course. What will happen in these situations is, if you don’t respond to a reminder, you can choose to have it delivered on your phone as a backup, whether cellular or landline.

This is a non-consideration if you have an LG TV from 2021 or later. Everything will work, not matter what external device is being used on the TV, or what service is being streamed, or what app is being used, or what game is being played!

Can Amazon Alexa be connected?
Yes, for organizations. Not currently for individual consumer purchases. Organizations can contact us regarding available Alexa integration options for their Independa systems, if that is of interest.

How do I get support?
You can call (800) 815-7829 ext. 3, and we’ll connect you with our support team. Alternatively, you can send an email to support@independa.com” support@independa.com. We operate on Pacific time business hours, and if you leave a message, we’ll be getting back to you ASAP.

Can strangers market to me?
No!

Can strangers solicit me and want to become my friend like on Facebook?
Absolutely not!

Who can I video chat with?
Anyone that you or your loved ones set up for you. They can call you or you can call them right from your TV. No one else. You’re protected.

If using Independa Health Hub™ services that provide televisit benefits, for example, connecting to a doctor or dentist 24 / 7, these professionals can connect with you right on your TV, but of course only upon your request.

Who can send me pictures or messages?
ONLY the people you or your loved ones set up for you to do this. No one else. You’re protected.

Does everyone connecting to my TV also need to have a TV?
No. They can connect with your using their mobile Independa app. You can also log into the app if you like, if you have a smartphone and are comfortable adding and managing apps on it. Just search for “Independa caregiver” and download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

When a video call comes in, would the TV viewer be able to hear it/see the prompt?
Yes. The screen displays the incoming video chat request and who it is from, while playing a distinct ringing tone. The viewer is given an option to Accept or Decline the video chat request, just as they would to pick up a ringing phone, or not.

What are some of the benefits and key features of Independa?
Independa provides TV-based, easy to use features such that a loved one not comfortable with computers or tablets, with software updates and virus scans and passwords, with smaller screens and gesture-based navigation and battery charge issues, can use their very own simple TV to engage the world, without changing inputs, channels, jumping to an app on an app deck, or pretty much learning anything new. LG Electronics and Independa have teamed up to provide the benefits of the Independa Health Hub™ ecosystem of Healthy Offerings, right on LG TVs.

For organizations, such as senior living communities, homecare organizations, healthcare providers and insurers (population health, Medicare advantage, PACE programs, …) Independa takes a commodity appliance everyone knows how to use and turns it into a cost effective and user friendly bidirectional engagement window to the world with features like: Simplified Video Chat, Photo and Message Sharing, Med and General Calendar Reminders via a Personalized Calendar, Support for ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), a Care Journal, where family members and friends can exchange messages and questions about their loved one, Tracking of Health Vitals, Life Stories, to capture the loved ones memories, wisdom and experiences for decades and generations to come, while engaging them in this wonderful activity, and more!

For consumers on LG TVs, the Independa Health Hub™ is included. A wide range of FREE benefits come with this service, including Simplified Video Chat (just need to add a third party chat cam), photo sharing, message sharing, and overall app based remote engagement and care. Also included are a discount pharmacy savings card, for up to 90% saving on pharmacy prescriptions, and a TV streaming service that is dedicated to top content for older adults. Additional fee-based services are also available in all 50 states, conveniently and 24 / 7, such as televisits with doctors or dentists, medical grade health videos, exercise videos, and even a subscription-based dental discount plan. Many more services and benefits are being scheduled to be added to the Independa Health Hub, bringing convenience and access to a wide range of benefits, to your home TV screen!

What does Independa Life Stories™ Do?
For organizations, Life Stories allows family and friends to easily and conveniently record conversations on specific topics with their elderly loved one, thereby preserving memories that can be shared for years and generations to come. This is done whether in person, or via a telephone call – no TV interaction is necessary and the elderly loved one is not videoed. Independa provides a repository of topics and questions developed by our expert Elder Care Team to help guide Life Stories conversations with an elderly loved one. For example, conversations can cover how their loved one met their spouse, what it was like during the Great Depression, what was their favorite trip, how they felt when they purchased their first home, etc. These moments and topics are stored by Independa for convenience but are easily shareable with the entire family via email attachments.

Note that Independa Life Stories™ is currently not available on LG Consumer TVs.

What’s so special about Independa? Can’t I Zoom or Skype or set my Mom up on Facebook today?
Sure you can! But study after study shows that those tools and technologies are difficult for today’s generation of seniors to embrace. By embedding those capabilities in a television—something that everyone knows how to use—and by simplifying their use to a click or two with the remote control, without passwords or virus scans or tablets or application updates or …, Independa has brought technologies embraced by a tech-savvy generation into the homes and onto the TV screens of our elderly loved ones.

Also, the Independa Health Hub provide a one-stop shop of curated services and benefits, again right on the comfort and convenience of a large LG TV screen.

I’ve heard quite a bit about Independa being a “must have.” Surely that can’t be true?
It is true, especially now with COVID. Let’s face it, if you’re comfortable and fully engaged with the world using your computer or tablet, TV-based engagement is not for you. You just don’t need it. We built Independa to bring the world to those who are not as comfortable being connected to the outside world via computers and tablets. And there is some very compelling research data to support that this engagement is sorely, vitally needed, with or without. First and foremost, well over 90% of seniors say they “want to stay exactly where they are.” In order to make that a reality, a remote care program must be in place that fully supports the elements that are CRITICAL to maintaining health and well-being for this demographic. When those are not attended to, a downward pattern can emerge that includes self-neglect, loneliness, depression and even physical challenges and danger. It is estimated that the negative impact of loneliness and isolation in the elderly is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Independa makes it easy to maintain social engagement, which is vital especially today given the social distancing requirements from COVID, while also complying with important physical distancing requirements. Reminders and alerts make it easy to be sure to catch little things before they can turn into big problems. Frequent check-ins make it easy for family and friends to maintain peace of mind, to care, even when they can’t be there. Life Stories help care recipients “be heard” as well as provide a family with a rich oral history of their loved one for generations to come.

With Independa social engagement features included on EACH AND EVERY LG TV from 2021 forward, there’s simply no reason not to purchase and LG TV if you’re in the market for a TV, and no reason not to activate Independa for our benefits, as well as the benefits our partners bring, including those who include their services for free as well.

What is the difference between Independa and Angela?
Independa is a company. We make the software and device that turns any TV into an Independa-enabled TV (the Independa AnyTV Companion™ as well as, we’re embedded within ALL LG Consumer TVs purchased from 2021 going forward. “Angela” is the name we’ve given our friendly TV interface in the care recipient’s home. All are registered trademarks, trademarks and/or service marks of Independa, Inc. Other software components are the Independa Mobile App (iOS or Android).

Why is Independa even more important right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic?
We’ve all heard about the directives surrounding “social distancing”, quarantines, and “social isolation” for our elderly during COVID-19. What this has resulted is that even family and loved ones, out of CARING for their parents and grandparents and elderly friends, are not visiting these loved ones out of fear of exposing them to the coronavirus. So, we’ve further isolated the most isolated, the hardest to reach, and our most vulnerable population. This may well lead to loneliness and clinical depression for anyone, let alone an older adult with little human contact in general. Independa enables those with challenges or discomfort around computers or tablets to get SOCIALLY ENGAGED, which is vital now more than ever, while maintaining PHYSICAL SEPARATION, which is also vital now, unlike before. We hope we’ll be in a “post pandemic” era ASAP, and the value our Independa Health Hub brings to anyone in their home is above and beyond any COVID considerations.

What’s the Difference between the Independa AnyTV Companion™, and Independa through an LG TV?

The Independa AnyTV Companion™ is primarily used by organizations, for anyone who does not have an LG TV and needs to be provided remote engagement, education and care via their TV.

LG TVs come with Independa integrated, which also includes powerfully integrated withing the LG WebOS operation system, for notifications regardless of the programming or event on the TV. In this case, you will not need the Independa AnyTV Companion™. So, in summary:
• If you’re purchasing a new TV, make it an LG! Independa is then available and many social engagement features and other partner benefits are FREE when activating Independa on your LG TV. It’s a no brainer, really!
• If you have an LG TV from 2021 or later, you’re in luck. Same as above, simply activate your Independa service on it, and you’re good to go!
• If you don’t have an LG TV and you’re an organization looking to provide resident engagement (senior living communities), or in generate remote engagement, education and care (homecare, PACE, insurance company providing population health, hospitals with patient education requirements, Medicare Advantage plan, …), then you would use the Independa AnyTV Companion™ to connect your care recipients.

Can an LG TV be used by an organization to provide Independa Enterprise features?
Absolutely. LG Commercial TVs (leaders in hospital and hospitality TV markets) and LG Consumer TVs can both be used by organizations. If part of an organization’s rollout, the TV is provided an enterprise license registration code during the setup process, which allows for the TV to deliver organizational services and benefits and be centrally managed, versus tied to an individual’s account.

Where do you ship?
Free shipping is included within the contiguous 48 United States. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories or P.O. Boxes.