AI WORLD HQSet up named medication reminders with Alexa+ for yourself or an older relative
Use Alexa+ to create personal reminders like 'remind Mom to take her blood pressure pill at 8 a.m.' — so the right person hears the right nudge.
In short: Alexa+ (Amazon's upgraded voice assistant, on Echo devices and the Alexa app) can speak reminders to a specific person by name, on a daily schedule, at a specific time of day. It's not a medical device, and it won't replace pillboxes or a caregiver — but it's a useful extra nudge, especially for older relatives who live alone.
Alexa+ is the newer version of Amazon's Alexa assistant that runs on Echo speakers and Echo Show screens. The "named reminder" feature is the part you care about here: you can tell it who the reminder is for, and Alexa+ speaks the right words when that person is nearby. This guide walks you through it on both the Alexa app and an Echo device, for yourself or for a parent or grandparent.
💡 Tip: tap a step’s number when you finish it — a green tick appears and your browser remembers how far you got.
- An Amazon account. Free to create at amazon.com if you don't already have one.
- The Alexa app on a phone or tablet (free on the App Store and Google Play), OR an Echo device like an Echo Dot, Echo Show, or Echo Spot. At least one of these two — the app, an Echo, or both — is enough.
- The person receiving the reminders needs to be set up in Alexa+ as a named voice profile (Alexa+ can learn to recognize a specific voice, then call that person by name). Setup takes about 5 minutes the first time.
- About 10 minutes total for this guide. After that, reminders run themselves.
- One honest limit up front: Alexa+ speaks reminders when it hears the wake word ("Alexa"), and it works best when the Echo is in the same room as the person who needs to hear it. If your relative is hard of hearing, an Echo Show with a screen is the better pick — the reminder also pops up as text.
Open the Alexa app and sign in
Tap the Alexa app icon on your phone — it's a blue speech-bubble with a white ring around it. The home screen slides up, showing your devices and recent activity. If you're asked to sign in, type the email and password tied to your Amazon account.
If it looks different: if you don't see the app on your home screen, search "Alexa" in your App Store or Play Store and install it. If the home screen shows a different layout (Amazon updates this often), look for a person icon or "More" tab in the bottom-right corner — settings live there.
You'll know it worked when your first name appears in the top-left corner of the home screen, and you can see a list of your Echo devices under a heading like "Devices."
Create a Voice ID for the person who needs reminders
Tap the More tab (or three-line ☰ menu), then choose Settings → Your Profile → Voice ID. Tap "Create voice ID" and follow the prompts. The app asks the other person to repeat five short phrases out loud, like "Alexa, play music" and "Alexa, what's the weather?" — they don't need to be perfect. When training finishes, Alexa+ knows that voice.
If it looks different: some screens say "Recognize your voice" instead of "Voice ID" — both lead to the same setup. On older Alexa (not Alexa+), the option may be under Settings → Alexa Account → Recognized Voices.
You'll know it worked when the app says "Voice ID created for [name]" and you can now set reminders addressed to that person.
Create a named medication reminder in the app
Still in the Alexa app, go to More → Reminders & Alarms → Add Reminder (or tap the + button on the Reminders screen). Type the reminder, choose the date and time, then look for a field labeled "To" or "Announce to". Pick the person you just trained — by name, not "everyone." Save it.
If it looks different: the wording shifts often. On some screens you'll find Routines instead — that's fine, a Routine can do the same thing plus more. Also: many Echo Show devices have a touchscreen, and you can create reminders right there: swipe down from the top of the screen, tap Settings → Reminders → New Reminder. Same idea, different buttons.
You'll know it worked when the reminder appears in your Reminders list with the person's name attached, and the app confirms "Reminder set."
Test it on the Echo, out loud
Walk over to the Echo device in the room where your relative spends the most time — usually the kitchen or living room. Say clearly: "Alexa, set a reminder for Mom at 8 a.m. every day to take her blood pressure pill." The light ring on top of the Echo spins blue while Alexa+ thinks, then it speaks back: "Okay, I'll remind Mom every day at 8 a.m. to take her blood pressure pill."
If it looks different: on an Echo Show (the one with the screen), the same words work, but you'll also see the reminder pop up as text on the display. If your Echo doesn't seem to hear you, try saying the wake word first ("Alexa…") before your sentence, and speak a little louder than normal — older microphones prefer a clear voice.
You'll know it worked when Alexa+ repeats your exact request back to you out loud. That verbal confirmation is your success check.
Listen for it the next day, and tweak the time
The next morning at the set time, stand a few feet from the Echo and listen. Alexa+ should say something like: "Mom, here's your reminder: take your blood pressure pill." That name in front is the whole point — it's what tells you who's meant to hear it. If 8 a.m. turns out to be the wrong moment (maybe your relative is still asleep), delete the reminder and recreate it: "Alexa, delete my reminder for Mom." Then create a new one at a better time.
If it looks different: if you don't hear anything at the scheduled time, check that the Echo is plugged in, not muted (a red ring around the top means it's muted — press the mute button on top to unmute). Also, reminders won't fire if the Echo has been unplugged or lost Wi-Fi, so make sure the ring glows blue at the set time.
You'll know it worked when you hear the person's name spoken out loud at the exact time you set, in the room where the Echo lives.
Add a backup: a repeat chime or visual cue on Echo Show
For an extra layer, especially with someone who doesn't always hear well, pair the reminder with a Routine that also plays a chime or shows a notification. In the app, go to More → Routines → + and set it to trigger at the same time as the reminder. Under "Add action," pick Sounds → Play chime, or for Echo Show, Announcements → Display a message. Save and turn it on.
If it looks different: if the Echo is an older model without a screen, skip this step — the spoken reminder on its own is enough. You can also buy a smart plug and have Alexa+ flash a lamp when the reminder goes off, but that's optional.
You'll know it worked when at 8 a.m. you hear both Alexa+'s spoken reminder and the chime — two ways to catch your relative's attention.
- Forgetting to assign the reminder to a person. Without a name, Alexa+ says "you have a reminder" — which is useless if your relative isn't sure the message is for them. Always set the "To" field to the specific person.
- Setting the time too early. If your relative sleeps until 9 a.m., an 8 a.m. reminder just becomes background noise. Test for a few days and shift the time forward — voice reminders are easy to delete and recreate.
- Relying on a single Echo device in a quiet corner. The reminder only works in the room where the Echo sits, and only when it's plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. For someone who's often in the kitchen or bathroom, place the Echo where the morning routine happens, not in a bedroom down the hall.
- Treating Alexa+ as a medical device. It's a friendly nudge, not a guarantee. Always keep using a labeled pillbox, and never skip human check-ins because "the Echo will remind them."
Set one reminder today. Walk to the nearest Echo and say out loud, plainly: "Alexa, set a reminder for me every morning at 8 a.m. to take my vitamin." That's it — one sentence, zero app menus. Tomorrow morning, Alexa+ will speak your name back to you, and you'll know the whole system works. From there, you can add a named reminder for your relative whenever you're ready.
❓ Quick questions
How long does this take?
About 6 minutes — the guide has 6 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.
Which tool do I need?
This guide uses Amazon Alexa+ — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.
Do I need to prepare anything?
- An Amazon account. Free to create at amazon.com if you don't already have one.
- The Alexa app on a phone or tablet (free on the App Store and Google Play), OR an Echo device like an Echo Dot, Echo Show, or Echo Spot. At least one of these two — the app, an Echo, or both — is enough.
- The person receiving the reminders needs to be set up in Alexa+ as a named voice profile (Alexa+ can learn to recognize a specific voice, then call that person by name). Setup takes about 5 minutes the first time.
- About 10 minutes total for this guide. After that, reminders run themselves.
- One honest limit up front: Alexa+ speaks reminders when it hears the wake word ("Alexa"), and it works best when the Echo is in the same room as the person who needs to hear it. If your relative is hard of hearing, an Echo Show with a screen is the better pick — the reminder also pops up as text.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Forgetting to assign the reminder to a person. Without a name, Alexa+ says "you have a reminder" — which is useless if your relative isn't sure the message is for them. Always set the "To" field to the specific person.
- Setting the time too early. If your relative sleeps until 9 a.m., an 8 a.m. reminder just becomes background noise. Test for a few days and shift the time forward — voice reminders are easy to delete and recreate.
- Relying on a single Echo device in a quiet corner. The reminder only works in the room where the Echo sits, and only when it's plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. For someone who's often in the kitchen or bathroom, place the Echo where the morning routine happens, not in a bedroom down the hall.
- Treating Alexa+ as a medical device. It's a friendly nudge, not a guarantee. Always keep using a labeled pillbox, and never skip human check-ins because "the Echo will remind them."
Keep reading
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
← Back to all stories