Living independently
You manage your own life, but an extra hand with reminders, errands, technology or routine tasks would make things easier.
Trusted, non-medical companionship & everyday support
A trusted presence for everyday life.
Shepherd offers consistent companionship and practical everyday support—from reminders and appointments to errands, technology help, planning and simply having someone there.
Online support across Canada · Public-place companionship in Metro Vancouver when appropriate · Non-medical · Not an emergency service
Temporary imageHuman support, without the institutional feel.Replace with authentic lifestyle photography when available.
Who Shepherd is for
Sometimes life is easier with one more reliable person in your corner.
Shepherd is built around the individual, not a narrow label. You may be looking for support for yourself, for someone you care about, or for a person in your community.
Far from family
Your family cares, but they cannot always be nearby. A consistent local presence can help close the practical gap.
New to a city or community
You could use a trusted local person while getting oriented, handling everyday logistics or building community connection.
In a busy season of life
Appointments, follow-ups, research and everyday tasks can pile up. Shepherd can help make the load more manageable.
Why people use Shepherd
Support for the small things that can quietly become a lot.
We begin with what would make everyday life feel easier or more connected. Then we agree on a simple, appropriate rhythm of support.
01“I could use someone consistent to check in.”
Regular conversation and scheduled check-ins can add continuity without turning independent life into formal care.
02“I keep meaning to take care of these little things.”
Shepherd can help with reminders, ordinary planning, research, technology, errands and follow-through on agreed everyday tasks.
03“I’d like more connection outside the house.”
When appropriate, public-place walks, coffee, community activities and practical outings can make everyday life feel more connected.
How Shepherd helps
Companionship, organization and practical support—without pretending to be something clinical.
Every arrangement is shaped around the participant’s wishes, consent, fit and availability. Shepherd is scheduled support, not unlimited access or emergency response.
Companionship & check-ins
Conversation, regular check-ins and a familiar person who can build continuity over time.
Reminders & organization
Support keeping track of appointments, important dates, agreed routines, follow-ups and everyday to-dos.
Planning & research
Help comparing options, organizing information, planning errands or preparing for ordinary appointments.
Technology help
Patient help with everyday devices, apps and online tasks, without turning a small tech problem into a big ordeal.
Everyday practical help
Appropriate support with errands, shopping, simple logistics and public-place activities within the agreed scope.
Family & community coordination
Permission-based communication with approved family members or referral partners while respecting the participant’s autonomy and privacy.
An important use case
When family can’t be there, we can.
Distance should not mean doing everything alone. For families who live in another city or country, Shepherd can provide a trusted local presence while keeping the person receiving support at the center of every decision.
Consistent local presenceA familiar person whenever practical—not a revolving door of strangers.
Permission-based updatesFamily communication follows the participant’s agreed privacy boundaries.
Support without replacing familyShepherd adds a practical layer of help while preserving independence and existing relationships.
How trust is built
Kindness matters. A trustworthy system matters too.
Shepherd is designed around clear expectations, participant choice, consistent relationships and boundaries that protect everyone involved.
Carefully screened
People serving as Shepherds are expected to complete identity, background and reference checks before providing support.
Clear boundaries
Non-medical scope, confidentiality expectations, public-place meeting rules and defined responsibilities are explained before service begins.
Consistent relationships
We aim for a Primary Shepherd whenever practical so the relationship can build continuity instead of starting over each time.
Permission-based communication
The participant controls what may be shared with family or referral partners, except where law permits or requires disclosure.
Practical, sustainable support
We agree on a realistic rhythm and review whether the arrangement remains helpful, appropriate and sustainable over time.
Simple ways to begin
Start where the level of support makes sense.
You may begin with the First Month or join Membership directly. Additional Support is reserved for participants who have completed onboarding so that fit, consent and boundaries are already clear.
First Month
$399 CAD
A careful first month to understand the participant, agree on a practical support plan and establish a trusted working relationship.
- First month of Membership
- Intake and support planning
- A Primary Shepherd whenever practical
- Priority scheduling
- Permission-based updates and coordination
- 4 hours of eligible support, online or at an agreed appropriate location
No automatic renewal. After the First Month, the participant must explicitly agree before recurring Membership begins.
Tell Us What Would HelpOngoing Membership
$79/ month
A light, dependable relationship for regular connection, reminders and a trusted place to start.
- One scheduled monthly check-in
- Reminders and light coordination
- A trusted point of contact
- Priority access, subject to fit and availability
- Permission-based updates when requested
- Member pricing for Additional Support after onboarding
Membership does not include in-person support hours. A participant who joins Membership directly must complete onboarding before purchasing Additional Support.
Ask About MembershipAdditional Support
$65/ hour
Flexible extra time for an onboarded participant who needs more than the Membership check-in.
- Online support or agreed support at an appropriate location
- Time begins when the Shepherd arrives at the agreed location
- Normal-area travel time is not billed
- No minimum duration
- Subject to fit, scope, scheduling and availability
Available only after Shepherd onboarding has been completed; a direct Membership purchase alone does not unlock hourly support.
Ask About Additional SupportPrices are in CAD for the current pilot. Eligible settings may include online, cafés, parks, community locations, offices and appointment locations. Services do not include private residences, personal care, driving or transportation, control of funds, emergency response or clinical care.
Clear support. Clear boundaries.
Trust depends on knowing exactly what Shepherd is—and what it isn’t.
Shepherd can support everyday life, companionship, organization and connection. It is not a substitute for medical, mental-health, emergency, legal or financial professionals.
Shepherd can support
- Scheduled companionship and appropriate check-ins
- Everyday reminders, organization and agreed follow-through
- Public-place walks, coffee and community activities when appropriate
- Errands, shopping and simple practical help within scope
- Technology help, ordinary research and price comparison
- Appointment preparation and permission-based coordination without medical judgment
Shepherd does not provide
- Nursing, medical care, medication management or clinical supervision
- Psychotherapy, counselling, diagnosis, crisis intervention or professional life coaching
- Emergency response, 24/7 monitoring or guaranteed immediate availability
- Transportation or rides in a Shepherd’s personal vehicle
- In-home caregiving, personal care or access to private residences as part of the standard service
- Financial management, legal representation or signing documents for a participant
Need urgent help?Shepherd is not a crisis or emergency service. Use the appropriate emergency or crisis service for your location if immediate help is needed.
Founder photoZachry XiongTemporary placeholder
Why Shepherd exists
I started with one simple idea: everyday life is easier when there is someone reliable to call on.
Living far from my own parents made the need especially clear to me. But distance between family members is only one version of the problem. People can need companionship, reminders, practical help or a steady local presence for many different reasons.
I created Shepherd to offer something intentionally simple: consistent human presence, practical everyday support, clear boundaries and respect for the person receiving help.
Shepherd is not here to take over someone’s life or turn ordinary challenges into clinical care. It is here to make everyday life feel a little more manageable and a little less alone.
Zachry XiongFounder, Shepherd Family Connect
For community & referral partners
A careful way to connect someone with support.
Churches, community organizations and other trusted partners may introduce or sponsor an eligible adult. Referral never replaces the participant’s own informed consent, and payment never gives a third party automatic access to private information.
Privacy by restraint
We collect less because trust deserves care.
Shepherd is designed to avoid collecting unnecessary sensitive information. Family or referral updates are permission-based, and our website should not be used to submit medical records, crisis disclosures or other highly sensitive information.
Read the complete Privacy Policy →Minimum necessary recordsContact, scheduling, consent, payment, required safety incidents and legally required records.
Participant-controlled sharingNo routine family or referral updates without the participant’s express permission, except where law permits or requires disclosure.
Clear legal documentsService terms, consent and safety expectations are available before a paid arrangement begins.
A first conversation
Tell us what would help.
You do not need to fit a category or know exactly what service you need. Describe what would make everyday life easier, and we’ll explain whether Shepherd may be an appropriate fit.
contact@shepherdfamilyconnect.com