There are some apps for seniors that can improve the lives of many seniors no matter where they are. With smartphone apps, you restaurant ratings/reviews, receive directions, send or receive last minute invitations to friends via messaging or social media platforms, hail a ride with the touch of a button, and -perhaps most importantly- get weather updates so you’re never caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella.
We use these apps so often that they have become a routine part of our lives. However, this can be more difficult for our senior relatives. They may be at a disadvantage nowadays since they were not raised with a lot of technology.
Elderly people may find the ever-growing presence of smartphone technology to be a little frightening, annoying, or overwhelming. However, technology has numerous ways to improve the daily lives of the elderly. One way we can help our senior loved ones is by downloading and helping them understand how to use certain beneficial apps.
The installation of a few essential apps for seniors on seniors’ mobile phones, whether they are Android or iPhones, can improve their well-being and health. In this short guide, we’ll go over our top 10 recommendations for applications for seniors and explain why they’re so beneficial to them.
1. Blood Pressure Monitor (iOS-compatible)
Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) affects around 30 to 50% of adults over 50 years old. The chance of developing further health issues like dementia, stroke, heart disease, and vision loss is higher for people with this condition. Therefore, blood pressure monitoring is crucial for diagnosing issues before they cause immense harm.
Blood pressure monitoring can be used by all older persons to measure and improve their well-being, not just those with hypertension. You can be on the lookout for a serious disease, lower your risk of falling, and keep track of recent prescription changes by monitoring your blood pressure every day.
The iOS-compatible blood pressure monitor app allows you to track and store your readings of blood pressure and weight over time. Not only does it offer statistics and health reminders, but you can also export data to your doctor for further analysis.
It is important to note that this software does not measure blood pressure itself. The data must be manually entered. You can get this Blood Pressure Monitor through the App Store for your iPhone and iPad. Similar apps are also available on Google Play for Android users.
2. Uber (available for iOS and Android)
For seniors, the inability to hop in their car and go wherever they want can be annoying. Many people were accustomed to enjoying the freedom of mobility in their youth. But as time passes, they lose the capacity to drive for a variety of reasons.
This can be caused by stiff joints and muscles, loss of hearing or vision, dementia, or a delayed reaction time. Certain medications they take may also impair their ability to drive. They still want to have as much mobility as they can despite these problems. And you may not always be there to transport them.
This is why seniors need an Uber app. This mobile app allows your loved one to effortlessly have a ride to the store whenever they want. Without your help, they can go to a friend’s park concert, play bridge on Saturday, or make a fast trip to the pharmacy.
Seniors may feel more autonomous and happier if they have access to this kind of freedom. They feel that they have more control over their daily routine and can plan their activities any way they choose.
Your senior relative can order a car from home and then order another once they arrive at their destination. The average wait time for an Uber might range from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on where you are. The Uber app is free, but depending on the length of the trip, the rides will charge your credit card in the app.
3. Amazon Kindle (compatible with Mac, PC, and Android)
Reading can prevent cognitive decline in seniors by keeping their minds active and engaged. Reading isn’t only a way to improve your mind and skills. It’s also proven to assist in stress management, sleep quality enhancement, and postpone the start of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, as well as other types of dementia.
You can read an unlimited number of books on Kindle from your iPad, computer, or phone. However, you don’t necessarily need to own a Kindle device. Seniors can also lose themselves in a John Steinbeck or Clive Cussler novel, or any number of literature that can assist them in understanding their health issues.
Breaking up the monotony of their day can be helped by seniors’ ability to immerse themselves in a different environment. Reading can likewise be a social activity. Get your loved one’s friends together and coordinate a book club. Kindle will make it simple for them to identify the exact material to dive into with their reader group.
Although you can use Kindle for both Android and iOS devices, Apple also has an app that offers similar features. Apple Books sells both digital books and audiobooks for your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod touch.
4. Skype (available for Android and iOS)
The importance of maintaining relationships with loved ones and friends among seniors cannot be overlooked. Isolation and depression frequently result in a negative health spiral that can occasionally result in early death. As a result, it is important for elders to maintain social connections.
With the advancement of modern technology, calling a friend or family member has become increasingly simple with various apps for seniors. Being able to see your loved one during a video call practically gives the impression that they are physically present.
Skype is the best way to stay in touch with family and friends. This app allows you to make HD video and audio calls on your smartphone or exchange messages via the Internet. It can also be used to call cell phones and landlines, not simply other app users. The computer versions of the Skype software allow you to read and respond to text messages from your phone.
While most functions of Skype are free, some do have a little cost. Calling cell phones or landlines in the United States, for example, is available through monthly subscriptions beginning at $2.99. International calls are also accessible, although at varying prices.
However, it is free as long as you are calling, messaging, or video chatting with other Skype users. There will be no more exorbitant charges for international and long-distance calls. You no longer have to wait for your granddaughter to return from her European backpacking trip. You can join in when she Skypes with you via video chat.
5. Lumosity (compatible with PC, iOS, and Android)
Perhaps you’ve witnessed your loved one’s forgetfulness increasing over time. As we age, our brains lose volume. When the brain sends messages, some neurons die, and the remaining ones slow down.
One way seniors can stay healthy as they age is by maintaining an active routine, eating balanced food, engaging in regular socializing, and engaging in mental exercises. Your brain, like any other physical bodily part, is a muscle that can be exercised.
Lumosity is a fantastic app that promotes brain training by offering hundreds of brain teasers and interesting puzzles. Not only is it fun, but playing brain games also has a multitude of benefits for a senior’s cognitive skillset, including improvements to your memory, mental flexibility. concentration, speed, and problem-solving abilities.
This useful program, which has both free and commercial editions, was inspired by the theory of neuroplasticity, which means that the brain is able to adapt and restructure itself – something that applies to people of all ages!
You can quickly tell the program the areas you want to improve, and it will offer a set of activities to engage those areas every day. If you keep with it, you will notice a significant improvement over time.
6. WebMD
The most common challenges that seniors face in their daily lives are health concerns. Every time a new symptom appears, your loved one may become anxious and fearful about what it might mean. He or she may be unable to make an immediate doctor’s appointment to discuss the symptom.
You don’t have to Google your symptoms and sift through pages of results anymore. You can quickly check your symptoms, learn about probable medical disorders, discover drug side effects, and locate doctors in your region with the help of the free WebMD app.
This app can also be used to set medication reminders. Many of the stresses that elders experience can be reduced by having medically reviewed the information at your fingertips.
The “Healthy Target” section of the WebMD app is another useful feature. This feature allows you to set food and activity goals and then provides actionable insights at the end of the week, depending on the data you provide.
Maintaining your health and fitness objectives is critical for any senior who desires a healthy lifestyle. The best part is that you can do it without a personal trainer. This is one of the most effective health apps available.
Never forget that everything you read on this app shouldn’t take the place of medical advice or diagnoses provided by your doctor. The WebMD app simply provides supplementary material that you can use to learn about and improve your health.
7. Pillboxie (only compatible with iOS)
The medications that your loved one takes help to keep them healthy and happy. They play an important role in the daily lives of senior citizens, making sure they function well in the face of a variety of conditions. At any given time, the average senior person has to take five or more prescription medications. This is why many apps for seniors are focusing on health.
Moreover, every nursing home resident takes in about 7 prescription medications. They are frequently intended to be taken at different times of the day, taken with meals or without. Most seniors find it challenging to keep track of their drug schedules. So, Pillboxie is what we’d like to suggest.
Did you know that the Pillboxie app can send you notifications to remind you when it’s time to take your medication? Color can be used to personalize your drugs. Because you can put your color-customized medication into a pillbox indicated with the matching time to take them, you can easily organize your calendar by visuals.
At the selected reminder time, the device will sound an alarm, and the user can simply check off the medication as they take it. Once the drug has been checked off, it will be marked in gray. For only $1.99, your elderly loved one can personalize the settings to include all their prescriptions and dosing times. Medication management apps are also available for Android, such as Medisafe, and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
8. LibriVox (available for Android and iOS)
If your loved one is a passionate reader but suffers from visual impairment, Librivox may be a good choice. He or she can listen to over 27,000 audiobooks on the LibriVox app. They can be viewed online or downloaded for later viewing. Every day, as the volunteer staff at LibriVox records new releases, there are fresh releases. Moreover, it is totally free!
Both fiction and nonfiction works of literature from throughout the world are available in the LibriVox catalog. You will find novels, biographies, histories, short stories, bestsellers from the past, poetry, and much more.
Users in the United States can also pay for an additional 75,000 audiobooks, including new releases and bestsellers. Another great option for individuals who enjoy listening to interesting programs is the NPR app. This app offers a variety of news, podcasts, music, humor, and tales.
9. Flashlight + Magnifying Glass (available for Android and iOS)
The elderly are prone to vision loss. Did you ever take a loved one out to their favorite restaurant and stared at the menu for some time before realizing they forgot their “readers”? They frequently can’t go anyplace without their trusty reading glasses. With the free Magnifying Glass + Flashlight software, you or a loved one may now have handy “readers” right on your phone.
This useful app not only magnifies small types and images for up to 5 times, it likewise illuminates them, making reading so much easier. It can also generate screenshots of things you magnify that can be useful for saving important information.
Your elderly loved one no longer has to struggle to see small prints on everything, including maps, contracts, restaurant menus, mailings, or keypads with this magnifier. Simply drag the screen slider on the phone’s camera over the appropriate text. The text will automatically light up and enlarge, making it easier for the visually challenged to read.
10. AARP (available on Android and iOS)
Seniors who are involved in their community, especially after retirement, find meaning and purpose in life. In today’s fast-paced environment, the elderly often feel a little left out. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), on the other hand, is all about the elderly community.
AARP not only advocates for the aged in areas such as social security and Medicare, but they also provide age-related news, local event listings, fantastic members-only privileges, and senior discounts.
Membership in AARP costs only $16 a year, and we believe it is well worth it if you take advantage of the other discounts available. However, both members and non-members can download the AARP app for free. Keep up with senior-related news to be informed about what’s going on in your senior community. You may also simply post relevant AARP news on your social media channels.
However, with a yearly subscription, you or a loved one can easily access additional perks on your phone. Get savings on everything from health insurance and drug bills to gas, technology, and vacation. Having the AARP app makes things extra simpler.
Bringing Your Loved One Into the Modern Age With Apps For Seniors
It can be difficult and even frustrating to introduce your loved one to these smartphone apps for the elderly at first. However, as they learn about the advantages of these beneficial apps for seniors, you will notice a smile develop across his or their face, which will provide you with much satisfaction.
Introducing apps for seniors into an elderly’s life and routine can feel like they’ve gained new superpowers. Your elderly loved one can now limitlessly read books, enhance their brain prowess with entertaining games, or even book a car to see their friends.
They can even manage prescriptions and learn about their symptoms, keep engaged with the elderly community, and, most importantly, remain in touch friends and relatives anywhere in the world using these amazing apps for seniors. With these apps, your loved one will be more independent and have fewer troubles. This will lead to you having better peace of mind.
