With a cell phone in every pocket, it’s hard to believe that just 30 years ago we were still pulling handsets off the wall—and in some cases, still attached with cords. We’ve come a long way even from those original Nokias and flip phones, with today’s mobile devices acting as true palm-sized computers that can do everything from playing games to helping with daily tasks and, yes, making phone calls.
There are hundreds of apps geared to the senior (age 55+) audience that can enhance daily life beyond the typical phone call. Here are a few of our favorite apps for seniors.
For medication management: Medisafe
According to the FDA, between 20 and 30 percent of new prescriptions are never filled at the pharmacy. Beyond that, 50 percent of the time, medication isn’t taken as prescribed. While that may not seem like a big deal to some, when life-preserving medications like blood pressure management and heart health come into play, adhering to a prescribed schedule is critical.
Medisafe aims to help, bringing dispensing and refill reminders right to the user’s palm, while offering a host of other helpful tools, including built-in medical provider communication and even connectivity for caregivers. This free app is available for both iPhone and Android devices.
Learn more at https://medisafeapp.com/.
For medical appointment notes and communication: Abridge
Particularly among an aging audience, the particulars learned at medical appointments are important. And no matter your age, remembering all the details, including follow-ups, medication instructions, and general care guidance can become a cumbersome amount of information. Abridge is a new app designed specifically to help patients remember the details of the care.
Patients can, with permission, securely record their conversations with their providers and even share those recordings with caregivers. The app also has built-in technology to track medications, including dosing guidance and safety information.
Download it from the app store, or visit https://www.abridge.com/ to learn more.
For everyday communication: WhatsApp
This messaging app can help seniors stay connected to friends and family—for free—from anywhere in the world, even if they have a limited-text mobile plan. Messages are encrypted for security purposes, and photo and video calling technologies are included.
Learn more at https://www.whatsapp.com/.
For everyday convenience: Magnifier Plus with Flashlight
Make every menu, book, and sign readable by turning your phone into a lit magnifying glass. There are numerous apps with this technology available on both iPhone and Android devices, but few include both the flashlight and magnifying capability, plus live view (versus taking photos and enlarging them) in one consolidated app.
For those reasons, this app from Digitalchemy, LLC is our top pick.
For fun: Woodoku
This free app runs on ad revenue, but is a quick addiction and worth the wait between rounds. This logic and spatial reasoning game offers daily and monthly challenges to constantly bring fresh content and puzzles to the user. It’s available for both iPhone and Android.
