We don’t commonly associate seniors with technology but there are many great ways to use technology to make seniors lives easier. Although learning how to use certain types of technology and electronic devices can be challenging, there are many useful apps that can help. In this article, we explore some of the best apps for seniors and the family who cares for them. These apps provide benefits for healthcare, securely storing legal information, and a way to keep track of your parents, especially if they suffer from dementia or Alzheimers.
The Best Apps for Seniors
The following apps can be found on Google Play or the App Store and downloaded directly to your, or your parent’s, phone.
- EyeReader—EyeReader is a useful app for those times when your magnifying glass gets left behind. Hold your iPhone over a book or magazine and the text is magnified on your phone’s screen.
- ePlan365 – This proprietary platform offered by Frame & Frame, to estate planning clients, provides an easy way to store important healthcare information and legal documents. Information can be accessed by anyone you choose, from a mobile phone, for the scenarios you decide. The app also stores healthcare directives and powers of attorneys and complies with the highest levels of security available.
- Pillboxie—Remembering to take pills can be a challenge. Recalling the dosages of a dozen or more pills at different times throughout the day can be daunting. This may be why the World Health Organization has found that only half of patients in developed countries adhere to their treatment regimens, according to imedicalapps. Here is an app that provides a visual reminder of which pills to take and when.
- Tile—The average American spends 2.5 days, or 60 full hours, searching for lost items every year, according to PR News Wire. Seniors are likely to spend even more days per year searching for misplaced keys, wallets, and other items. With the Tile, you can hang a tile on anything you want to find quickly and the app can help you keep track of small or large objects.
- Find My iPhone—Another app for keeping tabs on your phone is Find My iPhone. Calling your lost phone using another phone does not work if the volume is off or too low or if it is tucked away in a place far from where you are calling.
- Life360 – another great app to locate your parents in a moment’s notice. You can also set perimeter zones so that if your parent wanders outside the designated zone, you will receive an alert.
- Red Panic Button—This app sends an emergency message to your contacts when you push the button on your phone. It is a great safety measure for seniors who have health complications, poor balance or forgetful.
- WebMD—Staying informed about your personal health is one of the best ways to keep healthy and make the right decisions. WebMD is a great app for learning about various medical conditions. It can help empower you to understand treatment options that you can discuss with your doctor or that your doctor has recommended.
Other Important Considerations for Seniors
While there’s an app to solve almost any challenge, some problems are more complex. A senior that has been diagnosed with a serious illness, such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, or dementia is going to need long-term care and assistance. The family will need guidance with determining how to pay for long term care and reduce the burden on the spouse or primary caregiver. In addition, the associated costs for long-term care can present significant challenges. However, many of these issues can be planned for, in advance, allowing the family to spend quality time with the senior who requires care. Download the Free Guide to Long Term Care for more information.
The Maryland Elder Law Attorneys at Frame & Frame Can Help
The elder law attorneys at Frame & Frame can help you with a variety of other challenges and solutions, that seniors and their families should address such as Medicaid planning, guardianships, and much more. Call or click to schedule a free phone consultation with a Maryland elder law attorney.