Smartphones have dominated the digital landscape for nearly two decades. There are more than 6 billion users in the world. And what would smartphones be without apps? We use them to chat, shop, eat, and everything in between.
Worldwide, apps are downloaded 255 billion times per year, with each person using about 10 per day. Apps give us access to useful tools, resources, and social outlets.
While 18-24 year-olds are the most common users, there is something for everyone, including older adults. Today, we’ll look at 7 essential apps that can enhance health and wellness for seniors.
1. Medisafe
Medisafe helps people manage their medications and track their overall health.
Features:
- Customizable medication reminders with alarms and notifications
- Medication history tracking with a logbook that can be shared with healthcare providers
- Doctor’s appointment and prescription refill reminders
- Ability to track health indicators like weight and blood pressure
- Caregiver access for family members to track and support medication routines
- Pharmacy discounts and drugstore coupons
2. Lumosity
Lumosity offers research-backed brain-training games designed to boost cognitive skills like memory, problem-solving and response time.
Features:
- More than 40 challenging games to exercise memory, attention, problem-solving, and critical thinking
- Personalized training programs tailored to individual abilities and goals
- Progress tracking and performance details for motivation and improvement
- Information about personal thinking style based on game results
3. Senior Safety Phone
Senior Safety Phone is an easy-to-use, simplified phone app that provides a secure, accessible experience for seniors.
Features:
- Large, easy-to-read buttons, and a dark mode to reduce eye strain
- Emergency button with automatic location sharing and GPS
- One-touch video calls for staying connected with family and friends
- Favorite contacts saved to the home screen
- Simple settings for volume, font size, and screen brightness
4. Magnifying Glass + Flashlight
This app turns smartphones into a convenient magnifying glass on the go.
Features:
- High-resolution magnification for reading fine print, pill bottles, menus, etc.
- Adjustable brightness and contrast levels
- Bright flashlight for enhanced visibility
- Snapshot feature to capture and examine images closely
- Zoom in/out functionality for different vision needs
5. AARP Now
AARP is one of the largest advocacy organizations for people over 50. With the app, all the great benefits can be accessed from anywhere.
Features:
- Exclusive member offers, discounts, and deals from various retailers
- Access to a digital membership card
- News updates, relevant stories and on-demand content like videos and educational info
- Info about local events, workshops, seminars, and activities
- Retirement calculators and financial planning tools
6. Instant Heart Rate
The award-winning, Stanford-approved Instant Heart Rate app is the top rated phone-based heart monitor in the US.
Features:
- Reliable heart rate measurements taken with the phone’s camera lens in 10 seconds
- Measures heart rate zones during exercise and physical activity
- Tracks heart rate trends over time
- Shows heart beats in real time with PPG graphs (similar to an EKG)
- Easy integration with other fitness app
7. Sensalus
Sensalus is a fitness app for seniors that also promotes good sleep hygiene, stress management and mindfulness.
Features:
- Hundreds of exercises for all skill levels, created by fitness professionals
- Nutritional advice and healthy recipes
- Meditation classes and resources for improving sleep quality
- Personalized fitness plans and mindfulness sessions
Apps provide many benefits for seniors. Embracing technology (mindfully) can boost well-being, promote independence, and support an enriched lifestyle.
Sources
https://buildfire.com/app-statistics/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/271644/worldwide-free-and-paid-mobile-app-store-downloads
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333429/google-play-store-apps-age-distribution-by-category/