Phones and other electronic devices can be invaluable in assisting us with a variety of tasks as we age. They can be used for almost everything nowadays, and the following apps could make your life a little easier if you need it.
Lumosity
Free
Available on iPhone and Android
With many age-related battles, it’s important to stay mentally active. This brain training app serves to increase focus, memory and recall. It provides daily exercises for your brain in the form of games and adapts to your strengths and weaknesses, so you can make the most out of your mind training. Lumosity also includes a progress tracking chart so you can see how you have improved over time.
Be My Eyes
Free
Available on iPhone and Android
If you have low visibility or are blind, this app connects you with a community of volunteers and representatives who can lend their eyesight and support to you. Volunteers answer your calls day and night, and speak more than 185 languages. They can help you read small print, identify colours, solve technological problems, set up appliances, and any other simple task you may struggle with day-to-day.
Pillboxie
£1.99
Available on iPhone
It can be difficult to organise and remember medications. The Pillboxie app is an easy way to remember when to take your pills. You can visually manage your meds and schedule reminders by dropping a pill into your designated pillbox on the screen. Once your virtual pillbox is set up, the app will know when and what you are supposed to take each day - and remind you. You can customise the appearance of each pill so you know what it is.
Find My iPhone
Free
Available on iPhone
As the name suggests, this app is a phone locator. If you lose your phone, or if it’s stolen, the Find My iPhone app allows you to remotely lock your device to keep your data safe from prying eyes. You can also erase the device completely to eliminate any content, as well as display messages on the front screen and play sounds.
Blood Pressure Monitor
Free
Available on iPhone and Android
Many older people need to monitor their blood pressure. This app allows you to keep track of your blood pressure by entering data into your phone, and following the statistics over a number of days or weeks to see how it is going. The app also measures other vital statistics like weight loss or gain. You can easily share your findings with your doctor by showing them the progress on your phone.
Google Home / Amazon Alexa
Free
Available on iPhone and Android
These apps (Google Home for Android; Amazon Alexa for iPhone) allow you to control your smart devices from anywhere in your home. You can play music, listen to podcasts and the radio, call people, place online orders, and much more. This is helpful for providing company, as well as completing multiple tasks in a very simple way.
Scrabble
Free
Available on iPhone and Android
The popular word game is available to download on most smartphones and tablets. You can compete virtually against the computer, with loved ones, or with others from around the world, whilst also sharpening your vocabulary. Scrabble forces the brain to learn and recollect coherent words, so it is a great brain training activity to keep your communication skills working at their best.
Simple Social
Free
Available on Android
This app is designed to create a simpler, less cluttered and more enjoyable viewing experience on social media. Facebook is usually packed with posts and pictures that aren’t always relevant or coherent. The Simple Social app creates a clearer version of the Facebook app to allow users to browse, uninterrupted by the difficult interface. It also reduces the amount of battery power the normal version uses up.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly phone to download these apps onto, you can check out our blog post on the best phones for seniors, and browse our simple SIM only deals on our website.
