Whether you’re helping your elderly loved one with tasks like developing a care plan or managing medical information, it can be a hassle having to keep track of all the details, health information, providers and important documents manually. Luckily, numerous useful apps are currently on the market for family caregivers to download and access their senior’s information whenever they need to!
All mobile apps listed below are free from the App store and Google Play and accessible to both Apple and Android users. Also make sure to check out the most recent article on other great senior caregiving apps to help decide which platforms best suit your senior’s needs.
Apothewell
Apothewell is the perfect app when it comes to medication management. Caregivers are able to access a digital pill tracker for their loved one and help monitor what kind of medications they need right from their phone. This app is targeted for seniors who struggle to maintain a strict medication regimen, as it can become challenging to keep up with multiple medications, especially at an older age, which makes dangerous drug interactions possible. Apothewell has a system that incorporates four main aspects:
Pill case management
- Lists what medication(s) your loved one is taking
- Lists number of pills per dosage
- Displays where to fill medication in the digital pill box
Refill reminders
- Allows you to submit your on-hand count as the app continues to subtract how much you have left each time you take a dosage.
- Highlights in the app and sends you a reminder days before you will run out of a specific medication
Smart alerts
- Alerts users every 10 minutes after their scheduled medication time until their dose is marked as taken
- After the third notification, alerts the senior’s care providers as well in case they need to contact their senior loved one
Caregiver support
- Targets caregivers as core users for the app
- Allows caregivers to interact as their senior loved one through the app and manage their own medications
Ianacare
Ianacare allows caregivers and seniors to collaborate on plans, all in one app. Founded by a duo of caregivers, Ianacare is unique in recognizing the emotional and mental toll caregivers face when caring for older loved ones. Recognizing that each journey is different, this app is designed to help caregivers manage elderly care tasks while also providing access to support and caregiver resources. Ianacare integrates a few central aspects to assist caregivers:
Create a team of people and keep them updated
In the Ianacare app, your senior can add people to their private group, which can include:
- Care recipient
- Caregiver
- Organizer
- Supporters
Share and assign help requests
Asking for help with daily tasks may make your loved one feel like a burden at times. What makes this one of the best caregiver apps is that it allows seniors to request help among multiple people to lessen the load and prevent burnout among caretakers. These can include duties like:
- Meals and groceries
- Rides for appointments and other transportation needs
- Care for children and pets
- Typical everyday errands
WayWiser
Similar to other social media apps, in that it allows users to scroll through a feed of photos and events, WayWiser creates a sense of community and helps seniors maintain a feeling of independence as they can share their own updates throughout the day! WayWiser provides users with the following:
Connection in a trusted circle
Seniors are able to invite people to their private group, which can include close family members, caregivers and friends. This can give your elderly loved one the opportunity to stay sociable with a group of people they feel safe and comfortable around. Seniors can keep members looped in with:
- Editable notes
- Shared calendars
- Secure, private messaging
- Collaborative lists
Support and maintain financial independence
As a way to prevent financial exploitation, WayWiser can keep track of your bank account(s) and alert you each time a transaction is made so each person in your trusted circle can view it. This can help loved ones and caregivers keep track of their seniors’ finances and guard access from unauthorized users. This can be especially important if you are an Alzheimer’s or dementia caregiver, as giving money away is one of the behaviors associated with these conditions.
Ready Set Care
ReadySetCare is dedicated to helping caregivers across the nation create a guide for their goals and caregiving necessities as they work alongside their elderly loved one. The app provides advice and resources curated to your specific senior care needs, which can include:
- Personalized care maps
- Care journal
- Local benefits
- Expert advice
- Self-care assessment
- Medication reminders/tracking
- Cost-of-care comparison
- Care community
As a way to provide quick, professional care, ReadySetCare has partnered with the National Council on Aging, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health and quality of life among older adults. In addition to partnerships, the app also includes a team of more than 12 geriatric experts who are able to answer caregiver questions surrounding a variety of topics, such as senior housing, home care, finances, nutrition and even hospice care.
CareVirtue
Similar to WayWiser, CareVirtue operates as a centralized hub to document and share information on your senior loved one. The app is designed for caregivers to update family and friends on their senior’s daily life and any upcoming events. Compatible for both desktop and mobile phones, CareVirtue has a simple layout broken into several tabs including:
- Dashboard
- Journal
- Care guide
- Calendar
- Care team
- Resources
This free app allows caregivers to create a personalized care guide for their older adult so members can view a detailed list of the older adult’s interests and abilities. This chart consists of:
- Activities of daily life
- Food and drink
- Grooming and comfort
- Music and TV
- Biography
- Hobbies and more
Whether you‘re a professional caregiver or helping out your aging parents with their health care needs, juggling the responsibilities of running to the next doctor appointment, managing meds and trying to keep your loved one in a state of overall wellness is a lot for any person to handle.
These smartphone apps can help give family caregivers peace of mind at any stage of the caregiving journey.
