Helpful Apps for Seniors - Part 1

By Anna Hazard

Smartphone apps are not just for kids and the technologically savvy & hip these days. With more than 50% of those over age 50 in the USA now having their own smart phones, software programmers have started widening their target audience from just the younger generations.
 
In particular, these apps -- or similar ones -- may be helpful or convenient for you or your elderly loved ones when it comes to Android or iOS smartphones.

Medisafe : Medication Reminder, Prescription, and Pill Organizer

• iOS | Android (Free)
• Exactly what it says on the tin, an app to easily keep track of prescriptions, reminders for taking medicine & doctors appointments, as well as drug interaction info
  

GoodRx

• iOS | Android (Free)
• Shows the lowest price available from various pharmacies both nationwide & local as well as pharmacy times,  locations,  drug interactions, as well as providing coupons for further savings

GetmyRex : Pharmacy on Demand

• iOS | Android (Free)
• Only currently available in certain zipcodes within 35 of the USA states, this app will allow you to schedule & receive up to same day delivery of your medicine by scanning in your prescription

WebMD

• iOS | Android (Free)
  
• A compendium of first aid essentials, symptom checke, basic drug & treatment info, as well as local health listings all in the palm of your hand
  

Mint: Money Manager, Budget & Personal Finance

• iOS | Android (Free)
  
• A combined financial assistance app for tracking your spending, creating budgets, as well as receiving bill reminders for when payments are due

Dragon Dictation [iOS] | Dragon Mobile Assistent [Android]  (Free)

• For those whose fingers aren't quite nimble enough to easily type on a smartphone, there are speech-to-text recognition apps such as the Dragon app line by Nuance. Dictate text messages & e-mails, set reminders & notes to yourself, and interact with social network apps like Facebook or Twitter.
  

Kindle

• iOS | Android (Free - With in-app purchases available for some media)
  
• For those without the standalone Kindle device, this e-reader app has many accessibility features for those with vision problems and includes access to a multitude of e-books, newspapers, magazines, and other digital media (both free and for purchase)
  

Audiobooks from Audible

• iOS | Android (Free - With in-app purchases available for some media)
  
• For those with poor vision or who simply enjoying listening to  stories over reading them.  Keep in mind that the available e-library for audio books isn't as large as the text based library found on Kindle.
  

Pandora Radio

• iOS | Android (Free - With in-app purchases available)
  
• A music app that allows you to search and listen to any artist, band, or song along with creating streams of other similar songs in related genres. Great for listening to the golden oldies or other favorites from your youth or times gone past. Pandora reportedly has 82% of its user base being age 50 or older.

Luminosity Brain Trainer

•  iOS | Android (Free - With in-app purchases available)
  
• Combines 35 daily training sessions with 7 different brain games designed to enhance your various cognitive abilities including memory,  processing speed, attention, flexibility, and problem solving.
  

Read the second part of this series HERE.