More Helpful Apps for Caregivers 2017 - Scheduling & Medication

By Anna Hazard

View the Rest of the Series

Part 2 - More Helpful Apps for Caregivers 2017 (Monitoring & Meals)
Part 3 - More Helpful Apps for Caregivers 2017 (Stress Relief)

Introduction

Here is an update for 2017 to our previous Helpful Apps for Caregivers series featuring newly available or otherwise overlooked apps for Android & iOS smartphones. This particular article focuses on apps specifically designed to help with caregiving tasks, with maintaining medication schedules, as well as a few designed for general stress relief.
 
For more suggestions of previously popular apps for caregivers (including such classics as CareZone, CaringBridge, and Elder 911), please check out our articles from last year - Helpful Apps for Caregivers Part 1 & Part 2.

Apps

eCare21

• iOS | Android (Free)
• This app acts as a remote patient-monitoring system that uses smartphones, Fitbit, and Bluetooth to collect, compare, and analyze real-time info such as blood pressure, physical activity, glucose levels, medication intake, and weight. The information is compiled on a dashboard that can be viewed by those given proper access such as with doctor's, caregivers, and other loved ones.
  

Carely - Caregiving App for Families

• iOS | Android (Free)
• Build a communication circle of family & friends around a patient to make caregiving much simpler and a lot less stressful. Share pictures, questions, messages amongst your circle as well as plan, update & report findings during visits.
  

Caregivingapp CAREGIVER/RECIPIENT

• iOS: Caregiver | Android: Caregiver (Free)
• iOS Recipient | Android Recipient (Free)
• Set up & run a care network for a loved one using interactive calendars, journals, messaging systems, shopping lists, medication schedules & reminders, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and diet trackers. Family, friends, and caregivers download and sync the CAREGIVER version of the app to be notified of the recipient's needs & scheduling info for meals, transportation, shopping and other needs (or access details through an online website) to see & schedule the master calendar and group tasks. The recepient's app can also be monitored by medical supervisors and family physicians from participating hospitals, nursing agencies, or insurance companies.
  

Care3

• iOS | Android (Free)
  
• This app provides secure messaging, calendar, and task reminders to make organizing & sharing care tasks and launching a starter care plan between family, friends, and healthcare professionals as easy as sending a text.
  

Alzheimer's Caregiver Buddy

• iOS | Android (Free)
• This app provides instant tips and tricks for those caring for someone with memory loss, including support for daily life & routines, communication, and challenging behaviors associated with wandering, bathing, and meals. The Cargiver Buddy also remains connected to a 24 hour Alzheimer's hotline.
  

Medisafe Meds & Pill Reminder

• iOS | Android (Free)
  
• This app can be used by the patient themselves or by caregivers and physicians, whose devices can be synced in real time. It provides reminders for taking pills on time, for refilling medications, and also makes a prescription discount card & coupons available, as well as tracking other info such as blood pressure, glucose level, and weight
  

MyTherapy Meds & Pill Reminder

• iOS | Android (Free)
• This app acts as a powerful pill reminder, activity log & task reminder, as well as a comprehensive health journal, which allows the patient or caregivers (who can form a MyTherapy Team to collate info as a group) to track medication intake, symptoms & side effects, as well as other measurements such as blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose. Monthly progress reports can also be printed as PDF's to be viewed by family physicians and others.

Pacifica

• iOS | Android (Free with in App Purchases)
  
• This app provides 25+ relaxation & mindfulness meditation tools for deep breathing, muscle relaxation, positive visualization, and more. Includes a mood tracker, thought recording, journaling, & analysis, guided self help paths, as well as daily challenges and goal & health trackers. The user can also share stories, advice and more with Pacifica’s peer-support community.
  

Calm

• iOS | Android (Free with in App Subscription Services)
• This is a meditation app that can be used by beginners, intermediate, as well as advanced gurus. It includes guided meditation sessions from 3 to 25 minutes long, breathing programs, sleep stories, and 25+ soothing nature sounds.
  

AXS Map

• iOS | Android (Free)
• Find, research, and rate businesses that have accessible features such as ramps, accessible entrances, and accessible washrooms. Good for planning trips for senior loved ones with mobility issues.