Managing your daily life as a senior can be complicated, with potentially multiple medications, appointments, and reminders to juggle. Thankfully, one of the best tools for managing updates and information may already be in your pocket. Smartphones provide an easy, accessible way to keep your older loved ones safe and healthy.
Smartphones have many features that make them great safety, health, and monitoring tools. They enable quick communication, connect to the internet to access services remotely, and offer real-time location tracking. All you need is the right apps to take advantage of those features.
How to Choose the Right iPhone for Seniors
The first step in setting up an iPhone for seniors is choosing the right one. The iPhone 14 Pro is a solid choice, thanks to its always-on display and large screen, making it easier to read on-screen text. However, there are several cheaper alternatives, too.
The iPhone SE is an excellent budget option with a longer battery life than most other models. Remember that its smaller screen may not be the best fit for older adults with poor eyesight.
A larger but still relatively affordable option is the iPhone XR. The XR’s 6.1-inch screen and better backlight technology make its display easier on the eyes. It also has one of the longest battery lives of any iPhone model, which is ideal for seniors who may not know they need to charge it frequently.
You should look for a phone with an easy-to-read screen, decent battery life, and a size that would fit well in your loved one’s hands. You can also go into the settings to enlarge the text size, set up Face or Touch ID, and remove unnecessary apps to make them easier to use.
3 Important but Easy-to-Use Health Apps
As you set up an iPhone for seniors, you’ll want to install some health apps. Here are some of the most helpful and user-friendly services to keep track of seniors’ health.
1. CareZone
CareZone lets you scan pill bottles to add them to your list of medications, log blood pressure or glucose levels, set up automatic reminders, and keep a list of doctors’ instructions. It also allows you to share any of this information with others. That way, doctors, loved ones, and emergency contacts can stay on top of any important updates.
Download: CareZone (Free)
2. MedWatcher
Staying on top of when to take medications is important, but so is watching for any updates like recalls or new dosage recommendations. MedWatcher helps you stay up-to-date about these changes without having to search the news for your specific medications.
MedWatcher works as an app and a website, making it easy to access. After setting up an account, you enter your conditions and medications, and the app will update you on any changes. You can also compare your treatments and progress with other users with the same conditions.
Download: MedWatcher (Free)
3. iBP Blood Pressure
According to the CDC, nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure, so measuring it is vital to your health and medication reactions. Apps like iBP Blood Pressure make that easier.
iBP creates interactive graphs to show changes in your blood pressure over time. These visuals also make it easy to see if readings are too high or too low. However, you should know that you’ll need a separate device to measure your blood pressure to enter this data in the app.
Download: iBP Blood Pressure (Free)
3 Apps to Make You Safer at Home
Installing some safety apps to track and handle falls and other emergencies is also a good idea. Here are some of the best choices.
1. My SOS Family
The app features a single large button to press to send an alert, and you can also control it with a smart speaker. After downloading My SOS Family, you create a list of emergency contacts and their contact information. The service will then call, text, or email them whenever you send an alert. These alerts will also send your phone’s location.
Download: My SOS Family Emergency Alerts (Free)
2. Life360
Life360 is a location-tracking app ideal for adults with Alzheimer’s or similar conditions. After creating a group of contacts, the app will alert them whenever the phone leaves or arrives at a pre-set destination. You can also use the app to call a live representative who can share details with emergency responders if necessary.
Download: Life 360: Find Family & Friends (Free)
3. FallSafety Home
According to information from the National Institute on Aging, more than one in four senior adults have falls each year. FallSafety Home uses your phone’s gyroscope and location data to detect falls and alert emergency contacts. When it detects a fall, it automatically alerts up to five people through call, text, or email with real-time location data. It also has a panic button for manual alerts.
Download: FallSafety Home (Free)
Stay Organized and on Track With Communication and Calendar Apps
Staying on top of appointments can also be a challenge for some senior adults. Thankfully, many helpful productivity apps for iPhones make it easier to stay organized and up-to-date.
1. Caring Village
Caring Village creates a “village” where you share schedules, appointments, to-do lists, and more with loved ones or caregivers. The app also lets people split responsibilities so everyone can see who’s in charge of what tasks, like driving someone to an appointment. Real-time alerts and notifications ensure no one forgets these responsibilities, either.
Download: Caring Village (Free)
2. Medisafe
Medisafe lets you enter your specific medication and dosage to stay on top of your doctor’s orders and will alert you when it’s time to refill prescriptions. The app can also share medication data with doctors, so they can track medication compliance.
Download: Medisafe Medication Management (Free)
3. Calendar
Not to be confused with the iPhone’s built-in calendar app, this service includes easy-to-create time slots and a sharing feature, meaning you can create reminders for your older loved ones and share them, so they don’t have to worry about doing it themselves. Calendar can also connect to other apps and services to make it easier to schedule appointments. Setting this up for older adults can help them remember upcoming meetings or doctor’s visits.
Download: Calendar: Meeting & Scheduling (Free)
Keep Your Loved Ones Safe With These Apps
With the right apps, you can turn a phone into an all-in-one place to keep your loved ones safe, healthy, and secure. If you know a senior adult who may need help, start with this list.
