Apps for Dementia Caregivers 2019

Dementia is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. As of 2018, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. 16.1 million Americans provide 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In this post we explore apps for dementia caregivers in 2019.

Caregivers deal with emotional, financial, and physical stress when caring for aging family members and friends with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Advancements in technology help relieve some of the burden on caregivers, providing useful and helpful information when it’s needed most. Many apps, while not necessarily designed for Alzheimer’s or dementia, are helpful for people with memory issues and their caregivers. Caregivers have turned to caregiving dementia apps for assistance in caring for loved ones with the disease.

Calendar apps, such as Google Calendar, help caregivers schedule appointments, send out reminders, track medications, and more. Calendars can be shared allowing several people to be in the loop on appointments and events.
Video apps, like Skype and FaceTime, help caregivers connect with their loved one, interacting with them when they are unable to visit them in person.

In addition to calendars and video apps, a caregiver for someone with dementia should consider the following apps to help organize tasks, manage medications, communicate with family and friends, monitor health data, and even reduce stress.

Apps for Caregivers

1. CareZone is an app to simplify medication management and securely manage a loved one’s health information. The app’s features include scanning pill bottles to create medication lists, setting automatic health and medication reminders, getting free medication deliveries, and automating prescription refills. There’s also a shareable calendar and a to-do section. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
2. CaringBridge app offers a safe and secure place for patients and caregivers to provide health updates, and for family and friends to respond with messages of emotional support. A caregiver can share diagnoses, medications, treatments, and milestones with family and friends. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
3. Caring Village is a companion app for Caring Village and works best if you have a village set up. According to their website, this app is the only easy-to-use dashboard and mobile app designed specifically for family caregivers. This app stores important documents, includes a centralized calendar, keeps a list of medications, and offers journaling, reminders, secure messaging, and to-do lists. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
4. Lotsa Helping Hands is a companion app for users of lotsahelpinghands.com. Create a community specific to your loved one’s needs and invite others to help. It provides coordination, communication, and support for scheduling meal deliveries, rides to appointments, and visiting hours. Everyone stays updated through calendars, well wishes, message boards, and photo galleries. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
5. Medisafe is a top-rated medication manager and pill reminder app. It’s an easy-to-use medication reminder that also provides tips, drug interactions, refill reminders, progress reports, and coupons. Health care providers can also be connected to the account. When considering caregiving dementia apps, this one shouldn’t be overlooked. Medisafe has been featured in a Time Money magazine article, “The Best Apps for Older Adults You Should Download Right Now.” Available on the App Store and Google Play.
6. First Aid: American Red Cross is a great app for caregivers in the event of an emergency. Designed by the American Red Cross, the First Aid app has easy-to-follow guides on first aid basics like CPR. If your loved one is experiencing unusual symptoms, this app can help you identify the issue, searching through the healthcare database. Basic first aid procedures are vital to a caregiver’s training. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
7. Pacifica is a mindfulness app that helps caregivers with self-care. When feeling overwhelmed, a caregiver can turn to Pacifica and explore guided meditations. Users can track their moods and health, while also keeping track of moments during the day that trigger mood shifts. The app has in-app exercises which help reduce stress and anxiety. Available on App Store and Google Play.
8. Alzheimer’s Caregiver Buddy is a caregiving Alzheimer’s app that provides support and education about communication, challenging behaviors, and daily routines. It’s an easy and quick way to access advice about memory support. The app is integrated with the Alzheimer’s Association hotline for free, live help round the clock. Available on the App Store an

Caregiving dementia apps are a great tool for any caregiver, in addition to having hands-on support. If you’re looking for some personal, caregiving assistance for a loved one, Living Branches provides quality, life-enriching services to seniors. At Living Branches, we are committed to the most secure, safe, and solicitous Memory Care for residents with varying degrees of memory impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s Disease. Please contact us at 215-368-4438 to schedule a visit or request information. You may also reach us via our website.