Caregiver Apps
These days, it seems like there's an app for just about everything. Caregiving is no exception. Caregivers need all the help they can get. Caregiving will always be challenging. But technology can help ease the process and reduce caregiver burden and stress. All you need to take advantage of the benefits is a smartphone, tablet, or any compatible device. We rounded up a few of the best app options out there for caregivers, to help you simplify your daily tasks. Apps from organization and communication tools to medical tracking and specialized help for Alzheimer’s caregivers. Hopefully, these apps will make it a little easier for you.
Apps for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers
Caregivers taking care of someone with dementia or Alzheimer's face unique challenges. This app is a digital tool for those suffering from memory loss or cognitive decline as well as their caregivers and the rest of their family. It provides advice about everything from physical exercise to nutrition tips to mental stimulation to help caregivers take a holistic approach to live with the condition. MindMate offers engaging daily workouts to keep both the mind and body fit that Caregivers and their loved ones can benefit from.
Features that include:
Games designed to challenge the four core cognitive areas: problem-solving, speed, memory, and attention
Personalized exercise routines
Recipes and nutrition advice
Alz & Dementia Daily Companion
This app for Alzheimer’s caregivers is easy to navigate and loaded with practical tips from experts for everyday situations and challenges. And if caregivers would like further in-depth reading, they can seek out the companion book “Confidence in Care.” Free. Available at the App Store and Google Play
Features Include:
Free and immediate advice and tips for dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia behaviors and situations
24-hour caregiving assistance is available via the toll-free phone number or email submission
Access to free Alzheimer's and other dementias caregiver resources and training materials
Caregivers share their advice through a collation mechanism provided in the app
Ability to access all of the solutions and tips without internet connectivity
Built-in rating system for caregivers to rate each tip so other caregivers benefit from their insight and evaluation of the advice
Organization & Communication
ianacare – Caregiver Coordination
Built by family caregivers, ianacare is dedicated to equipping caregivers with the tools and community access to empowering them during life’s most vulnerable moments. If you’re on the hunt for apps to help plan for caregiving, this is an excellent option.
ianacare enables caregivers to:
Coordinate help with family and friends
Keep your curated community updated in a private feed
Keep your care team organized with a collaborative calendar so others know how they can offer support without needing to ask
Sanvello Anxiety and Depression
Caregiver stress is a natural part of caregiving. Sanvello is another self-care resource that is excellent for caregivers. This app is a feel-better toolkit for anyone feeling overwhelmed by caregivers' responsibilities. Using an app like this can help incorporate elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy and coaching to reduce stress and anxiety about what's happening while working through stress and anxiety. It offers goals, community support, and short activities – all based on mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Features include:
Mood and goal tracking
Activities that allow you to journal and examine thought patterns
Techniques for managing difficult emotions, building confidence, or developing a mindfulness practice
Premium version offers therapy and one-on-one coaching and may be covered under health insurance
Medication Tracking
This comprehensive app lets you manage the care recipient's health information securely. Some of the main features include the ability to scan pill bottles to create a medication list, uploading or manually entering medical files and advance directives, storing insurance information, and creating a list of important contacts. When you use the CareZone app, you'll also have an opportunity to sign up for reminders and news that's relevant to your loved one's condition.
Medisafe makes it easy to maintain prescriptions and medical regimes with reminders and alerts when medications are missed. Medication management can be a challenge, fraught with hazards and concerns. For example, some medications need to be taken with food, others on an empty stomach. This app allows users to load medications and set reminders, gain helpful information, and track progress. It also provides valuable information to users about the medications being taken and the condition for which they're taken.
Features include:
Medication reminders
Alerts to caregivers are sent when medications are missed
Medication organizer that tracks refills and expiration date
Syncs with GoodRx for prescription coupons
Medication interaction warning
Preparation
First Aid by American Red Cross
First aid and CPR knowledge is helpful for everyone, but essential for those responsible for the health and well-being of a loved one, making this one of the best apps for caregivers. The American Red Cross created the First Aid App to provide users with clear and concise first aid and CPR instructions in the event of an emergency.
Features include:
Simple step-by-step instructions for everyday first aid scenarios
Steps to take during an emergency, with a 9-1-1 call button
Videos and animations to make learning first aid fun and easy
Weather safety and preparedness
Preloaded content regarding all safety information
Content in English and Spanish
Monitoring
Symple
Symple makes journaling your loved one’s feelings and monitoring their health easy. It enables you to track overall well-being, steps, sleep, meals, medications, and more.
Symple enables caregivers to:
Create and track symptoms related to diet, activity, and medications
Import steps, sleep, and other data from Apple Health
Use timestamped photos to keep a record of which medications were taken when
Quickly navigate past data using the interactive calendar
Unlock premium features such as the smart journal, which makes it easy to build a list of questions for your doctor
InsightTimer
InsightTimer is a free self-care resource that can help caregivers reduce anxiety, relieve stress, and sleep better. It makes it easy to master the techniques of meditation, which is proven to ease anxiety and mental stress.
Top features include:
Access to thousands of guided meditations to help manage anxiety and stress, increase mindfulness, improve sleep, and more
Calming music, sound healing, and chanting mantras
Discussion groups and community features
Calming music, sound healing, and chanting mantras
Discussion groups and community features