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

MindMate

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

CareZone

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

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