Smart Phone Apps for Seniors
Roy Barker
Operational Analysis | Change Management Specialist | Six Sigma, DMAIC | Root Cause Analysis | Project Management | PBM rPIE Team(Rapid Process Improvement Event) | Developmental Disabilities | Senior Living | Healthcare
According to Pew Research, seniors continue to adopt technology, particularly those just past 65 years of age and have a yearly income of $30,000 and above. As of May 2017, smartphone ownership in the 65 to 69 years range comes in at 59%. By age 70 it falls to 49%. Rising smartphone use in elders with increased use of home health care services looks like a solution where everyone benefits. Seniors familiar with smartphone apps should have no trouble transferring skills. Apps have been specially designed for the age group to aid in eldercare. Pre-made smartphones for seniors loaded with specific apps and services installed have been available for some time.
Seniors like easy to use phones with more prominent displays. The phones have a larger than average dial pad, and some have an emergency button. Connections to family members exist so they can monitor activity if necessary or become alerted during an emergency. A few smartphones have medical alert applications. To name a few: Jitterbug Smart and Easy to Use, Unnecto Air Senior phone, Dtudao GSM Elderly GPS Cell Phone Tracker, and Seawolf Wireless Unlocked Senior/Kids Cell Phone, all have specialized features and adaptations for senior needs. Some senior phones services reside on only one carrier, and other phones use any carrier, so it’s imperative to read the fine print carefully.
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Smartphone Apps
If the phone in hand needs to be the one phone used, seniors can adapt their phones to their specific needs with phone apps. Many of the apps originated with Olympic athletes needing to track their vitals before participating in athletic events. These apps have since been adopted for the general public’s use and exist freely at places like Google Play, iTunes, or CNET.
The following is a list of possible apps that with modification can help seniors.
Argus – If a senior needs to track activity to report to a doctor, Argus can give that report. Argus gathers data about heart rate, distance covered, counts calories, and tracks activity. An easy to use display screen that updates activity in colorful hexagons in a moment’s notice can tell a person what happened when and how the body responded. It syncs with Apple Health on iPhone.
Sleepy Time! zZz – Seniors, as they age, often have changes in their patterns of sleep. Deep sleep can become elusive. A priority for good health into the late senior years, during deep sleep time the body renews and heals. Designed to be a sleep cycle calculator and alarm clock, it detects the level of sleep. The alarm can sense when a person moves into light sleep and ring for a wake-up. Sensor checks sleep latency as in how long it takes a person to fall asleep. Motion sensors check for depth of sleep. Now when the doctor asks about how a patient has been sleeping, they can answer with statistics. A list of suggestions helps increase deep sleep.
PulsePoint – If heart disease has come and stayed then this app can track an event. If an event happens, the app finds a CPR trained person in the area and alerts them to the nearby dilemma. It also can locate an automated external defibrillator. When local responders arrive, it saves time.
Big Launcher – Seeing items clearly becomes a challenge in the elder years. Designed for Android phones, once set in motion it makes the font larger and even the icons larger on the phone. High contrast color scheme and a Talkback screen feature for those deemed legally blind make phone usable for them. Partially free it comes with more features in its pro version.
Fade - Living alone has its hazards but this mobile application can detect if the mobile user has fallen. Originally created for bikers and hikers who would travel in isolated regions, the app has become popular among families with seniors. As a fall occurs, motion detectors sense the bodies position and send an alert to a contact. It reports the place of the fall and time making it easy for first responders to find the senior. Fade also sends out a phone call to the chosen contact and has an automatic activation of the mobile phone speaker.
Lumosity – Maintaining brain function becomes a priority in elderly. Lumosity has short, fun interactive puzzles or games developed by neuroscientists. Playing the games improves information processing and helps maintain memory recall. It only takes a few moments a day to do so and has the added benefit of creating a positive mood.
Acquiring adaptations for high quality living in senior years need not be expensive. Using familiar tools at hand makes the transition a bit easier. For family members, it gives an easy way to monitor and yet not interfere in a senior’s life. Aging in place remains entirely feasible with a little help from technology.