Updated: 1/16/2020 Caregivers need help. With 39.8 million Americans in a caregiving role–a job that often requires an individual to be “on call” 24/7–anything that can be done to offer…

Caregiving Apps

How to Use Caregiving Apps to Help Aging Parents

Updated: 1/16/2020

Caregivers need help. With 39.8 million Americans in a caregiving role–a job that often requires an individual to be “on call” 24/7–anything that can be done to offer some assistance could make a world of difference.

Caregiving apps have been created to make caregiving a little easier. Below are a list of some apps to consider using as you care for an aging parent or loved one who suffers from an illness or disability.

All-in-One Caregiving Apps

The following apps are your all-in-one caregiving apps. They allow you to keep track of appointments and surgeries, connect with family members to coordinate care and give updates on your loved one; some will also provide helpful caregiving tips and advice.

App Sources:

  • https://carezone.com/home
  • https://lotsahelpinghands.com/
  • https://www.caringbridge.org/
  • https://www.facebook.com/Unfrazzle/

Alzheimer’s Caregiving Apps

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, out of the 43.5 million adult family caregivers (globally) that care for someone 50 years old or above, about one in three (14.9 million) care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. As such, the need for apps specifically geared toward an Alzheimer’s caregiver is massive. The following apps offer help in this particular area.

App Sources:

  • https://www.comfortzonecheckin.com/default.aspx
  • https://dementiasolutions.ca/dementia-caregiver-solutions-app-page/

Educational Caregiving Apps

Caring for an aging parent or loved one often entails learning about the illness or disability that caree is experiencing. These apps help you navigate the different symptom and treatment information you need to know.

  • WebMD Caregiving App
    WebMD. Available on iPhone (Free), Android (Free), Web (Free). WebMD is not new. In fact, it’s one of the Internet’s most trusted health sources. It is available in app form on Android and iPhones. You can use their app to look up a pill or symptom at the drop of a hat. If you need basic tips on caring for a particular health problem, you can find that here, too.

App Sources:

Health Status Apps

These apps have been designed to help keep track of the health of your loved one. Some of these can even be tracked by other family members if they have the app on their phone and their loved one is wearing the tracking device.

  • GreatCall Link. Available on iPhone (Free), Android (Free). Keeps track of daily activities and when things get off track. Friends and family can download app on their phones and receive alerts when the caree contacts a 5star agent in an emergency. It will alert all concerned individuals with the date, time and reason for the call. You can also track when the main user (the one in need of care) leaves or arrives home and has a low battery on their device.

App Sources:

  • https://www.greatcall.com/services-apps/link
  • https://www.caremindapp.com/

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of Caregiving apps to choose from. While several of these have similar features, choose one that best suits your needs as a caregiver. Try out a few of the apps mentioned above and let us know how they helped in the comment section below!

Other Sources:

  • https://www.caring.com/articles/caregiving-apps
  • https://www.providermagazine.com/reports/Pages/2015/Top-Rated-Caregiving-Apps-To-Consider-Using.aspx
  • https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/best-and-worst-apps-for-caregivers-07-03-2013/
  • https://www.mhealthtalk.com/the-best-smartphone-apps-for-caregivers/
  • https://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/blog/may-2015/the-5-best-apps-for-caregivers.aspx

Natasha is 1Dental’s managing editor and copywriter, focusing content on dental and health news, advice and tips straight from the experts. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has since been a book editor and now copywriter and managing editor on dental and health. You can find her on Twitter and all of 1Dental’s social networks.

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