The Best iPhone Apps for Seniors

Medisafe Medication Management

Whether you're a senior or you know one, chances are they need to track some form of medication. While you can do that from your iPhone, which we'll discuss in a moment, you might want to get a more specific app to track your meds.

Enter Medisafe, a great way to find and keep track of all your medicine. This app has everything you need to never forget about taking your medications. 

After you add them to your profile, you can set alerts so the app sends you notifications when you need to take your medicine. You can even get notifications when you need to refill your medicine before you run out. If you want, the app can also send alerts to your caregivers so they're in the loop about what you're taking and when.

Besides medications, the app can also help you monitor your overall health. For instance, you can track your sleep, weight, the number of headaches you get throughout the week and month, and over 70 other symptoms.

Magnifier

This built-in iPhone app is perfect for both seniors and those of us who tend to forget our glasses all the time. Apple's very own Magnifier app is probably the best magnifying glass you can have on your iPhone.

With this app, your iPhone's camera turns into a magnifying glass, which helps you hear anything or understand what the object in front of you is.

You can zoom in and out as much as you want, and if you need a little help, the app can also help you detect whatever it is that's in front of you.

If you have more severe sight problems, the Magnifier app comes with a Detection Mode. In this mode, it will recognize the object in front of you — whether it's a door, furniture, text, or more — and then tell you what the object is, making it easier to navigate the world around you.

Life360: Stay Connected & Safe

This is a great app that seniors and their families can use to keep track of their loved ones when needed. 

With Life360, you can add your loved ones to the app and track them in real-time. The app features real-time GPS location, making it easier to know where your loved ones are. But that's not all. Since it also keeps tabs on trackers, you can also use it to know where your stuff is at all times.

What's great about this app is that it also lets you keep track of how well your loved ones are driving. If you're worried that your kids or significant other aren't driving safely, you can check Life360 and see a driver report that includes their speed, acceleration, and even their phone usage. 

In the unfortunate event that they're in a car accident, Life360 also comes with a crash detection feature to let you know when it happens.

Launcher with Multiple Widgets

This doesn't apply to everyone, but it's well-known that some older folks can't use their iPhones as well as they should. Whether it's because they don't know how or they just don't want to, there are apps like Launcher that make things easier for them.

What makes the Launcher app pretty convenient is that it lets you fill the iPhone's Home Screen with useful widgets to make it easier for seniors to do basic actions. For instance, instead of going to the Phone app and finding their spouse's phone number, they can simply tap a widget with their face on it so they know who they're calling.

That's just the tip of the iceberg; you can create multiple widgets to do anything from getting directions to school or work to turning on your Bluetooth without going to the Control Center. The widgets can be different sizes, making them easier to see or tap. 

Apple Health

As we mentioned before, the Apple Health app is filled with many useful features that anyone, especially seniors, can use. With this app, they can track pretty much anything they want.

For starters, they can add and keep track of their medication. They can set different alerts so they never forget it and even get information about what type of side effects their medicine can have, or how it reacts when mixed with drugs or alcohol.

Additionally, the Health App can also track any physical activity they do and will even give them regular updates to see if anything has changed in the last few months.

The Health app also lets you keep track of other things like your sleep, nutrition, weight, and even your mental health. Each section in the app comes with a little bit of information about why this information is important and how it can impact your life.

When you've gathered enough information, the Health app lets you share that data with your health provider so they can better assess your health.

FaceTime

If your parents or grandparents haven't had their iPhones for long enough, they might not have tried FaceTime yet. Even though it's a pretty simple app, FaceTime is the perfect tool to stay in touch with all your friends and family.

FaceTime really needs no introduction; this video calling app lets you talk to any one of your contacts who also has an Apple device. You can call and start talking to them instantly. You can have video calls, or turn off your camera and have a regular phone call.

While the FaceTime app works best with Apple devices, you can talk to anyone, no matter which device they have. You can share call links with Android or Windows users and have video calls almost instantly.

GoodRx: Prescription Coupons

Let's face it: the older we get, the more medicine we need. Unfortunately, medicine isn't getting any cheaper.

This is why it's important to save money on medicines as much as possible, and that's where GoodRx comes in. 

This app is a simple way to find ways to save money on medicine at your local pharmacy. The app offers access to over 70,000 pharmacies worldwide, so no matter where you are in the world, you'll surely find a good deal on the medication you need.

Enter the medication you want, and the app will show you a list of places near you that sell it and the prices available.

You can also use the app to find coupons and discounts to save on the medicine you need regularly. Also, you can earn points every time you use the app, which will help you get exclusive rewards. 

Overall, this is a great app for anyone who needs to save money on medication for themselves or their pets.

ReFit: Workout for Older Adults

When it comes to working out, age doesn't really matter. We all should aim to live an active and healthy life. That said, older folks tend to need more physical activity as they tend to lose muscle mass more quickly.

Fortunately, there are apps like ReFit, which are perfect companions for older adults who want to be more active.

When you launch the app, it will ask you for some information about yourself, including your age group. Based on this data, it will give you the best workouts that you can do at home.

All of these workouts are great for beginners, and you can find a ton of different programs that don't require any type of gym equipment. For instance, you can do yoga with nothing but a chair.

Or, if you want to work on a specific part of your body, like a sore shoulder or a stiff back, there are specific programs you can choose that target that area. Each workout comes with clear instructions and even videos to show you the best and safest way to do your workouts.

Libby, the library app

Many people enjoy reading, and if you want to spend your golden years reading books without having to carry them around, an app like Libby is a great option.

What's great about Libby is that you can connect it to your local library's library card and instantly access hundreds — if not thousands — of ebooks and audiobooks.

The best part is that all of the books you find here are completely free. The catch? Since it works as a regular library, if someone has already borrowed the book you want to read, you'll have to wait until the other person "returns" it, which could take a few weeks. 

However, it's a small price to pay for the convenience of reading any book, new or old, from the comfort of your own home.

Amazon Kindle

On the other hand, if you want to access any book available on Amazon and you don't mind paying for it, the Amazon Kindle app is perfect for you.

Amazon's library boasts millions of titles in a wide range of genres that you can buy with just one tap. When you buy them, you also earn points that you can use later to get a discount on your next ebook.

Of course, if you have your own digital books already saved in your iPhone, you can import them to the app as well, making it easier to have all your books available in the same library.

While reading on your iPhone might sound uncomfortable, the Amazon Kindle app lets you customize the font style and size so it's easier to read even without glasses.