Helpful Apps on Your Phone to Stay Safe and Independent

Blog Category: Tech

It’s amazing what technology can do for us nowadays, especially our phones! There’s probably an app for just about anything, allowing us all to be resourceful and self-sufficient. If you’re an older adult looking to stay safe and independent, here are some different apps you can download on your phone that help.

Health

As we get older, our health becomes more of a priority to have a good quality of life. Some helpful apps many older adults use include:

  • GoodRX helps you keep track of your prescriptions and find discounts.
  • Medisafe is for managing your medications.
  • WebMD is a helpful way to look up your conditions and research solutions, but be sure to also consult your doctor for a solid diagnosis.
  • Shopwell helps you find food and other products that align with your health goals.
  • SmartBP is a blood pressure management app that lets you record, track, analyze, and share your chart.
  • Myfitnesspal is a food, exercise, and calorie tracker to help you build healthy habits.

Travel

There’s a lot of places you’ll want to visit in retirement or special events you’ll want to attend. Consider ditching that outdated roadmap you’ve had for years and use apps like:

  • Google Maps is a GPS that lets you immediately view and travel to any location.
  • Uber and Lyft are apps that connect you to locals in the area who can drive you where you need to be.
  • GasBuddy allows you to check the location, pricing, and reviews of gas stations along your route to get the most out of your mileage.
  • PackPoint and TripIt allow you to plan and pack appropriately for your trip.
  • Roadtrippers helps you customize your road trip.
  • Waze gives you a heads-up on traffic, construction, police, and accidents.

Communication

Whether your friends and loved ones are far away or you can’t meet in the same place at the right time, there’s many ways you can stay connected thanks to apps like:

  • Skype and Facetime are video communication platforms to connect with and see people in real-time.
  • Outlook and Gmail are email platforms to fill your calendar and send messages and documents to friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
  • Messenger is good for having conversations with your friends on Facebook.

Support and Security

Do you need assistance and just don’t have the right tools on hand? Maybe you’d like some peace of mind about your home? Or perhaps you’d like to keep track of your money? There are multiple supportive and security-based apps you can rely on, including:

  • Find My Car helps you to locate your car for any situation, including when you can’t remember where you parked.
  • Find My Phone is great for when you misplace your phone, just be sure to have this app on another device like a tablet so you can use it to locate your phone.
  • LastPass allows you to safely store all of your many passwords you have to remember.
  • Mint is a personal finance app that can help you budget and plan for retirement.
  • AARP gives you the latest news on how to save money, stay healthy, and find volunteer opportunities.
  • Magnifying Glass With Light is helpful for when you don’t have your glasses on you or find really difficult text to read.
  • Dragon Nuance provides dictation and transcription services.

Food and Hobbies

Knowing you can have food taken care of for you if you’re unable to retrieve it is a game-changer for independence, and getting to continue hobbies you enjoy with less physical space taken up is a bonus. Consider some of these apps to support these wants and needs:

  • Grubhub and Uber Eats are food delivery apps.
  • Kroger is now in an app form where you can get coupons, check upcoming deals, and place an order for pickup and delivery.
  • OpenTable is a great way to explore local cuisine.
  • Kindle is good for when you want to have a whole library of books accessible to you just from your tablet.
  • Audible is for those who want to enjoy a library of audiobooks.
  • Spotify is a music app where you can check out popular and new artists.
  • Lumosity is an app with a variety of brain games to keep you sharp.

Explore the impact of technology on senior life and how it makes socializing easier with our free ebook, Control Your Technology: A Senior’s Guide to the Future of Retirement!

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.