There’s an app for nearly everything, including information, activities, and relaxation for those who have a loved one with dementia. Some apps are created specifically for people with dementia and their caregivers, helping to increase the brain’s cognitive function and help maintain independence. This post reviews the many helpful apps for dementia caregivers and their loved ones. 

Why Apps Are Helpful in Providing Care

With widespread access to cell phones and tablets, the devices can serve as lifelines for caregivers researching, managing, communicating, and documenting information about dementia and their loved ones. Apps can provide caregivers with critical support, reduce burden, and improve the quality of life for the caregiver. 

Types of Apps for Dementia Caregivers

Whether you just received a dementia diagnosis and need to learn more about the progression of memory loss, or you’re looking for a tool to help track tasks, there are apps to help you as a dementia caregiver. From organization and communication to education and support, consider some helpful apps for dementia caregivers. 

Organization and Communication

Take the to-do lists out of your brain and let technology do the hard work when you lean on these apps to help manage communication and organize your thoughts and your team:

• Fokes. Caregivers and family members can stay on the same page by communicating in real-time via the Fokes communication platform. The app includes tasks, messaging, payments, information, digital forms, client records, employee records, scheduling, and a GPS function. 
• Medisafe. Lower the likelihood of forgetting medications and implement the Medisafe medication tracking app. It will prompt you or your loved one to take medications at the correct intervals, and through the app’s Medifriend function, family, friends, or caregivers can review the medications taken. Plus, it will prompt you with refill reminders, progress reports, and share coupons.
• Caring Village. The free app from Caring Village allows families and caregivers to electronically store essential documents, track medications and prescriptions, coordinate tasks like meal delivery, errands, and transportation, and regularly communicate through secure messaging. 
• RecallCue. Start the day on the right foot using a free day clock and reminder app from RecallCue. Friends and family members can schedule reminders, alarms, music, and photos to appear throughout the day as needed. Loved ones also can send text messages and make video calls to their loved ones. 

Education

Find answers to your questions, learn what to expect in the future, and seek resources by educating yourself with these dementia apps: 

• Dementia Guide Expert. Learn more about dementia and its various stages through this informative resource created by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The app functions as a guide and offers helpful tips. 
• Alz & Dementia Daily Companion. You’ll find practical advice and practical solutions for caring for a loved one with dementia. Created by Home Instead Senior Care network, it acts as a companion piece and on-the-go resource to the book “Confidence to Care.”
• Dementia Caregiver Solutions. This app outlines how to deal with 25 of the most challenging dementia-related behaviors, providing tips, strategies, and solutions to help caregivers remain calm and work to de-escalate challenging behaviors and situations.  

Patients and Families

Encourage the dementia patients you love to stimulate their brain by using these apps meant to improve cognition or trigger happy memories: 

• Luminosity. Your brain will get a workout when you complete any of the activities featured in the brain training app used by more than 100 million people. Through more than 25 research-based activities, each target a different cognitive ability, you can work on your logical reasoning, memory, and more. 
• My House Of Memories. Designed specifically for people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, My House of Memories shows the user images and objects meant to prompt conversation and reflection. In addition to looking at item imagery, the app will play sounds meant to uncover positive memories. Your family’s unique photos and memories can be uploaded to the app, enabling those with dementia to recall family members and memories at any time. 
• MOJO. MOJO, short for Moments of Joy, is an app created to provide families with dementia support. Through the app, families can collaborate to manage medical treatment, create checklists, document care reports, organize calendars, share images and updates, create photo albums, and receive advice from others providing care for people with dementia. 
• MindMate. Create a daily health and wellness routine with assistance from MindMate, an app with games to stimulate your brain, exercise programs that promote wellness, nutrition advice, and delicious recipes. 
• AlzLife. Research shows that light and sound therapy can improve brain function, reduce toxic levels of Alzheimer’s-related proteins, and improve memory skills. The AlzLife app simultaneously delivers 40Hz light therapy and 40Hz sound therapy while playing classic cognitive games, including sudoku, tic-tac-toe, memory games, solitaire, jewel crush, or blocks. 

Caregiver Support

Taking time to rest, recharge, and fill your cup is critical for caregivers. When you’re running on fumes, it’s more challenging to care for your loved one, and it puts your health and safety in jeopardy. Consider using one of these apps to center yourself, reduce anxiety, or partner with a therapist:

• Headspace. Learn to relax, manage stress, and focus your energy on the positive by using the Headspace meditation app to make mindfulness a more consistent part of your routine. Just 10 minutes a day can create meaningful change.
• Insight Timer. Relieve stress and anxiety with the Insight Timer app, a free app that offers meditations and yoga. You can sort meditations by topic and take some time to focus on nothing other than the teacher’s words.
• Sanvello. Mental health support is a click away through Sanvello, a top-rated app for stress, anxiety, and depression. You’ll learn the strategies and resources necessary to help you cope and connect to self-care, peer support, coaching, and therapy services through the app. 

Let Fokes Help You Care for Your Loved One

Apps can simplify caregiving and increase the overall quality of care. 

If you are looking for a communication and home health care app to help you as a dementia caregiver, learn more about Fokes. Fokes puts patient needs and care first and is a platform for consistent and effective communication. Let Fokes help you care for your loved one.