10 Great Apps for People With Dementia and Alzheimer’s
July 9, 2019
Reviewed and Updated by Troy Frink,
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are extremely debilitating disorders that severely hinder a person’s person’s quality of life. Dementia is an umbrella term for several disorders that can cause memory loss and other symptoms. One of the most common subsets of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which is a degenerative physical deterioration of the brain.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 33 percent of seniors die with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, and the tech world has taken note. Developers have created smartphone apps to help make your life a little easier. These 10 apps for people with dementia cannot cure the condition. They can, however, help slow memory loss and help you regain confidence.
1. Mindmate
Mindmate is a cognitive health maintenance app for people with dementia. It’s based on “world-leading science,” according to the developers.
The app features interactive games that are designed to stimulate the problem-solving, memory and attention centers of the brain.
Along with fun games, the app includes exercise programs, nutrition tips, and recipes. You can set goals and track your progress on the app, too, which makes Mindmate a pretty comprehensive brain health app.
2. My Reef 3D
My Reef 3D is great for people in the advanced stages of dementia. The app is a game that allows you to interact with 14 different types of fish. You can stock the aquarium and even tap on the glass to see how the fish react! Much like a real aquarium, you can sit back and watch the fish.
Many dementia sufferers won’t be able to pay attention to TV programs, but this app provides just enough stimuli to keep the user entertained.
3. Lumosity
Lumosity is a fantastic app for anyone with dementia. It’s a brain training program that uses daily games to test your critical thinking, memory, and problem-solving skills. The app analyzes your strengths and weaknesses and provides “carefully-curated sets of games made for you,” according to Lumosity’s website.
Along with the games, Lumosity features mindfulness training such as meditation techniques to help you relax and gain mental clarity.
4. MediSafe
MediSafe is a great app for people with short- and long-term memory loss. Remembering when to take medications, knowing if you’ve already taken them, and realizing when it’s time to re-order prescription drugs can be a challenge for people with dementia.
MediSafe provides alerts so people can manage their prescriptions safely. For example, the app notifies your caregiver if you miss a medication for the day, or if any of your prescription drugs shouldn’t be taken together.
5. Game Show
Game Show was developed by the University of Cambridge, and some studies have shown that it can help with the early stages of dementia. Users with dementia showed a 40 percent increase in memory and thinking test scores. The app is not a cure for dementia, but it can help slow down the progression of memory and thinking loss.
Along with social interaction and other mentally stimulating activities, mental games may help slow memory loss and keep your mind sharp.
6. Happify
Living with dementia can be stressful. Happify uses science-based games and activities to help encourage positive thinking and reduce stress. The app’s tools and programs aim to improve emotional well-being.
Leading scientists and experts in the fields of positive psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy developed Happify’s techniques after decades of research. According to the app’s website, 86 percent of people who used Happify on a regular basis reported feeling better about their lives in two months.
7. Iridis
Stirling University developed Iridis to help people prepare their homes to make life with dementia easier. The app offers advice on how to improve color contrast, and furniture and lighting tips to help you deal with your symptoms.
For example, many people with dementia experience loss of appetite as a symptom. Using dishes that contrast in color with your food can help you remember to eat. You may have vision problems, too, and the app will suggest what kind of lightbulbs you should use to make things easier to see.
You can use Iridis to evaluate your home and determine what changes you should make. The app provides a detailed report with recommendations so you or your caregiver can make the best choices to support your condition.
8. Timeless
According to Timeless, this app is a “first-of-its-kind, simple, easy-to-use app for Alzheimer’s patients to remember events, stay connected and engaged with friends and family, and to recognize people through artificial intelligence-based facial recognition technology.”
The app is developed to help Alzheimer’s patients improve their quality of life. The app is simple and helps the user remember events and appointments, and stay connected with friends and family.
Timeless makes use of AI technology to help the user remember faces and names. The face recognition helps to slow down memory loss. Many users may find that the app helps improve their confidence because they’re able to associate their loved ones’ names with their faces.
9. Alzheimer Society’s Talking Point Forum
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Talking Point Forum is a free app developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK. It’s an app for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s that provides a discussion forum.
The app acts as a meeting and discussion place for people to read others’ experiences, ask for advice, share their thoughts, and join in conversations about the issues dementia patients face every day.
The main function of the app is to provide users with a sense of community and help them understand that they aren’t alone. The app can act as a digital support group where people who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s can talk to others who understand their situation.
10. A Walk Through Dementia
A Walk Through Dementia helps non-sufferers understand what people with dementia and Alzheimer’s experience. The app was created by Alzheimer’s Research UK and VISYON, and offers insight into the condition with a virtual, immersive platform.
It uses a combination of CGI and 360-degree imaging to see what life is like for Alzheimer’s sufferers.
It uses three scenarios to help users get an idea of what their loved one is going through: 1. The experience buying ingredients at the grocery store. 2. Taking the ingredients home. 3. Using the ingredients to make tea for their family.
This app will help your loved ones better relate to you and empathize with your situation.
Dementia Apps and Medicare Health Insurance to Help Make Life Easier
Along with the above apps for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, a comprehensive health insurance plan can help make your life easier. If you qualify for Medicare or have durable power of attorney for someone who does, we can help you find a policy that will fit your budget and lifestyle.
Our licensed agents at Medicare Plan Finder are dedicated to helping you learn about the plans available in your area. Call 844-431-1832 or contact us here to find out more today.
