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While it’s no secret that mobile apps have ability to help us in different areas of our lives, you may be surprised to learn that there are a growing number of apps specifically designed to assist people with dementia. These vary from memory games to help slow down the progression of dementia, to reminder apps that can help dementia patients remain more independent.
In addition, there are apps aimed at supporting family members and caregivers too. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps for those with dementia, as well as their loved ones.
1. MemoClock
MemoClock was created by Dan Mogenson after his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The app connects a caregiver with their friend or relative who has dementia and allows them to send reminders directly to the other person’s phone. For daily tasks, you can set repeat reminders that create an alert at the same time each day. The app can also receive pictures and voice messages.
Aside from assisting individuals with daily tasks and reminding them of appointments, the app also helps to tackle loneliness by providing a simple and direct line of communication. For MemoClock to work, both the sender and the receiver need a compatible smartphone; thankfully, most devices are supported.
Download: MemoClock for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. Train Your Brain
While brain games provide great mental stimulation for people of all ages, they’re particularly beneficial for older adults who are at high risk of, or are already living with, dementia.
Unlike other memory apps, Train Your Brain was specifically designed with seniors in mind. It has a very simple, yet stimulating, interface and a variety of different memory games to choose from. These include matching pairs of cards and memorizing short shopping lists.
There are plenty of free ad-supported games to choose from. Alternatively, you can pay a small fee to unlock more games and remove the ads.
Download: Train Your Brain for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)
3. My House Of Memories
My House Of Memories was created by National Museums Liverpool, designed for individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. However, it can also be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history. The purpose of the app is to spark meaningful conversations and bring up positive memories.
While using the app, individuals and their families or caregivers can reminisce together about simple historic objects. They will also hear familiar sounds that encourage positive memories and promote wellbeing. If you like a particular object or find that it sparks a good memory, then you can store it for later and add it to a memory display.
Read more: How iPods and Old Songs Can Treat the Symptoms of Dementia
To help people with dementia remember their family, friends, and personal memories, there’s even the option to upload your own photos to a new or existing memory album.
Download: My House Of Memories for Android | iOS (Free)
4. Dementia Guide Expert
A dementia diagnosis can be extremely scary, but the more you know about the stages of dementia, the easier it is to plan for the future. National dementia experts designed this guide app to help support individuals with dementia, as well as their friends and families.
The app offers helpful tips to help you manage and understand dementia as a condition, while also providing access to a library of further information and linked resources. Although the interface may look outdated, the app contains a wealth of relevant information and is easy to navigate and explore.
Download: Dementia Guide Expert for Android | iOS (Free)
5. Medisafe
Remembering to take your medication can be tricky at the best of times, let alone when you’re struggling with your memory. Medisafe is a free, award-winning pill reminder and medication tracking app. It’s designed to make it easier to stay on top of your medication and take it regularly each day.
Read more: The Best Medicine Reminder Apps
The app’s Medifriend functionality also allows family, friends, or caregivers to see what medication the user has taken each day. It can even give a report for you to share with your doctor. Whether you’re managing one prescription or several, the app helps you keep track of what to take and when to take it.
Download: Medisafe for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
6. Mojo
Learning that someone you love has Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia can put stress on your relationship. The Mojo app is designed to help and support family members or friends as they learn how to become good caregivers for their loved ones. The app has a free advice center and a forum with articles designed to help you find moments of joy in a difficult time.
The app also has a wealth of resources designed to help you manage troublesome dementia behaviors, plus space to share experiences with other app users. You can also upload images of friends and family, track care reports, and make your own care notes and checklists from the homepage of the app.
When you sign up for the first time, you’re automatically given a 30-day free trial. After this, you need to upgrade to access additional premium features. At the time of writing, Mojo’s iOS app appeared to be unavailable.
Download: Mojo for Android (Free trial, subscription required)
Utilizing Phone Apps for Dementia Patients
There is a wide range of phone apps that people living with dementia can use to help improve their memory and manage their daily lives. There are also lots of apps whose aim is to provide support to caregivers and families. Using these apps may not cure dementia, but they can make living with the disease a little more bearable.
These are just a few of the available dementia care apps currently on the Play Store and App Store, but there are many others to consider. As more people begin using technology to help manage their dementia diagnosis, more of these apps should start to appear.
MUO – Feed