The Role of Technology in Caregiving: Tools and Apps to Help

Becoming a full-time, or even a part-time, caregiver is quite the task. You may feel lost, overwhelmed, and alone. But it’s important to know that you are not alone. There are many individuals who may be in the same place in their lives as you are–and even if they are not, there are many digital tools that can help you on your journey.

Caregiving is tough, and it isn’t something you should approach as a lone warrior. Read this article to discover apps that can help you with your caregiving journey. 

10 Best Apps for Caregivers

1. Caring Village

Caring Village is our top pick because it is simply one of those apps that has it all. Whether you need to track medications, store medical documents, or just want to chat with a support network, you can do all of this from an app. While solo caregivers can still appreciate this app, we recommend it especially for those sharing their caregiving journey, as it can help those of you sharing the load stay connected, communicate regularly, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. 

2. Lotsa Helping Hands

Similar to Caring Village, the Lotsa Helping Hands app is an excellent app for those sharing the care duties with family or friends. It includes a calendar that can be edited by all and used to coordinate with other caregivers. It also allows for photo posting and messaging, which can be fun if you are all family. Just be sure you aren’t sharing any HIPAA-protected information with those without a right to know. 

3. Medisafe

For those who care for a patient who needs a lot of medication, we 100% recommend Medisafe. Not only does it make it easy to track dosages and refills, but it also gives a list of interactions to be cautious of. Additionally, it can be used for tracking vital signs, something which makes it handy for nurses.

4. eCare21

For those who want to take monitoring a step further than Medisafe, we recommend eCare21. This app monitors vital signs, physical activity, sleep, and more–everything you need to ensure your loved one is in the best health possible. These abilities are further heightened if your loved one has a wearable device like an Apple Watch that can be connected with the app. It can help you to have the confidence to leave your patient alone for short periods of time without worrying. 

*While the app is free, it is important to note that not all features are free, so be sure you read about the various features before purchasing. 

5. Dementia Talk

If the individual you are caring for has a dementia diagnosis, then we highly recommend the app Dementia Talk. It can help you to track challenging behaviors so they can be better shared with healthcare professionals. It also allows for the tracking of medication and even gives tips to help you navigate the difficulty of caring for a loved one with dementia. 

For those who are just looking for tips and tricks for dealing with a patient with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the app Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia’s Daily Companion might be a better fit, just know this is more of a social app than one that can be used to better the life of your patient. 

*These apps may only be available in Canada. 

6. First Aid: American Red Cross

You don’t have to be first aid certified to become a caregiver for a family member, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn a few things about first aid before you begin. The Red Cross app is useful for teaching you how to handle minor injuries at home. It also has tips for dealing with emergencies, but we believe that calling your doctor or 911 immediately is more effective in a crisis.

7. UCLA Mindful

Becoming a caregiver is a difficult job, and if you don’t take proper care of yourself, you will find yourself burned out quickly. The UCLA Mindful app developed by the University of California, Los Angeles, offers guided meditation practice and tips for maintaining mindfulness. We recommend using this app, as well as listening to The Happy Healthy Caregiver Podcast, which can give further insight into ways to keep yourself healthy during your caregiving journey.

8. PainScale

If your loved one is experiencing chronic pain, we recommend downloading the PainScale app. This app can help you track and rank their pain so it is easier to discuss it with a physician later. It’s fairly simple to use, with you just marking the location, time, and severity of the pain each time it occurs, and the app will synthesize it into easy-to-use reports for your patient’s doctor. 

9. CaringBridge

The CaringBridge app is a bit like a secretary in your pocket! It can help keep track of phone calls, emails, and texts from other caregivers. It also has a shared calendar feature so everyone can stay up to date on tasks and appointments. One of our favorite features is that necessary tasks can be put into a list and then delegated to caregivers individually. We would have ranked this higher, but it seems recent updates to the app have made it less user-friendly than some of the others on this list. 

10. Iridis

The last app on our list, while it is technically for caregivers, is more for the patients of caregivers. To use the Iridis app, you will have to answer questions about the living arrangements and environment of your patient. Afterwards, it will walk you through adjustments that can be made to make a better environment for them. You will be directed to change things like light and noise.

While this app can be helpful, it doesn’t really have much medical use, which is why it is last on our list. That being said, many users reported it helped them to better care for a family member suffering from dementia, so it might be worth a try if you are struggling to help yours be comfortable! 

New to caregiving? Check out our related article with Tips for New Caregivers.