It’s no secret that seniors are tech-savvy. In fact, a recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 83% of Baby Boomers use the internet at home. And if you’re not already tapping into this market, now is the time to start!
Not only are seniors looking for ways to stay connected and feel safe, but they’re also willing to pay for those services. According to the same study, more than half of seniors pay for some type of internet service at home. That means it’s time to start thinking about how you can get in on this huge opportunity.
So what are some great apps for seniors? Here are our top picks:
Best Apps For Seniors Android
A simple Android launcher for seniors is precisely what your parents and grandparents need. The latest Android devices have advanced features that can be complicated for seniors who just want to do the basics, like making calls and sending messages.
Fortunately, some launchers are designed with older users in mind, to offer them a more direct and smoother user experience. They do not have extra features and make it easy to find the most essential phone functions.
Here are seven of the top Android launchers for seniors to use without too much difficulty.
- SimpleLauncher
3 Images
Homepage for Simplelauncher
SimpleLauncher Control Centre
SOS and Edit icons on Simple Launcher
Simple Launcher app is a free Android launcher for the elderly with no ads and an easy-to-use interface. Some of the features of this app include large fonts and icons to view and operate with ease. It has a Control Center that makes it easy to find the general settings, as well as weather settings, a safety lock, and easier access to uninstalling apps.
SimpleLauncher is also convenient for making phone calls by adding contacts to your home screen. It also features a big red SOS button for making emergency calls. This launcher works well when you want to personalize your Android Home Screen.
You don’t have to worry about your grandparents moving apps or deleting them with the edit-lock switch. It also means they don’t have to worry about messing up the layout, or pocket dials.
MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAY
Close
Download: Simple Launcher (Free)
- BIG Launcher
3 Images
Big Launcher Homepage
Settings on Big Launcher app
App list on Big Launcher
The BIG Launcher app is suitable for the elderly, children, and users with eyesight problems. It further simplifies your Android phone by using a plain background as the wallpaper, with a grid-style arrangement.
When setting up the app, you can choose to have even larger fonts for better visibility. There is a dark mode, blue mode, and light mode available for you to use.
The app’s interface is simple with only six blocks—phone, SMS, camera, gallery, SOS, and all apps—and you can edit this section to add more apps as you wish. You get the battery level information at the top, along with the time and current date.
The apps on your smartphone are listed alphabetically with a search bar at the top to make finding the app you are looking for simple. With BIG Launcher, you will be using a custom phone call and SMS app. You can also change other features like theme and grid sizes after making an in-app purchase.
Download: BIG Launcher (Free, in-app purchases available)
- Simple Mode
3 Images
Simple Mode launcher homepage
App list on Simple Mode Launcher
Notifications on Simple Mode
Simple Mode app is yet another app that tries to reduce the complexities of Android smartphones. Like the other launchers on this list, you get to see information and apps in large, semi-transparent blocks. This theme easily matches any background you choose and makes viewing and reading text simple.
At the top, you have the time and date in a large font, with easy to read text on the rest of the home screen. The other apps on your smartphone are in the form of a list with the uninstall feature on the right.
You can add your favorite contacts and other apps you constantly use on the other screens. The Simple Mode launcher is only 2MB in size, which is excellent for your grandparent using a more basic phone.
Download: Simple Mode (Free)
- Senior Safety Phone
3 Images
Homepage on Senior Safety Phone
App list on Senior Safety Phone
Settings on Senior Safety Phone
The Senior Safety Phone is a popular Android launcher for elders because of its classic design. It is easy to navigate with the most common shortcuts like phone, SMS, and all apps at the bottom of the screen.
There are also icons on the remainder of the screen for things like alarm and emergency calls. The Settings feature is also easily accessible, and you can lock down the settings and volume levels to prevent any accidental changes.
Additional features like making emergency calls and setting medication reminders also make the Senior Safety Phone launcher one of the best for seniors. However, your grandparents will have to deal with the ads almost everywhere on the free version.
Download: Senior Safety Phone (Free, in-app purchases)
- Help Launcher
3 Images
Homepage Help Launcher
Contact list on Help Launcher
Settings on Help Launcher
Help Launcher is another simple launcher for Android. The default home screen lets you quickly access calls, messages, and the camera, while the settings icon gets you to the alarm clock, Wi-Fi connection, contacts, and other general controls.
The icons are brightly colored to make differentiating them manageable. The apps list also features large icons in large font sizes for seniors with eye problems. The SOS feature allows you to make emergency calls by adding contacts to the SOS list.
Download: Help Launcher (Free, in-app purchases)
- Square Home
2 Images
Square Home 3 windows-like homescreen Android app
Square Home 3 options Android app
Square Home isn’t intentionally built for elderly phone users. But its Windows-style home screen nonetheless makes a good option for those who want a simple launcher.
The colorful square tiles provide a hassle-free way for grandparents and parents to distinguish and launch apps. You can place as many tiles as you’d like and customize them based on their priority.
On top of this, Square Home supports widgets and even bundles a few of its own. This enables you to add everything from music controls to WhatsApp chat shortcuts to the home screen. To ensure the user doesn’t accidentally adjust the setup, you can lock the arrangement.
Square Home has a multitude of personalization options. You can edit the look to match your preferences, and the app can sort tiles and apps depending on how often you interact with them. Lastly, the tiles can show the number of pending notifications from their respective apps.
Square Home is mostly free, but you can unlock a few extra features with the paid version.
Download: Square Home (Free) | Square Home Key ($4.99)
- BaldPhone
3 Images
Baldphone launcher homepage
Settings on Bald phone
App list on Baldphone launcher
BaldPhone is a great Android launcher for seniors. As soon as you open the app, you can choose the level of accessibility you need when using your phone. The icons are large, and you need to press longer to access each feature. You don’t need to scroll with the arrow keys on the right side.
You can also easily adjust your phone’s volume through the sound icon on the top of the screen, and set it to either vibrate or mute. There is also a blank screen for you to write down notes to use later. The fantastic thing about BaldPhone is the video tutorial feature that helps you get up to speed quickly.
There is also a medical reminder function to ensure you take your pills if you usually forget. It is also highly customizable to match your personal needs and specifications. The BaldPhone Launcher doesn’t have ads and is free of charge—perfect for seniors.
Download: BaldPhone (Free)
Best Android Launchers for Senior Citizens
With these third-party Android launchers, older users can better navigate through their smartphones without any problems. They feature large icons and text for easier viewing and accessibility.
These Android launchers are ideal for older users who need to access a phone’s essential functions like SMS, phone calls, and camera. They also work well for users with eye problems and other eyesight issues.
You don’t have to worry about pocket dials or opening the wrong app when you want to do something simple on your phone again. Try out these launchers with your parents or grandparents and see how easy it is for them.
apps for seniors living alone
Unlike Millennials, older folks have a hard time catching up to the technology. Most older people just don’t feel the need to include technology in their day to day lives, especially the smartphone. So how do we get them to use those apps or which apps to download? Well, I have made a list of apps for old people especially if they live alone.
As people grow older some bodily functions, like vision, hearing, and mobility decrease over time. There are apps out there which can alleviate these problems. The apps listed are only for more common disabilities like poor vision, hearing loss, and limited mobility. For a more comprehensive list, you can check out apps to make Android easier for senior citizens.
Apps For Seniors Living Alone
- Accessibility Features on iOS
iOS has the most accessibility features which are designed keeping old people in mind. iOS’ Accessibility features can help you adapt to technology more conveniently. To find all these features go to Settings > General > Accessibility.
Magnifier
My grandpa is always looking for his trusty old magnifying glass to read the newspaper. Little does he know the Magnifier on his iPhone converts the iPhone’s camera into a digital magnifying glass. Simply, activate the feature from the Accessibility settings and launch the Magnifier from the Control Center. You can adjust the zoom by sliding the bar on the bottom. It also has a flash option for low light magnification.
apps for old people- Magnifier
Zoom
Okay, the magnifier is good for magnifying real-life objects but the iPhone itself has tiny lettering and most older folks can’t really tell what they’re looking at on their iPhone or iPad. You can turn on Zoom accessibility to look at the finer print on the terms and conditions or while casually browsing the internet.
apps for old people- Zoom
AssitiveTouch
It is the most used accessibility feature on the iPhone. The white dot sits on the edge of the iPhone screen and you can quickly access options like notifications, Home, Control Center etc. AssistiveTouch is recommended for people who have difficulty touching the screen.
apps for old people- AssistiveTouch
It supports single-tap, Double-tap, and long press and you can set custom actions with AssistiveTouch. This would trigger a specific action like lock screen, mute, SOS, etc. If an app requires a set of gestures, you can create those as well in the Settings.
Balance audio in Left and Right ear
This accessibility feature lets you adjust and balance the audio to your left and right ear. This can come in handy for people who have hearing loss in one of their ears and adjusting the audio can offer a more balanced sound overall.
apps for old people- Balance Audio
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a great accessibility feature for old people. It offers audio feedback for every step you take after turning it on. You can customize the speed, speech, and verbosity according to the user. This guided step by step narration can help them in navigating the iOS without any external guidance.
apps for old people- VoiceOver
- Native Accessibility features for Android
Accessibility features on Android are similar to the iOS and you can get almost all the features on any Android device. Implementation of accessibility features can be limited or augmented by OEMs.
TalkBack
Just like iOS’ VoiceOver, TalkBack can help to make interactions with the smartphone easier for old people. You can interact with elements of the screen and select the apps and buttons with guided access. You can make the feature more customizable for your older folks in the settings.
Find the service in Accessibility Settings. Go to Settings and search for Accessibility and Turn on ‘TalkBack‘.
apps for old people- TalkBack
Magnification
Unlike iOS’ Magnifier, Android’s Magnification zooms the content on the phone’s screen rather than behind it. All the gestures and controls vary from device to device and you can check out yours in the settings.
Find Magnification in Accessibility settings. Go to Settings and search for Accessibility and turn on ‘Magnification‘.
apps for old people- Android magnifier
- Wheelmap
Wheelmap has the largest database of wheelchair friendly places. You can simply open the app, enter the place you wish to visit on the map and it shows if it is wheelchair friendly or not. All the places shown in green are fully wheelchair accessible, yellow partially, and red not at all. What’s even better? You can add to the list by adding the flair and add images to the places which aren’t flagged on Wheelmap yet. Wheelmap is free.
apps for old people- wheelmap
Install Wheelmap (Android | iOS)
- Ear Machine
A smartphone can’t replace a quality hearing aid but it certainly complements one. Enter Ear Machine, an iPhone app that enhances the ambient sounds for people with mild hearing impairment. You can install this app and connect your pair of headphones to listen to ambient sounds clearly. The app has two dials which you can swipe to fine-tune and adjust loudness. The app automatically reduces ambient noise and lets you focus on the conversation. Ear Machine is free to use.
apps for old people- Ear Machine
Install Ear Machine (iOS)
- Live Transcribe
This next app is an Android exclusive Speech to Text app which works in real time. While still in Beta, it works amazingly well. As you speak, the app processes your speech and converts it into sentences. You can adjust the text which displays on the screen, select a language(from 70 different languages), and set a dark theme. This app also has an option to mask profanity to keep the conversations clean. The only limitation with the app is that it requires an active internet connection.
apps for old people- Live Transcribe
Sadly, iOS hasn’t implemented this feature natively yet but you can still get decent Speech to text with Voicea on your iPhone it works in real time and would be helpful in conversations with old people. Voicea was not intended for old people but it works well for our case and its free.
Install Live Transcribe (Android)
- Sound Amplifier
Sound Amplifier, just like Ear Machine amplifies the ambient sounds using the phone’s mic. The app is natively installed in all the Pixel 3 devices and you can activate the app from the accessibility settings and tap the Accessibility button to run it. Others can download it from the Play Store. The app doesn’t have an interface and runs silently in the background. You can fine tune the settings and adjust the boost in the Accessibility menu.
apps for old people- Sound Amplifier
Sound Amplifier is still in beta and doesn’t support every Android device yet. Super Ear Tool is a similar app for Android users who can’t install Sound Amplifier.
Install Sound Amplifier (Android)
- Instant Heart Rate
This next app lets you calculate your heart rate using the iPhone’s camera sensor and flash. The principle is similar to traditional IR Pulse sensor, a light source illuminates your flesh and the camera captures the blood flowing through the capillaries. To measure the pulse turn on the app and put your finger on the camera sensor and the flash. The app works fine and gives a reading with an error of (±)10% and I would not recommend it over a professional pulse tracker but you can use this to get an approximate idea of your pulse.
Must Read: 6 Best Heart Rate Monitors for Apple Watch
apps for old people- Instant Heart Rate
One thing which I noticed during testing this app over multiple devices was that some devices have a very bright flashlight and it gets really hot and almost unbearable. I would only recommend it for iOS devices as the Flash on those devices doesn’t burn your skin on close contact. The app is available for iOS and Android.
Install Instant Heart Rate Monitor ( Android | iOS)
- Chk-In Fall Alert
Falling down in old age can be serious especially for seniors living alone. Chk-In Fall Alert is an app which senses if a person has fallen down using the smartphone’s accelerometer. Using it is simple, after setting up the app, it runs silently in the background, if a person falls down they can simply, shake the device to trigger a distress signal and the app would automatically send it to the emergency contact. This app can come as a lifesaver if your old folks live alone and you want them to be safe.
apps for old people- Chk-In Fall Alert
Install Chk-In Fall Alert(Android)
- ADA
ADA is a health guide app which helps you identify any health problem by asking questions. The best part about the app is the minimal interface and old people can easily learn to use.
To start a diagnosis, tap the assessment button and answer the questions asked. If you answer correctly, the app shows you possible causes for the discomfort along with a diagnosis. It can come in handy for old people who can’t go to the doctor every time their tummy hurts and still be sure of the symptoms. The app also keeps a log of assessments and you can keep track of specific symptoms as well. ADA is free and available for Android and iOS.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines