The Best Smartphone Apps for Seniors to Stay Connected

Staying connected with family and friends is essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being, especially for seniors. Thanks to modern technology, numerous smartphone apps are designed to make communication easier and more enjoyable. Here are some of the best apps that can help seniors stay connected, whether they are in assisted living or living independently.

Video Calling with Zoom

Zoom has become incredibly popular for video calls, and it’s easy to see why. It allows seniors to see and talk to their loved ones in real time, no matter where they are. This app is user-friendly and can be a great way to stay in touch, especially for those in assisted living facilities Rio Rancho who want to maintain regular face-to-face contact with family.

Social Media with Facebook

Facebook is a fantastic tool for keeping up with family and friends. Seniors can share photos, post updates, and comment on their loved ones’ activities. It’s also a great way to join groups and find communities with similar interests. Facebook helps many stay updated with what’s happening in the lives of grandchildren and old friends.

Instant Messaging with WhatsApp

WhatsApp is perfect for quick and easy communication. It allows for text messaging, voice calls, and video calls, all for free. This app is excellent for seniors who want to send quick updates or share photos with family. WhatsApp is particularly handy for staying in touch with friends in senior living communities. It’s fast, reliable, and very easy to use.

Photo Sharing with Instagram

Instagram is a visual platform that is perfect for sharing photos and short videos. It’s an excellent way for seniors to share their daily experiences and stay connected with family. Posting pictures of gardening projects and seeing family updates on Instagram is both fun and simple. The app’s interface is straightforward, making it accessible even for those who aren’t very tech-savvy.

Staying Organized with Google Calendar

Keeping track of appointments and social events can be challenging, but Google Calendar makes it simple. This app allows seniors to set reminders for medical appointments, family gatherings, and more. It’s invaluable for staying organized and ensuring no important dates are missed. This is especially useful in assisted living, where residents often have a busy schedule of activities and events.

Reading and Listening with Audible

For seniors who love reading but find it hard to see small print, Audible is a great solution. This app offers a vast library of audiobooks that can be listened to anytime, anywhere. Listening to favorite books while relaxing at home or during daily walks brings great joy. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy literature without straining your eyes.

Health Monitoring with MyFitnessPal

Staying healthy is crucial, and MyFitnessPal can help seniors track their diet and exercise. This app allows you to log meals, monitor physical activity, and set health goals. MyFitnessPal helps many keep an eye on nutrition and ensure they’re staying active. Personally, I find it to be an excellent tool for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, particularly in senior living environments where wellness is a priority.

Staying Informed with NPR One

Keeping up with the news is important, and NPR One makes it easy. This app provides access to various news stories, radio shows, and podcasts. Using NPR One to stay informed about current events and listen to interesting stories is engaging and informative. It’s a great way to stay mentally engaged and connected to the world.

Using these smartphone apps can significantly enhance the quality of life for seniors, helping them stay connected with loved ones and engaged with the world around them. Whether in assisted living or living independently, these apps offer convenient and enjoyable ways to maintain social connections and stay active. Let’s embrace technology and make the most of these fantastic tools to enrich our lives.

HOW DO THERAPY DOGS HELP SENIORS?

You see them in several environments, from the local shopping mall to a nearby municipal park. They often wear a colored vest while walking next to their human companion. Some of them visit schools, daycare centers, and assisted living facilities to spread joy to everyone who encounters them. At the MorningStar of Fountain Hills memory care facility, we have become acquainted with the therapy dogs that are companions for some of our residents.

Therapy dogs come from a handful of breeds, such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, and labrador retrievers. They spend considerable time, which often runs two years, learning how to interact with humans. For residents at our senior living center in Scottsdale, Arizona, one question is asked more often than other questions.

How do therapy dogs help seniors?

More Active

With a dog to take care of each day, seniors who live a mostly sedentary lifestyle immediately transform into active older adults. Like all dogs, therapy dogs require walks, as well as playtime at a dog or municipal park. Getting off the couch and walking a therapy dog improves your physical health by working out the cardiovascular system. Seniors also become more active by playing games with their therapy dogs such as fetch and tug of war.

Less Lonely

Research studies indicate that around 40 percent of seniors experience regular bouts of loneliness. This is especially true for seniors who have lost a spouse. Seniors who experience loneliness are more likely to develop the symptoms that are associated with depression and anxiety. The results of a study released in 2016 demonstrate pets provide the emotional support seniors need to fend off bouts of loneliness. A visit from a therapy dog can wash those lonely blues away.

Lower Blood Pressure

According to one research study, sitting down and petting a dog for a few minutes can lower your blood pressure by as much as 10 percent. The body reduces stress because the brain releases oxytocin, prolactin, and serotonin. It also reduces the level of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Seniors who live with high blood pressure are at a much greater risk of developing health ailments such as strokes, as well as heart and kidney disease. Lowering blood pressure is the most effective strategy for preventing the development of those diseases.

Helps Fend Off Dementia

At our assisted living facility, we emphasize the importance of our residents remaining mentally active to prevent developing the signs of dementia. Playing interactive card games and working solo on crossword puzzles represent two ways to stay mentally fit. Another way to keep your brain sharp is to interact with a therapy dog. The company of a loving dog can improve cognitive functioning, as well as help seniors stay balanced and well-coordinated.

Learn More About Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs have somewhat different roles than the roles covered by service dogs. Therapy dogs do more visits, such as visiting residents at our senior living center in Scottsdale, AZ. They are trained to provide emotional support for victims of violent crimes, as well as older adults who live alone. On the other hand, service dogs provide constant companionship by helping their human companions deal with disabilities like blindness and epilepsy.

You can find therapy dogs roaming the halls of our assisted living facility at Fountain Hills as part of our monthly activities calendar. Learn more about therapy dogs and how they help seniors by scheduling a tour of our senior living center in Scottsdale, AZ.