There's an App for That

There’s an App for That

DISCOVER Convenience with Apps

by Kayla Gahagan

Sometimes it’s as simple as using it to figure out where to go for dinner, but more and more older adults are using Smartphone apps to make their lives easier, according to research.

According to the Pew Research Center, 4 in ten seniors now own Smartphones – more than double of those who did in 2013. And with every Smartphone comes a plethora of apps that offer tools to save time and money, provide entertainment or help manage life.

to communicate with them the way they want to.”

Though more seniors have taken to their Smartphones, there is still room to grow when it comes to the apps. In a study done by the Pew Research Center, a little more than half of 18-29 year-old cell phone users have downloaded an app, but only 11

“Gadgets have increased the quality of life,” said Meghan Hoy, marketing manager for A Place for Mom, a business that helps families find local resources for seniors. “Smartphones and apps do two things – it helps seniors increase their independence and it helps them communicate better with their loved ones.We regularly partner with seniors and their families who are increasingly utilizing technology,” Hoy said.

“This aging population is just more tech savvy and they need information available to them on their Smartphones,” she said. “We need to be able

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percent of cell phone users age 50 and older have done so. Hoy thinks a change is on the horizon.

“In the next five years, I think there’s going to be a big change in the app market,” she said. “It’s going to become more popular. Seniors are learning and adapting to new technology and that’s only going to grow.”

Leah Ganschow, association state director of AARP South Dakota, said they have witnessed the rise of Smartphones and view them as another tool for seniors. The association has held classes in communities across the state to help beginners improve their confidence and skills.

“The technology is a great tool,” Ganschow said, “including providing assistance with healthy living, medication management, financial account monitoring and financial management.”

“We support technologies that can help people of all ages live a healthier life, try new things and stay connected to the people they love,” she said. “We hope apps will continue to help support family caregivers, improve financial security and encourage lifelong learning and exploration.”

It’s one of the reasons, why the association supports the state’s broadband expansion.

“We know in order for smartphones to be a useful tool to all South Dakotans, wireless internet service needs to be expanded to all parts of our state,” she said.

“But Smart-

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phones – and their apps – don’t come without some risks,” she added. The AARP Fraud Watch Network encourages cell phone users to be cautious when using public Wi-Fi and to update passwords regularly.

Hoy agreed. “Make sure that the apps you are downloading are approved through Google Play or the app store,” she said.

If you’re unsure of where to go, here are the 9 most useful apps for seniors, according to a Place for Mom:

AARP Now App (free) This app gives you senior-specific news, shares events happening locally and tells you what discounts you qualify for with your AARP membership.

EyeReader by NetSoft ($1.99 iOS) If you hate reading restaurant menus by candlelight, you may find this magnifying glass app handy. Simply hold your phone over any text and the EyeReader will magnify it and light it up for you.

Find My iPhone (free) Never lose your pricey iPhone or iPad with this app. If you leave your phone somewhere or it gets stolen, this app will find it.

Life360 (free iOS) No more asking your family to call to ensure they’ve arrived home safely. This app uses GPS tracking to keep track of family members as they attend school, vacations or work and they can keep track of you, too.

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Lyft (free to download, but pay as you use) You’ve heard the buzz surrounding Lyft and Uber, but did you know these services are particularly useful for seniors? No more calling for a taxi and fumbling with cash or card. With just a couple clicks, you can have a car at your service to take you anywhere: the airport, doctor’s appointments, a party or the theatre. The payment’s already set up, so you don’t have to worry about paying or even tipping (although both Lyft and Uber accept tips now).

Senior Savings ($.99 iOS) Find out which grocery stores, hotels, restaurants and theaters offer senior discounts in this app.

Silver Surf (free for iOS) iPads and smartphones can be hard to use because of the tiny buttons and text, and it can be impossible for the visually impaired. This app allows you to enlarge buttons and text on iPads and iPhones.

FaceTime or Skype (free) Use FaceTime or Skype to visually connect with your children, grandkids or friends in far places. It’s truly like having your favorite people in your living room – without the mess. You have to download Skype, but FaceTime comes already loaded on all Apple products.

Yahoo! Weather (free) There are 100s of weather apps, but Yahoo! Weather is worth downloading because it has a beautiful design and it’s simple to use. It allows you to track the weather for your location up to five days out and it includes radar maps.

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