Now that you’ve retired, you probably want to enjoy your freedom to the maximum. Well, what if I told you that you could free your schedule even more with the right technology on hand? Unless you like doing some of the most tiresome chores in the house, you might want to check out this carefully curated list of apps.
Given the fact that smartphones are slowly but surely getting better by the day, more and more apps are available, offering useful functions and opportunities for seniors. If you’ve been looking for the best apps for seniors, look no further. They FOUND you.
AARP Now
Are you addicted to the news? If you can’t imagine your mornings without three of your favorite newspapers or you always get push notifications from a media outlet, then this app is for you. The AARP mobile app carefully curates local events, senior-specific news, and many other informative articles for you.
You can allow push notifications to receive not only the latest news but also alerts on upcoming events and promotions, so you’ll always be up to date with the community you live in. It doesn’t matter whether you have iOS or Android, as the app is fully functional on both.
Find my iPhone
This app is super useful not only for seniors but also for everyone who owns an iPhone. In fact, you shouldn’t go out and about without it! This app will help you keep track of your device in the unfortunate event of its it.
If you’ve just bought your smartphone and you want to make sure you’re not buying another one too soon, this app is helpful. Also, if you misplaced your phone somewhere in the house, deeply buried under five pillows in your guest bedroom, you would easily find it. It’s worth mentioning that this app only works on iPhones. Android users, I’m sorry!
Lyft or Uber
You can download either of these two for free, and then you pay for each ride you want to schedule. It’s available for both iOS and Android. Uber and Lyft have increasingly grown in popularity, becoming the standard for ride services worldwide.
Nowadays, ridesharing is an extremely popular form of transportation because it’s much easier and safer than traditional methods. These apps are based on GPS tracking to connect with the closest background-checked drivers, who will take your trip and pick you up in a few minutes.
Also, you can pay as you prefer: cash or card, so you won’t have to worry if you only have cash or your card with you. You can also leave tips in the app anytime you like during the ride.
Magnifying Glass
This app has one of the best features for seniors. If you have difficulty reading, we highly recommend it. The Magnifying Glass + Light app will immediately open your camera and flashlight to help with small print. It also includes plenty of easy-to-use features.
You can zoom in as many times as you need and also adjust the brightness. The app is free. However, a paid version is available with many other interesting and advanced features. Of course, you don’t have to use this app every time you need to read something, as it might prove to be a bit troublesome to hold multiple things simultaneously.
But if you’re currently waiting for your newest glasses prescription and you want to check a label in a grocery store, it’s super useful to use the Magnifying Glass app!
Video Chat Apps
If you ask me, every retiree should have a proper video calling app. It could be anything, from FaceTime to Google Duo to Zoom and Skype; as long as you can hear and see your family, it’s worth having it on your smartphone. Otherwise, what better way to stay connected to your loved ones, especially if you live in another state and can’t commute as much as you’d like?
The vast majority of video call apps can be easily downloaded for free, but I must admit that the best ones solely depend on your smartphone. FaceTime is the ultimate best for iOS users, while Google Duo is good for Android. Third-party apps such as Zoom and Skype work just fine for both. You might have to add a couple of contacts, though.
GoodRx
Prescription expenses can easily add up for seniors, but this app was mainly developed to help lower costs and make desired living more accessible for seniors. GoodRx might help you find deals and coupons for prescription drugs. It can also compare prices from over 70,000 pharmacies to ensure you are paying the right price (which is often the lowest, too). You can easily find this app on both iOS and Android. It’s worth trying!
Pacer
This great app is very similar to Fitbit or any other fitness tracker you might have tried. If you’ve never tried a fitness tracker, let me explain why having one is so helpful. This is how it works: it uses your phone to track your steps, which you can use to track your walks and routes regularly.
This app will also offer you a social advantage because you can connect with your friends and exchange “milestones.” You can also participate in challenges and push each other to stay as fit and active as possible. The app is free. However, it has some features that require payment for access.
MyFitnessPal
I can personally vouch for MyFitnessPal. I started my fitness journey a year ago, and out of all the free and paid apps I’ve tried, the best and easiest one was MyFitnessPal. If you’d like to improve your diet and fitness goals, I highly recommend you try it.
The app will provide you with a database of food options that will help you track nutrients and calories, but you can easily upload recipes and scan groceries for regular tracking. If you’re outdoors and want to order an exotic food you’ve never heard of, you can write it down in MyFitnessPal. They have many foods, and the chances of not finding what you’re looking for are slimmer than your waist after completing a hardcore workout routine!
Spotify
Any music lover out there has a Spotify account, period. If you haven’t tried it yet, I’m your friend, and I totally get you. I was so stubborn not to try this app, thinking “I don’t really need to pay money to listen to music (there’s YouTube, right?)”.
But here’s the thing: you don’t really get how nice it is to have Spotify on your phone… until you actually decide to try it. It’s not that you can find any given song in the world; it’s the fact that you can carefully organize your playlists. Moreover, Spotify will closely “listen” to your preferences and carefully recommend songs you’ll instantly fall in love with.
TV Streaming Apps
These days, there are countless options and streaming services that you won’t know what to choose first! We’re talking Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, and many other streaming services that you can easily download on your smartphone and watch anything, at any time, from anywhere. However, it’s worth mentioning that all these streaming services require a subscription fee.
While we’re at it, we’d think you might want to read this, too: Best smart speaker for elderly – Top 5 reviews and buying guide 2021
