The signs of Alzheimer’s have been known for decades. It starts out small with difficulty remembering things that just happened, but over time, quickly degenerates into difficulty speaking, mood swings, disorientation and inability to manage one’s basic care.
When the signs of Alzheimer’s become apparent, a family has to consider some tough choices. Do we put our loved one in an assisted living facility, or do we bring them to live with us?
Although the causes of this neurodegenerative disease are poorly understood and there is no cure, tools are available to help families manage and cope with the effects of Alzheimer’s. Smartphone technology is one area where seniors and their families can find tools that were not available only 10 years ago.
Continue reading for 6 smartphone apps seniors, their families, caregivers and researchers can use manage the effects and better understand this ailment.
- Power Sleep – developed by scientists at the University of Vienna, this Android-based app serves as an alarm clock for the patient, but helps researchers by decrypting protein sequences so they can better understand how these proteins are arranged and by extension, better understand Alzheimer’s.
- Tapestry – one of the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s is forgetting family and friends. The Tapestry app helps seniors keep in touch with family and other loved ones by providing a user-friendly, secure way to share pictures and messages. Maintaining close contact with family and seeing pictures have shown to improve a patient’s happiness and health.
- CareSolver – caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients face a difficult job that often leads to frustration and in some extreme cases, danger for the patient. CareSolver helps Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers by providing interactive demonstrations and tools for organizing daily tasks.
- Backup Memory – developed by Samsung, this app is designed for people exhibiting the early signs of Alzheimer’s and helps by stimulating specific memories. It identifies family members within a certain radius and reminds the patient of their relationship to this person. Some studies have shown how these types of reminders help slow the progression of the disease.
- MediSafe – managing medications is one of the biggest challenges for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. The MediSafe app provides a visual, user-friendly interface for ensuring the patient takes their medications at the right time and in the right amount. Not knowing if your parent or patient took their medications is one of the biggest stressors of being a caregiver.
Despite these and many other smartphone tools for helping Alzheimer’s patients, challenges do remain, including a condition called “technophobia.” As the name suggests, this is a fear of technology, and it’s common with those who have suffered strokes or have Alzheimer’s.
According to Kathleen Dobson, the big challenge is awareness – many seniors simply do not know technology tools are available for helping Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.
Despite these challenges and slow adoption among seniors themselves, these and many other smartphone apps are making strides in helping patients and caregivers better manage the disease and researchers obtain crucial information for better understanding it.