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Apps For Older People – Guide to Apps for Elderly
Click here to skip to the apps list
What do we know about Apps for Older People?
We’ve spent years working with older people; spreading the knowledge to understand and enjoy the benefits technology, smartphones, tablets and apps can offer. Seniors are sometimes the least likely to be confident using technology, but often problems encountered during later life can be improved or solved through apps for older people. We’ve sifted through thousands of apps for both Android and iOS (Apple) devices to compile the ultimate guide on apps for elderly people.
Not quite sure what apps are? Read our FREE ‘Ultimate Guide to Understanding Apps’
The world is changing…
As the populations of many Western countries age on an unprecedented scale, aging and our attitude towards it is changing. Over 18% of the UK are aged 65+ and Over 3% are 85+ (ONS), whilst in the USA there’s over 49m people aged 65+ (Census).
These aren’t just ‘apps for older people’
The traditional perception of being ‘old’ simply isn’t the same any more, as living longer has opened the doors to enjoy many more of life’s benefits. My grandfather is 92, very physically fit and uses his tablet computer daily. However some people can be in their early 60’s, suffer from chronic health problems and be very unlikely to use technology; which is more of a traditional stereotype of a senior. My point is that although the following apps may be useful for seniors, they’re certainly not restricted to a certain age group or are just ‘apps for older people’.
Reasons apps for the elderly may help
- Enjoying the golden years through leisure and travel
- Helping to stay entertained and occupied
- Combating loneliness and isolation by keeping in touch with friends and family
- Helping to manage health conditions and medication management
- Keeping the brain active and staying intellectually challenged
- Overcoming a lack of mobility or ability to leave the house
- Saving money and getting the best deals
Isn’t using apps expensive?
In short, the answer is no, but it can be if you don’t know what you’re doing. Most apps for Android and Apple (iOS) devices are free, or have a nominal fee like 65p. ‘How do they make their money then?’ I hear you ask. Well often it’s through showing adverts around the edge of the app or before you open it. Other times it’s through something called the ‘freemium’ model, which means the basic version of the app is free, but you’ll need to pay to access all the ‘bells and whistles’, often known as ‘premium features’.
OK, so how do I avoid apps costing me money?
Well firstly you can ofcourse use the free versions of them instead of the premium ones, which is usually not much different if you can put up with the odd advert. However if you’re like my grandmother and absolutely loath adverts with a passion, then why not pay a little more for the premium version?
The other way using apps can end up costing you money is through excessive streaming using mobile data.
What is ‘streaming’ and why is it useful?
Streaming is the process of consuming something (for example a TV show) by it being sent in little chunks as you watch it, instead of waiting for the entire thing to be sent to your device before being able to enjoy it. It’s like a restaurant being able to bring your courses out as you eat them, not having to wait for dessert to be made before tucking in to your starter.
Streaming means that you can enjoy things like radio, music, films, TV shows, videos and more whilst out and about using mobile data. Most entertainment apps use streaming to allow you to use them.
There’s two different ways to access the internet on your smartphone or tablet…
Wi-Fi: You probably already know what this is, but it stands for ‘Wireless Fidelity’ and essentially means access to the internet within a certain area (like your home, a coffee shop or hotel etc.) It’s nearly always free to use and means you can stream as much music, TV etc. as you like without any additional charges
Mobile Data: This is accessing the internet through telephone masts, it’s also wireless like Wi-Fi but is not restricted to a specific geographic location. e.g. if you went for a walk across your town centre, you wouldn’t lose signal like you would with Wi-Fi.
So how would using apps for streaming with mobile data cost me money?
Mobile data costs money and you’ll usually have an allowance of mb [megabytes] (the unit that internet data is measured in), in your monthly mobile plan, or you’ll be charged a fixed amount for every mb if you’re on pay as you go. The real expense comes when you exceed your monthly allowance of mobile data, as many network providers (like Vodafone, O2, EE etc.) charge extortionate amounts for every mb used over and above this.
And how do I stop my mobile company charging me extra?
First of all, it’s worth seeing if you’re on the right mobile plan or contract. If you’re someone that would like to catch up with TV on the bus or use your smartphone to never get lost again, then you’ll need a fair amount of mobile data in your package…
- Discover current usage: Find out how much you’re currently using (if any). Either log in to your account online or call your provider and ask for your ‘data usage’ for the last few months
- Find the best deal: Shop around for a cheap plan with enough data, minutes for calling and texts. I recommend using comparison websites like Uswitch or MoneySavingExpert. (Remember you’re looking for a ‘SIM-only plan’, where you’re paying for using the phone, rather than the phone itself)
- Choose the right one for you: Choose a plan with enough mobile data for you. 2GB+ should be plenty for moderate mobile data use (a few hours of streaming a week). Remember you can always downgrade if you’re not using anywhere near your allowance.
- Set up alerts: Most mobile providers will send you a text message to warn you when you’re getting near your monthly allowance. If you’re really worried about going over you can always contact your mobile provider and ask them to put a cap on it. This will stop you using mobile data when you’ve hit your limit.
“Don’t let worries about data charges get in the way of benefiting from apps. By following the advice above, you’ll easily have an inexpensive and enjoyable app experience.”
Miles Waghorn, TechSilver Founder
Apps for Older People: The List
As there’s so many to choose from, we’ve put these apps for older people in to categories
(click the links below and jump to that section)
- Entertainment
– Music & Radio
– TV & Film
- Communication & Staying in touch
- Travel & Adventure
- Games & Puzzles
- Handy & Useful
- Money Management
– Banking Apps
– Consumer - Health & Wellbeing
Music & Radio: Apps for Older People
TuneIn
Available on Android + Apple devices
With the invention and worldwide spread of the internet, radio has gone from a crackly reception and carefully turning dials, to almost endless choice from across the globe. TuneIn gives free access to over 100,000 radio stations in every corner of the planet. Moroccan Jazz? no problem, Ecuadorian folk? Why not, or even just your favourite BBC stations, wherever you are, in your pocket.
Our Favourite Features
- A ridiculously large choice to suit every taste
- Easily access ‘favourites’ with a list of the stations you love
- Completely free to download and use, with a premium version offering zero ads
Click here for our high quality, simple to use internet radio from Roberts
Spotify
Available on Android + Apple devices
The days of needing to buy vinyl, cassettes and even CD’s are long behind us. Replacing their more expensive, physical older brothers are digital music files or ‘MP3’s. Thanks to streaming (explained above), you don’t even have to own the song or album to listen to it wherever and whenever you please.
For a monthly subscription of £9.99 you can listen to over 30 millions tracks on the move, you can search by artist, song name and more, whilst being able to create playlists, mixtapes with all your favourite tracks in e.g. I’ve got one called ‘Evening relaxation’. There’s also a free version with adverts and simply the ability to listen to randomly selected songs by a certain artist.
Our Favourite Features
- Listen to over 30m songs, anytime, anywhere
- Much more cost effective than buying MP3’s or CDs
- Accessible across any digital device. (computer, smartphone, tablet + more)
TV & Film: Apps for Older People
TV Catchup
Available on Android + Apple devices
This deceivingly named app for elderly actual allows you to watch 30 UK freeview TV channels live on your smartphone or tablet. So whether you’re in the kitchen, hotel or out and about, you’ll never miss your favourite show. We recommend connecting to wireless internet (Wi-Fi) where possible with this app, to avoid extra charges for mobile data.
Our Favourite Features
- Watch TV anywhere
- Completely free to download and use
- Only one advert is shown before you watch
Sky Go
Available on Android + Apple devices
Available to all Sky TV customers, it’s similar to TV catchup in that it lets you watch any of the channels in your package live, wherever you want. It even includes sports, movies and box sets.
Our Favourite Features
- Included in your existing Sky TV package (at no extra cost)
- Download shows to watch when there’s no internet (e.g. planes or trains)
- Control your Sky box remotely on the move (e.g. setting something to record)
Most UK TV companies have their own catchup service, where you can watch live and/or catch up with your favourite shows…
- BBC: BBC iPlayer
- ITV: ITV Player
- Channel 4: 4OD
- Channel 5: My 5
Communication & Staying in touch: Apps for Older People
As we live in an increasingly globalised world, it’s becoming far more likely that the people emotionally close to us, are physically further away. Technology and these apps for older people thankfully allow us to speak, see each other, share pictures and more, inexpensively and from anywhere in the world.
Whatsapp:
Available on Android + Apple devices
Whatsapp has undoubtedly brought my family closer together. It’s the world’s largest messaging app with over 13bn active monthly users. It allows you to share messages, pictures, videos and more with either one person, or multiple people at once in a ‘group chat’. It also allows you to make free video or phone calls with anyone, all you need as an internet connection.
(Read this guide on what a video call is or this guide on how to do it)
It’s brought my family closer together by creating a space where 3 generations of us can share moments and keep in touch, without needing to pick up the phone and call eachother regularly. It enables everyone, no-matter how busy their lifestyle to stay in contact with the elderly people in their life, and vice versa. it’s especially useful if your family and friends live overseas, as you avoid making costly phone calls and can catch up for as long as you want with absolutely no cost.
Our Favourite Features
- Send messages, pictures and more to anyone from anywhere, completely free!
- Have unlimited video and audio calls without using up the minutes in your allowance
- Whatsapp web enables you to use Whatsapp from your computer
Skype
Available on Android + Apple devices
Bringing face to face conversation to the masses, Skype has been the world’s leading video calling app for many years. Owned by Microsoft, this free app allows you to make unlimited voice or video calls to anyone in the world for absolutely nothing.
Unlike Whatsapp, Skype does not require a mobile phone number and sim card to function, therefore can be used on regular tablets and computers as well as smartphones and tablets with a sim card.
You can also have conversations with up to 9 other people at the same time, this is great if you want to catch up as a family or with multiple friends at the same time, whilst in different places.
Our Favourite Features
- Free and unlimited video and audio calling to anywhere in the world
- Accessible on computers, tablets, smartphones and more
- Have group chats with up to 9 other people at once
Facebook
Available on Android + Apple devices
If Facebook were a country, it would be the biggest on earth, with over 1.8 billion active monthly users. Facebook has developed from a way to keep in touch with friends and family, to be the ultimate information and communication hub. Not only does it enable you to reconnect with old friends in just a few clicks, but most public figures and organisations are represented, so visiting their page offers updates as well as pictures, reviews and more.
Facebook is a great app for older people to help stay updated with the lives of loved ones. If they live a long distance away or you don’t often speak on the phone, Facebook helps you stay in the loop with updates like holiday pictures, career progress and even their love life.
Millions of local and international groups enable you to share information, experiences and advice with those that have a common interest. Just use the search bar to discover them e.g. ‘Cheltenham knitting’.
Events are easier thanks to Facebook. Create a public or private event page and invite your guests, then use the page to share information with them and receive updates e.g. RSVP, great for family events and organising social meet ups.
Our Favourite Features
- Keep updated on what friends and family are doing
- Reconnect with old friends from school, work and more
- Organise / attend events and share knowledge with like-minded people
Travel & Adventure: Apps for Older People
For many people, their golden years are an opportunity to visit and explore the places they’d always dreamed of. Responsibilities like your career, family and financial restrictions can become less demanding during retirement, offering time to enjoy new people, places and cultures. This section is dedicated to apps for older people that want to see what the world has to offer!
Google Translate
Available on Android + Apple devices
We’ve all been there. Embarrassingly trying to explain something to your waiter or hotel receptionist in pigeon English, whilst they look at you with a bemused face. Well thankfully technology and apps allow us to overcome these language barriers. Google translate is by far the slickest and easiest to use translation app, and best of all it’s completely free!
With over 102 languages available, this app for adventurous older people allows you to type or talk in to your device and it will translate as you do so, so no need to awkwardly wait until the end of your sentence. it’s also got some incredible features like having 59 languages stored on the device that will translate, even when there’s no internet connection available.
You can even hold your device’s camera up to words in a foreign language and it will show you an automatic translation on the screen e.g. restaurant menus
Our Favourite Features
- Easily overcome language barriers whilst travelling
- Conversation mode where it can listen and translate 2 languages simultaneously
- Offline mode enabling written translation with no internet connection
Tripit
Available on Android + Apple devices
One of the most stressful things about travelling is having the right documents. Sifting through that A4 plastic wallet in your bag looking for the car hire reference number, realising you printed off an email that’s 14 pages long and you had to remortgage your house to afford the printing costs.
Tripit is a great app for older people that solves these issues in an ingeniously simple fashion. Just forward all the booking confirmation emails for your trip to an email address provided in the app, and it will organise all the information for you an an easy to digest and chronological order. Best of all, it’s all in the palm of your hand through your smartphone, so no need to kill those trees and print loads of paper out.
This could include airport parking, flights, airport lounges, car hire, transfers, hotels, event tickets, excursions and more.
Our Favourite Features
- Organise your travel itinerary in one place
- Have all your booking references and codes to hand, instead of sifting through paperwork
- Kind to the environment, no more unnecessary printing.
Uber
Available on Android + Apple devices
If you haven’t already heard about them in the news, Uber have transformed the way the world gets a taxi. Simply tell the app where you are (or use it’s inbuilt location finder to do it for you), and where you’re going. The app will give you an estimate of how much the fare will cost, before showing you exactly how long until your ride arrives, who’s driving, what car they’re driving and more.
We’ve probably all been ripped off by taxi drivers abroad or failed to explain where we’re going. Uber is an ideal app for older people as it takes the hassle, confusion and danger out of getting a taxi whilst on holiday. It’s also usually cheaper than getting the local taxi’s too! Best of all, it’s all automatically charged to your credit or debit card, which is securely linked to your app, so no need to pay the driver in confusing foreign currency!
You’ll need mobile data connection to user Uber, however EU laws mean there’s no roaming charges whilst travelling in Europe, so you don’t have to worry about extortionate data charges!
Our Favourite Features
- Easy, safe and cost effective way to hail taxis abroad
- Know exactly when your rise is arriving and where it will be
- Available in 84 countries and 737 cities worldwide
Games & Puzzles: Apps for Older People
We all love a challenge, whether it be alone or against someone else. From digital versions of classics like scrabble and Sudoku, to multi-player thrill-filled action games, playing on your smartphone or tablet has never been easier. With thousands of games and apps for older people to choose from, here’s our pick of the bunch…
Words With friends
Available on Android + Apple devices
A modern twist on the classic Scrabble and currently the world’s most popular mobile word game, ‘Words With Friends’ is a fun and free way to test your literacy skills. You can play and chat with friends and family, or find a challenging opponent from the many players in the online community section
Our Favourite Features
- Brings out your competitive side!
- Play against opponents from across the world
- Free to play
Crossword Puzzle Free (Named ‘Crossword Puzzle – Redstone’ on iPhones/iPads)
Available on Android + Apple devices
Crossword puzzle free lets you take your favourite crossword with you wherever you go. With a beautifully designed interface and hints if you get stuck, it will even let you download crosswords to play offline when you don’t have an internet connection (e.g. on a plane).
Be aware, you’ll need to pay if you want to remove the odd advertisement.
Our Favourite Features
- Different difficulty levels to suit your ability
- Play offline mode for when there’s not internet connection
- Looks great on a smartphone
Sudoku Free
This free app means you’ll never be looking for a paper puzzle again. With over 6000 to choose from, it will even automatically save your progress as you play and allow you to create your own puzzles! So if the doorbell goes or you receive a call, you won’t lose your place!
Our Favourite Features
- Completely free to download and play
- Keeps your game progress saved if you leave the app
- Global leader-boards to rate your skills against friends + more
Handy & Useful: Apps for Older People
The abundance of technology and more importantly, all the information that has now created, means tools that were unfathomable are now readily available, and often free! This section is packed with apps for older people that will help solve simple problems or save time on a day to day basis.
Shazam
Available on Android + Apple devices
Nope, despite the name this app has nothing to do with wizardry or sorcerers. Have you ever been listening to a song and wished you could find out what it’s called? Until now, you’re either frantically hushing everyone around you in the hope you’ll hear the radio presenter tell you what it’s called when it’s finished, or forever trying to hum it to someone in a desperate hope they’ll recognise the tune. Well, no more!
Shazam is an incredible free app that tells you which song you’re listening to at the touch of a button. It listens to up to 30 seconds of a track before comparing it with the millions in it’s database and identifying what it’s called and who it’s by. It’s mind-blowing how fast you’re presented with an answer and it’s amazingly accurate in it’s detection! You can even sing or hum a track and it can work out what it is (sometimes).
Our Favourite Features
- Identifies almost any song on earth in seconds, free!
- Keeps a log of the songs you’s ‘shazam’d’ and allows you to purchase or stream them from the app
- Hum or sing a song and identify what it is without needing to play it
Google Maps
Available on Android + Apple devices
Although Google maps comes pre-installed on any Android smartphone or tablet (e.g. made by Samsung, Doro, HTC) etc, it’s so incredibly useful, we had to mention it in this list. It’s essentially a digital atlas in your pocket or bag, with information on every single location, public transport route, road, railway and more.
It allows you to navigate between A and B quickly and efficiently with step-by-step directions and live departures of buses, trains and more, whilst letting you see what’s nearby, opening hours, ratings and everything in-between.
Google Maps has a HUGE amount of incredible functionality, but essentially means you no longer need to buy or own a SatNav or (satellite navigation system). This free app does it all for you! (Make sure you say yes when prompted to turn on your location services, so Google knows where you are)
Examples of searches which could be typed (or spoken) in to Google Maps
- “Chinese food near me”
- “Navigate to margaret’s house by car (you can save friend’s addresses and Google will remember their name)”
- “When’s the next bus to Hyde Park corner”
Our Favourite Features
- Navigate from anywhere to anywhere via car, public transport, foot and even bicycle
- Download maps of a city and use them when you have no internet connection, e.g. for a holiday
- Add via points during a journey e.g. a petrol station or a supermarket
- See what’s nearby, ideal if you’re in an unfamiliar place
WeQ4U
Available on Android + Apple devices
We’ve all heard it before, “your call is important to us”,”you’re moving up the queue” or “we’re experiencing a higher than normal volume of calls”. It’s bad enough being patronised by a pre-recorded voice and waiting for ages, but often we’ll be charged up to 58p per minute to call big companies!
WeQ4U is an ideal app for the elderly, as like the title suggests, it waits in the call centre queue for you and connects you when someone answers. Even better than this, the calls are absolutely FREE! This means when you call big companies like Barclays, British Gas, Sky, Royal Mail and more, there’s no waiting in a queue and no premium rates.
Our Favourite Features
- No longer pay for many premium rate numbers
- Stands in a queue on your behalf, so no more waiting to be connected
- Can be used automatically when certain phone numbers are dialled
Speechnotes – Speech to Text
Only available on Android Devices
Although we now may have larger screens in our pockets, it can be very fiddly typing using a touch screen. As if it wasn’t already difficult enough, the slow down in our manual dexterity as we get older can make this even more difficult. My grandmother’s arthritis in her hands meant she would often struggle typing on her computer and doing other manual tasks.
This is an ideal app for elderly people, as it allows the user to speak in to their smartphone whilst it automatically transfers those words to text. It also uses punctuation correctly, for example capitalising the first letter in a new sentence.
TechSilver Top Tip: Try turning your phone horizontally in to landscape position whilst typing on your smartphone, this should make the letters larger, easier to see and press. You’ll need to have screen rotation enabled for this to work.
Our Favourite Features
- Send longer messages or create notes without typing it by hand
- The app has words you can say to start a new paragraph + more
- Plugs in to other areas of your smartphone, for example writing a text message
FixMyStreet
Available on Android + Apple devices
If you live in the UK, FixMyStreet allows you to report problems like potholes, broken drains, graffiti, fly-tipping and much more directly to your local council. With the ability to add evidence as a photo from your phone’s camera or gallery, this is a great way to log a problem that’s either getting on your nerves or could be a danger to other members of the public. So if you’re keen to make where you live the best it can be, this is a great app for older people in your neighbourhood.
There’s also a website version so you don’t have to use the app! Click here to visit it
Please note: We’ve had reports that some councils in the UK have stopped accepting updates from FixMyStreet, although most still do. Either way, the problem will still be reported to the local community, so there’s still a chance to raise awareness! Contact to your council to find out whether they accept them in your area.
Our Favourite Features
- No more frustrating calls to your local council, report problems in minutes
- Many UK councils actively use this as their man way to track and deal with issues in your area
- Lets you report whilst offline (no internet connection), then sends it to the council when you’ve regained a connection
BBC Weather
Available on Android + Apple devices
Proudly our favourite topic of conversation here in the UK, the weather seems to change it’s mind more than ever before. With climate change meaning our summer’s are wetter and winter’s less predicable, it’s never been so important to know what’s coming.
BBC weather allows you to add your favourite locations from Grimsby to Guatemala. Whether you want to know if the sun’s shining where your children are, or maybe you’ve got a holiday home abroad, you can add as many different locations as you wish.
You can see a forecast hour by hour or day by day for the next 14 days, as well as what the temperature really feels like and the percentage chance of precipitation.
Our Favourite Features
- Free weather from anywhere in the world, in your pocket
- Up to a 14 day hourly forecast
- Beautiful design and images which represent the weather
Money & Shopping: Apps for Older People
Some older people are in a fortunate financial position due to mortgages being paid off and good pensions, whilst many struggle with winter fuel bills and getting by. Whatever your monetaryposition, financial and shopping apps can help us manage our money more effectively and get more for less.
Banking Apps
Many seniors we work with wouldn’t dream of doing their banking online, let alone using an app on their smartphone or tablet. This is usually over concerns with security and people accessing their money that shouldn’t do. You may actually be surprised to know that one of the most common ways people get scammed in to handing over the bank details is over the phone.
Using internet and mobile banking means you’ll never need to tell anyone your sensitive information, just tap it in to your banking app.
3 Ways Banking Apps Are More Secure Than You Think
- Criminals would need more info to access your account than an ATM
With an ATM, they’d only need to steal your card and look at your pin to access your money. With a banking app, they’d need to know your phone’s security code to unlock it, then they’d need to know your banking app security password (which on some smartphones can be your face or fingerprint). This means even if you lost your phone, your banking app is still secure. - Your device never stores your info
Instead, it connects to the Bank’s secure network in cyberspace - Your bank account can only be accessed on your device
Your banking app will be registered to your phone, preventing someone logging in to your account from a different device without verification.
Using banking apps can make your financial life so much easier. Allowing you to do things that you’d previously need to visit your branch to do, from the palm of your hand.
Most major global banks have a banking app, in the UK this includes Natwest, Santander, Halifax, Lloyds, TSB, HSBC, Barclays, Metro Bank and more
Common Banking App Features
- Checking balances on any account
- Moving money between your accounts (e.g. current to savings)
- Sending money to someone (e.g. a family member for their birthday)
Many banking apps have a limit on the amount you can send to someone unless they’re already set up as a ‘payee’. This is usually done using a ‘card reader’ which is sent in the post by your bank and proves it’s you. - Pay bills to established organisations (e.g. companies like ‘British Gas’ will have their bank details already saved within the app)
- View direct debits and create standing orders
- Search for transactions (e.g. showing every purchase from Tesco in the last month)
- Rename your accounts (e.g. ‘Holiday Savings’)
- Pay someone with just their phone number (if they have a banking app on their phone with ‘PayM’ enabled)
- View information and apply for banking products (like credit cards)
Banking apps offer similar features with some slight differences, so below i’m going to focus on my favourite, NatWest
Natwest
Available on Android + Apple devices
Voted ‘Best Banking App’ in the British Bank Awards 2017, NatWest have an excellent app that makes it easy to move your money in a secure and beautifully designed way. Not only does it have the traditional features you’d expect from a banking app, but they’ve conjured some really useful extra ones too…
Our Favourite Features
- Getcash: Lost your bank card or left it at home? You can still get cash out of any NatWest or RBS ATM by entering a secret code which your banking app will give you.
- Really easy and secure to pay people / companies in seconds
- Beautiful design that’s a pleasure to use
Consumer Apps
Vouchercodes
Available on Android + Apple devices
These days saving money does not mean you’re getting an inferior product or service. The internet age has meant companies must compete aggressively for our cash, with vouchers and discounts being one of the best ways to do it.
The UK’s number 1 voucher code company, vouchercodes can use your location to view deals nearby, for example 20% off your food bill at a nearby restaurant (handy if you’re in a new place). Simply show your smartphone or tablet to the cashier when making your purchase and voila!
This is a fantastic app for older people because during retirement, we have much more time to enjoy the finer things in life, like eating out and activities. Why pay more than you need to? With discounts on everything from restaurants to taxi fares and activities to electronics, this means you can have fun without hitting your pocket so hard!
There’s also a website version so you don’t have to use the app! Click here to visit it
Our Favourite Features
- Being able to see discounts nearby to your location e.g. restaurants
- Alerts on new deals in your area (which can be turned off)
- Can save you £000’s a year if you shop, eat out and travel a lot
Topcashback
Available on Android + Apple devices
Cashback has become big business in the last couple of years. With this app you get a % back on your purchase from thousands of retailers and companies, which builds up in your account until you wish to withdraw it.
Now obviously the companies make their money because people buy things just because the discount is there, but if you use the search function to search for items, services or companies that you were going to buy from anyway, it’s literally free money!
For example you’re about to buy something from Marks & Spencer, you’d simple tap them in to the app and if there’s a discount available, click on and shop as normal. The cashback will be added to your account automatically.
If like me, you don’t like shopping on your smartphone (the screen’s too small), you can use their website too which works in exactly the same way.
Sometimes companies do crazy deals to get you in the door. Recently Superdrug offered 100% cashback up to £15. So I bought £15 worth of grooming products online and collected them free in-store, costing me a grand total of ZERO!
Our Favourite Features
- Very simple to use, no codes or faff, just cashback!
- Thousands of companies from Boots to Thomson Holidays
- Withdraw via BACS, PayPal or Amazon voucher in under 24hours
Wallet – Money Budgeting App
Available on Android + Apple devices
Sometimes it’s difficult to know what our money’s going on, especially as many companies don’t have their brand name on your bank statement. It’s much easier to budget and cut back on spending in certain areas if you can see what it’s all going on!
This free app links in with your bank account and allows you to keep track of and categorise expenditure, you can even add receipts of manual transactions you’ve spent in cash.
Our Favourite Features
- Links in with your bank account, no need to manually add transactions
- Displays spending in easy to digest graphics, diagrams & charts
- Create a plan to save for something, like a grandchild’s birthday or family holiday
Health & Well-Being: Apps for Older People
As we age, our health (and making sure we’re looking after it) becomes increasingly important. Unfortunately many unexpected health problems can arise in our more senior years, so making sure we manage them them can give us a happier and healthier lifestyle. Health and well-being technologies have created some fantastic apps for older people, helping to make our health one less thing to worry about!
Medisafe (Named ‘Pill Reminder’ on iPhones / iPads)
Available on Android + Apple devices
Not adhering to medication plans can have catastrophic effects on your health, and can be one of the most common causes of other associated problems like falls and UTI’s. This is not to mention the huge wastage in medications not taken, with an estimated value in the UK of over £300m.
Medisafe is one of the world’s best rated medication reminder apps. It helps track your healthcare plan so you don’t have to, so you take the right medication, at the right time in the right quantities. It’s got most medications already saved, so adding yours should only take a few moments.
Our Favourite Features
- Reminders of what, how much and when to take to take medication
- Track heath measurements like blood glucose or weight
- Create free reports you can show your doctor
Symptomate Symptom Checker
Available on Android + Apple devices
When we’re not feeling well, having some instant advice before a doctors appointment or calling NHS 111 can be invaluable. Created by doctors, this app allows you enter your symptoms before asking you a series of questions e.g. “is the pain on both sides of your head?”. Based on your results and using intelligence from millions of other people, it will give you likely diagnoses with a percentage likelihood of each.
This app is a good first reference. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose and treat illnesses
Our Favourite Features
- Simple and fast advice when feeling unwell
- Created by doctors with often accurate diagnoses
- Free to download and use
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