Recommended Apps for the Elderly
Top Apps for Seniors: Stay Safe, Healthy & Connected
Technology isn’t just about devices — the right apps can make a huge difference to daily life for older adults. From safety and health management to accessibility and entertainment, these apps help seniors stay independent, connected, and comfortable.
All apps listed here are available for UK users and compatible with smartphones or tablets. Many also integrate with smart devices from our Smart Tech for the Elderly page for maximum convenience.
🔴 Safety & Emergency Apps
Staying safe is a top priority for seniors, especially at home or when out and about. These apps provide emergency alerts, location tracking, and direct connections to family or emergency services..
Red Panic Button
Simple emergency alert app that sends an instant distress message with location details to chosen contacts at the touch of a button.
Life360 (Family Locator UK)
Real-time location sharing, crash detection, and alerts help families stay connected and ensure seniors can get assistance when needed.
Snug Safety
Check-in app that ensures elderly users are okay each day — sending automatic alerts to family if a check-in is missed.
Hollie Guard
A police-endorsed personal safety app that records evidence, tracks journeys, and alerts emergency contacts if the user doesn’t reach their destination.
MySOS UK
UK-ready app offering direct links to emergency services, with live location sharing so loved ones or responders can find the user quickly.
Senior Safety App
Detects falls, long periods of inactivity, or potential emergencies — sending instant alerts to caregivers for fast support.
💊 Health & Medication Apps
Maintaining health becomes easier with apps that remind about medication, track vitals, manage symptoms, or assist with appointments..
MediSafe
Comprehensive medication management with reminders, drug interaction alerts, and updates for family members.
Sleepio
Evidence-based digital sleep therapy offering personalised guidance to help seniors improve sleep quality and overall wellbeing.
Medminder App
Simple reminders with colour-coded pill identification and easy scheduling designed specifically for seniors.
MyTherapy
Medication reminders combined with symptom tracking and family-sharing features to support long-term condition management.
Abridge
Records and summarises medical appointments so elderly users can remember key health information.
NHS App
Direct access to UK NHS services, prescriptions, appointments, and medical records in one easy interface.
♿ Accessibility & Daily Living Apps
These apps enhance smartphone or tablet usability, helping elderly users read, navigate, and perform everyday tasks more easily.
MagnusCards
Visual flashcards and step-by-step guides that support daily routines, appointments, or memory tasks.
Voice Dream Reader
Reads text aloud with adjustable speed and voices, ideal for elderly users with visual impairments.
Big Launcher
Transforms Android phones into a simple, high-contrast home screen with large icons and one-tap access to essentials.
Be My Eyes
Connects visually impaired adults with volunteers via live video calls for immediate help reading labels or navigating environments.
Magnifying Glass Apps
Turns a smartphone into a powerful magnifier with flashlight support for reading fine print, labels, or medication instructions.
ONY Elderly Launcher
Simplified phone interface with larger icons and only essential apps, creating an easy-to-navigate home screen.
🎉 Entertainment & Engagement Apps
Staying mentally active and entertained is vital for wellbeing. These apps promote learning, fun, and social connection..
Lumosity
Cognitive games designed to support memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
CogniFit
Clinically developed brain training exercises focused on memory, focus, and reasoning skills
Peak
Brain training activities that may help sharpen memory and focus in older adults.
UNO Mobile
Easy-to-understand digital version of UNO that supports strategic thinking and attention.
Words with Friends
A classic word game similar to Scrabble that encourages friendly play with family members.
Wordle
Popular daily word puzzle promoting mental stimulation and routine cognitive engagement.
📞 Communication & Video Calling Apps
Connection is essential for emotional wellbeing. These apps make it easy to stay in touch with family and friends..
Simple messaging, voice calls, and video calls in one easy-to-use app.
FaceTime
Built into Apple devices, FaceTime offers effortless video calling with one tap — perfect for elderly iPhone and iPad users..
Skype
Reliable video calling and messaging for keeping in touch with distant relatives.
Facebook Messenger
Makes it easy for elderly users to chat or video call family using an app they may already be familiar with.
Zoom
User-friendly video conferencing for family chats, medical appointments, and social events.
Google Meet
Provides simple, reliable video calling across all devices for family chats, appointments and social events.
🧭 Transport & Navigation Apps
Clear directions, real-time transport updates, and safe travel options that help older adults move around confidently.
Citymapper
Offers clear, step-by-step public transport guidance with live updates, helping older adults navigate cities confidently.
National Rail Enquiries
Delivers official UK train times, platform details, and live departure boards for confident journey planning.
Google Maps
Provides simple walking, driving, and public transport directions with accessible layouts and voice navigation.
Bus Times
Shows live UK bus arrival times so older adults can avoid long waits at bus stops.
Uber
Allows elderly users to book safe, cashless rides with driver tracking and arrival estimates.
Waze
Gives elderly drivers easy, community-based traffic updates to help avoid congestion and delays.
💷 Finance & Shopping Apps
Managing finances and shopping from home becomes easier with these secure apps that help elderly users handle banking, make purchases, and track expenses without leaving their homes.
Money Dashboard
Lets older adults view all their bank accounts in one place for simple money management.
PayPal
Offers secure online payments and money transfers with strong buyer protection.
Emma
Helps users track spending, set budgets, and monitor bills with clear, automated insights.
Honey
Automatically finds and applies coupon codes during online checkout, hAutomatically finds and applies coupon codes during online shopping to help elderly users save money.
Amazon
Makes online shopping easy with simple ordering, delivery tracking, and fast UK delivery.
Receipt Bank
Stores receipts digitally through simple photo capture, reducing paper clutter.
📰 News & Information Apps
Staying informed about current events and accessing trusted news sources helps elderly users remain connected to the world around them and make informed decisions about their daily lives and community.
BBC News
Provides trusted UK and international news with clean layouts and easy-to-read articles.
The Guardian
Delivers quality journalism with adjustable text sizes for more comfortable reading.
BBC iPlayer
Lets elderly users catch up on BBC TV programmes and documentaries in one simple app.
In Your Area
Keeps elderly users connected to local news, community events, and updates in their neighbourhood.
Sky News
Offers breaking news alerts and in-depth reporting with a straightforward interface.
BBC Weather
Offers simple weather forecasts and warnings to help with daily planning.
📻 Radio & Audio Entertainment
Research indicates older adults value listening to music as a leisure activity, and these audio apps provide easy access to radio, music, podcasts, and calming content for entertainment and relaxation.
BBC Sounds
Gives easy access to BBC radio stations, podcasts, and music in one place.
Spotify
Streams music with curated playlists from every decade, perfect for nostalgia or discovering new favourites.
Radio UK
Provides quick access to all UK radio stations without confusing menus.
Audible
Provides audiobooks and spoken content that are ideal for users with vision changes or those who prefer listening.
TuneIn Radio
Offers worldwide radio, talk shows, and podcasts in a clean, easy-to-navigate app.
Calm
Offers simple meditation, sleep stories, and relaxation exercises to support wellbeing.
🎨 Hobbies & Learning Apps
Encouraging lifelong learning and creative pursuits helps elderly users stay mentally active, pursue personal interests, and discover new passions while maintaining cognitive health and social connections.
Duolingo
Makes learning a language fun with short, gamified lessons ideal for mental stimulation.
Goodreads
Creates a book recommendation and reading community platform, perfect for elderly book lovers who want to discover new titles, track their reading, and connect with fellow readers.
Kindle
Offers adjustable text sizes and simple navigation for comfortable e-book reading.
Coursera
Provides free online courses from top universities on various subjects, enabling elderly users to pursue lifelong learning interests from history to technology at their own pace.
YouTube
Provides endless tutorials, documentaries, and entertainment that older adults can enjoy at their own pace.
Delivers visual inspiration for crafts, recipes, gardening, and hobbies, helping elderly users discover new project ideas and organise their interests with easy-to-browse image collections.
The right apps can transform daily life for seniors, making routines easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Whether it’s managing health, staying connected with family, or simply enjoying a cozy evening at home, these apps pair perfectly with smart devices from our Smart Tech for the Elderly page.
Tip: Try combining safety, health, and accessibility apps for a comprehensive digital support system — and explore internal links to other categories for additional device recommendations.
