5 Useful Apps for Seniors You Probably Haven't Heard Of

You probably already have Facebook, Google Maps, and your Medicare or healthcare provider's app on your phone. But the app stores also hide lesser-known gems that can make a real difference in everyday life: one reads the fine print for you, another provides live captions for conversations when it's hard to hear, and there's even one that saves you money every time you buy groceries.

We've selected five such apps for you. They are all completely free to download and allow you to enjoy their core features without paying a dime. 

1. MyTherapy: The reminder that never forgets a pill
A blood pressure pill in the morning, a vitamin at noon, a cholesterol pill before bed. When you have multiple medications at different times, it's incredibly easy to miss a dose. Or worse, to take it twice because you can't remember if you already took it.

MyTherapy is a medication reminder app with a very simple interface. You just enter the name of the medication, the dosage, and the times, and your phone will chime and display a reminder every time you need to take a pill. You tap "Taken," and the app logs it. This way, at the end of the day, you can clearly see what was taken and what was missed. 

What else it can do:  

Remind you when your medication is running low, so you have time to refill your prescription 

Log measurements like blood pressure and weight, so you have data to show your doctor at your next visit 

Keep a short symptom and mood journal, which helps track changes over time 

Good to know: The app is completely free, including all reminders. The free version does have some ads, and those who prefer an ad-free experience can remove them with a small monthly subscription, but it is not mandatory. 

Download: Android (Google Play) | iPhone (App Store) 

2. Be My Eyes: Borrowed eyes, at the touch of a button

The expiration date on the yogurt container is too small. The medication leaflet is printed in tiny letters. The letter from the bank arrived right when you left your reading glasses in the other room. For anyone whose vision isn't what it used to be, Be My Eyes is one of the most heartwarming and useful apps available. 

The concept is simple and brilliant: you press a button, and the app connects you via video call to a sighted volunteer. You point your phone's camera at whatever you need help with, and the volunteer reads the text to you, tells you what color a shirt is, or helps you set the dial on the oven. Over seven million volunteers are registered on the app, speaking 185 languages together. The service operates around the clock. 

It also features a smart assistant: If you prefer not to speak to a stranger, you can use the "Be My AI" feature. You take a photo, and artificial intelligence describes what's in the image and answers follow-up questions, such as "What is the expiration date?" or "How many pills should I take according to the label?"

Good to know: The app is completely free. It was developed for the blind and visually impaired, but anyone who struggles to read small print can register as someone who needs visual assistance. 

 Download: Android (Google Play) | iPhone (App Store) 

3. Flipp: Know where the best deals are before hitting the grocery store
The exact same grocery cart can cost a completely different amount at different supermarket chains. Flipp is an app that digitizes weekly ads and circulars from thousands of US retailers—including Walmart, Kroger, Target, and local pharmacies—allowing you to easily compare prices and find deals. 

What you can do with it: 

Browse digital weekly ads for grocery stores and pharmacies in your zip code 

Search for a specific item (like "coffee" or "paper towels") to instantly see which local store has it on sale 

Build a digital shopping list by "clipping" deals directly from the circulars 

Add digital coupons to your store loyalty cards right inside the app 

Share your shopping list with a spouse or family member so whoever is near the store can pick things up 

Tip: There's no need to run between five different stores. Just check the app for the staple items you buy weekly, find out which local chain has the best overall deals that week, and do your big shopping trip there. Over a year, the savings can add up to a significant amount.

Download: Android (Google Play) | iPhone (App Store) 

4. Live Transcribe: Real-time captions for conversations when it's hard to hear
A family Thanksgiving dinner where everyone is talking at once, and your granddaughter says something from across the table. Or a visit to a doctor who speaks quickly and softly. Anyone experiencing hearing loss knows that moment when you feel too awkward to say, "Can you repeat that again?" 

 Live Transcribe is a free app by Google that turns speech into text in real-time. You place the phone on the table, and whatever is being said appears on the screen like movie subtitles. It works exceptionally well in English, and you can enlarge the text so it's easy to read. 

Another useful feature: The app can also detect important household sounds, like a doorbell ringing, a dog barking, or a smoke alarm, and alert you by vibrating the phone or flashing the screen. 

Good to know: The app is only available for Android phones. It works best in a conversation of two or three people when the phone is close to the speaker, and slightly less well when everyone is talking over each other. It doesn't replace a hearing aid or an audiologist visit, but it is an excellent interim aid. 

Download: Android (Google Play) (Not available for iPhone) 

5. Insight Timer: A few minutes of peace and quiet
Sleepless nights, worries spinning in your head, or just a busy day that's hard to disconnect from. Guided meditation is one of the simplest ways to relax, and you don't need any prior experience. Just sit comfortably, put on headphones, and listen. 

Insight Timer is an incredibly popular meditation app that offers a massive library of over 100,000 free guided meditations, calming music tracks, and talks led by top mindfulness experts. 

What you'll find inside: 

Meditations for beginners that explain step-by-step what to do Sleep meditations and bedtime stories you can play in bed to help you drift off 

Guided imagery and breathing exercises for managing anxiety and improving focus 

A simple tracker that shows how many minutes you've practiced and your current streak 

Gentle background sounds like ocean waves or rain to block out noise 

Important to know before signing up: Unlike many wellness apps that lock you out after a few days, Insight Timer’s core library is completely free forever. They do offer a premium subscription (Member Plus) which unlocks offline listening and advanced courses, but you can easily ignore the upgrade prompts and stick to the vast free offerings. 

Tip: Start with a short meditation of just five or ten minutes, at the same time every day. A small, consistent habit works much better than a long meditation once a week. 

Download: Android (Google Play) | iPhone (App Store) How to install an app? A quick guide 

On an iPhone: Open the App Store, the blue icon with the letter A. Tap on "Search" at the bottom of the screen, type the name of the app, and tap "Get." You may be asked to confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple account password. 

On Android: Open Google Play, the icon with the colorful triangle. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen, type the name of the app, and tap "Install." 

Watch out for fake apps: Before tapping install, check the developer name listed right under the app's name. For example, Live Transcribe should say it is from "Research at Google." If there are several apps with a similar name, choose the one with the highest number of downloads, and if you don't recognize the developer's name, it's better to skip it.

 Is the text too small? You can enlarge the text across your entire phone at once. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size. On Android, go to Settings > Display > Display size and text. Most apps will automatically adjust to your new preferred size. 

 You don't need to install them all in one day. Start with the one that seems most useful to you, give yourself a week to get used to it, and only then add the next one. You'll be surprised by how quickly it becomes a natural part of your day.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

Coronavirus Anxiety - Helpful Apps To Deal With The Stress

These are unprecedented times. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is testing the best of us. There is no end in sight as the virus keeps spreading and the majority of the world is under lockdown. The added social distancing norms have led to many people being isolated from their near and dear ones. All of this combined has resulted in severe anxiety, stress, and depression in hordes of people all over the world.
The stress and anxiety are natural. After all, you can’t leave your home or meet people outside. Moreover, we don’t know how long this phase will continue. So, what is the way out? Technology has come to the rescue in these times, and several apps focused on mediation have seen a surge in downloads as they are helping people deal with their anxiety. Many apps have also created coronavirus-focused programs, including free resources for healthcare workers. What’s more, a lot of these meditation apps are even offering free memberships to help people cope with their stress in the current situation.
These anxiety apps will hence be of great help to many people – from the elderly to the young students. Let’s take a look at five of the best of such apps that might prove beneficial to you in dealing with the stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

1. The Tapping Solution

The Tapping Solution is a free app that integrates the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping Technique – an alternate treatment used particularly for emotional distress. This unique self-soothing technique is based on the principles of Chinese acupuncture along with modern psychology.
The Tapping Solution app attempts to help people lower their stress levels along with reducing anxiety, getting motivated, getting better sleep and removing negative emotions. They have a huge range of topics that includes Stress Relief, Releasing Fears, Emotional Freedom, Sleep Support, Healing Your Body, and much more. The app measures people's anxiety before and after the EFT tapping technique that people can follow from the guidelines listed. According to the creators, their app has measured an "average decrease in anxiety [of] 49 percent in 10 minutes."
In light of the extreme stress and anxiety that is being caused because of the coronavirus pandemic, the app's creator Jessica Ortner recently said that they have “grabbed every meditation that's relevant to what's going on right now and unlocked it all and made it free."
App Download Links: 
Android
iPhone

2. Headspace

Headspace has established its name as one of the most well-known meditation apps out there. The app usually costs $12.99 per month, but they are offering it for free in the U.S. to healthcare workers. This is a great move, as it is these healthcare workers who are at the forefront of this war and must be dealing with unimaginable stress.
With hundreds of guided meditations that you can even listen on the go, Headspace can be utilized in the current situation perfectly. It also features some great mindfulness tips like managing stress and better sleep. This isn’t all. The app is also providing a collection of coronavirus-specific content called "Weathering the Storm" for free to everyone. This includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises depending on how you are feeling. According to the website, “It’s our small way of helping you find some space and kindness for yourself and those around you.”

App Download Links:

Android
iPhone

3. Breethe

Breethe is not just your run-of-the-mill meditation app. It offers a plethora of features like music, nature sounds, bedtime stories, guided meditations, masterclasses, and hypnotherapy sessions to help you return to your natural happy state. There are also breathing classes and inspirational talks here that you can make use of to unwind and relax. Users have found Breethe to be a great tool to help them relax and energize. You can choose from the many sections and use them according to your needs. 
The app usually costs $89.99 per year, but owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the creators are offering it for free to everyone during this period.

App Download Links:

Android
iPhone

4. Talkspace

While mediation apps are great, they might not be enough to deal with the dread from the ongoing pandemic. This is where an app like Talkspace can be a real boon. It allows users to connect virtually with a licensed therapist. It will help you find the best-suited therapist in your area and you can talk to them via text, audio or video chat multiple times a week. While the app is free, the therapy sessions aren’t. But they are still much more affordable than the compatible therapy sessions online. 
The creators also announced recently that they will be "donating 1,000 months of free online therapy to medical workers across the United States." So, if you know of any medical workers in your social circle, now would be a good time to let them take advantage of this app.
Talkspace has also initiated a number of free and notable coronavirus-related resources to help people in these stressful times like Facebook groups led by professional therapists, blog posts by mental health professionals, as well as an Instagram channel to resolve the various stress-related issues of users.
App Download Links:
Android

iPhone

5. Insight Timer

Having more than 40,000 free meditations for everyone, Insight Timer is a great anxiety app for all age groups including children. There are a lot of options to choose from in their free library organized into neat sections with more than 200 choices. Depending on your needs, you can opt for Nature Sounds, Spirituality, Sound Meditation, and Relaxation Meditation, among a host of other choices. Their section on ‘Recovery & Healing’ has got great feedback, as they cover aspects like depression, grief, healing, pain, body image, and addiction.
Since the ongoing pandemic, they have also updated coronavirus-relevant content for the public like a guided meditation on how to cultivate compassion in this time of panic and fear.
App Download Links:
Android
iPhone

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement