Mobile phone apps to help you with your care and independence

This section contains links to useful apps that can help you manage your medication and your daily tasks.

Please remember that there are thousands of apps being developed all the time, and it is worth checking to see whether there is anything else that might be suitable for your needs.

How to download an app

To download an app, please visit either Google Play or the Apple App Store and search for the name of the app. Many of the apps are free, but please check before downloading.

ORCHA AppFinder

NHS Devon is working with ORCHA (the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications) to provide a Health Apps Library website for Plymouth and Devon.

ORCHA regularly carries out independent reviews of health and care-related apps.

Search the ORCHA AppFinder

Accessing services in your community

Changing Places Toilets

This app helps you plan your day out without the worry of being unable to find a suitable toilet. The nearest accessible toilet can be searched using the current location or a postcode.

Social interaction

Link-ages

This app offers an easier way to contact and interact with friends than a standard phone or tablet call. You can scroll through pictures to share memories, and the app has a visual and alarm diary facility.

Carers

Jointly

This app helps all carers and family members communicate as a group and manage to-do and medication lists, calendars, and appointments.

Carely

This app helps people who are involved in caring for a friend or family member join their own care circle with access to a shared calendar and message site. The circle can then be aware of who is planning to visit and the tasks they are planning to complete during the visit.

Young Carers Support

This app was designed with and for young carers aged 12+ and provides an extensive amount of information and signposting for young carers without being overwhelming. It covers a variety of topics, such as feelings and relationships; dealing with emergencies; getting help; and carer skills such as moving and handling, finances, and preparing meals.

Hearing and sight difficulties

Live Transcribe

This app is a transcription app that translates speech to text, including words, numbers, and dates as the person is saying them. Each speaker has a different colour text, so you can identify who is speaking.

Speechnotes

This app is a speech-to-text transcription app, which can be used to dictate and share shopping lists, memos, etc.

Roger Voice

This app helps people with hearing impairments have a conversation with someone via phone call on a smartphone. The app subtitles speech into text so you can read and then respond either by typing or speaking on the phone.

Be My Eyes

This app is designed for people with visual impairments or who are registered blind. The app has a large main button on the screen, which, when pressed, connects you to a community of sighted volunteers via a one-way video call.

Seeing AI

This app is designed by Microsoft for people with sight difficulties. The app uses the device camera to describe short text, people, currency, scenes, colours, handwriting, products by bar code, and much more.

Staying safe

View our app suggestions below for staying safe at home and when out and about:

Family Locator by Life 360

This app works by tracking someone else who also has the app and has been added to your circle. Within a circle, everyone can track one another.

Red Panic Button

This app allows you to push a central button on your phone screen to allow immediate contact with a carer, friend, or family member who can respond or contact emergency services with details of your location.

My SOS Family

This app works when you press and hold the help me button in the app, it sends an automated help text, email, or call to the nominated person's number with a link to your Google Maps location. There is an option for the person to add text or photos with a reason for needing help.

ICE - In Case of Emergency

This app allows emergency medical information and contact details to be accessed by emergency services or others without requiring passwords to unlock the phone. The information sits on your lock screen.

Medication management

Healthera

This app is recommended by the NHS and links with your local pharmacy, supporting the management of medicines, prescriptions, and repeat prescriptions. Alarms will remind you when to take your medication.

Medisafe

This app reminds you to take your medication. Manually input your medication, dosage, and timing for reminder alarms. The app can remind you how to take your medications, as well as what they look like.

Pill Manager

This app helps you manage your medication information, including medication, vaccinations, and current investigations. The details can then be sent directly to the pharmacy, GP, or emergency contact for them to monitor.

Memory support

Q Card

This app was developed by occupational therapists to give you visual and verbal step-by-step guidance to carry out everyday activities like getting dressed or following a recipe.

Reminder with Voice

This app provides you with voice reminders for one-off and time-tabled reminders.

Digital Diary

This app provides you with a simple clock and calendar that aim to promote independence. Off-site family or friends can remotely update a Google calendar with events and reminders.

How to download an app

To download an app, please visit either Google Play or the Apple App Store and search for the name of the app. Many of the apps are free, but please check before downloading. Please remember that there are thousands of apps being developed all the time, and it is worth checking to see whether there is anything else that might be suitable for your needs.

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