Almost every Australian has a mobile device and most of them are ‘smart’ devices. Whether it’s a smart phone or a tablet, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone nowadays without at least one, if not both of them.
Given the popularity of these smart devices in today’s society, they’ve developed to essentially become mini-computers that can fit inside your front pocket. The debate as to whether this is a good or bad thing is for another day, as today (and pretty much forever) we’re going to focus on the positives! And there’s one particular positive that’s been born out of the popularity of smart devices that we’re particularly keen to talk about and they are: mobile applications, or as they’re commonly known – “apps”.
There are apps for pretty much everything, from games to encyclopaedias and even a tool to help you brush your teeth properly! With such a wide range of apps available, you’d think there would be some out there for Carers, right? Well…right indeed – there are heaps!
Like everything, some of these apps are great and some of them are not-so-great. So we’ve decided to take the next 2 blogs to highlight what we here at Newly think are the 8 best mobile apps for Carers!
Without further ado, here are the first four…
Carezone
Carezone is an app designed at providing carers with a comprehensive and easy way to track everything and anything to do with medication.
It allows the user to create medication lists for their clients or loved ones and build schedules to remind them when they need to be administered. You can also set refill reminders, share medication plans with other care givers or family members and even store photos so you know what certain medication looks like.
With all this important information in one place, it means that a carer will be able to stay on top of all things medication.
Other features include: journals to record updates, create lists of key contacts, to-do lists and a calendar.
Available for free on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android.
Balance: for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Alzheimer’s is a complex illness that can be overwhelming, not just for the person who has it, but 
the carer, too. Thankfully the National Alzheimer’s Centre (in the USA) has created Balance: for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.
Balance is a one-stop-shop for helping you care for a loved one or client suffering from Alzheimer’s. Key features include a library of general information, tips and advice on caring for the illness, a diary to log notes, symptoms and updates for your next doctor’s visit, an up-to-date feed of the latest news regarding Alzheimer’s and a medication management system (similar to Carezone).
Available for $1.49 on iOS (iPhone and iPad).
WebMD mobile
WebMD mobile is essentially an interactive mobile version of their popular website, which has a database of comprehensive information regarding all manner of medical conditions, drugs and treatments.
With this app, you can look up various symptoms according to which part of the body your client or loved one is experiencing trouble with, and gather information about the possible causes for it and what actions can be taken. WebMD also has lots of first aid tips (insect bites, broken bones, CPR) for when there is an emergency and you need to take action.
As the app itself describes, WebMD is an information and decision-support tool, so use it only to inform yourself about specific symptoms or to have a better idea of what to talk to the doctor about. Don’t use to it self-diagnose illnesses as this can be very dangerous and could lead to potentially overlooking something worse.
Available for free on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android.
Pain Care
Pain Care is a fairly straightforward app. It helps the user keep track of and monitor pain, or in the case of a carer, monitor the pain of their client or loved one.
By tracking symptoms, triggers, pain levels and medication (and its side effects), it can give the user a comprehensive outlook of the source of the pain, and how best to treat it. Additionally, by keeping all this information in one place, it provides the doctor or other medical experts with a holistic view on the issues, making it far easier for them to diagnose the condition and prescribe (or cease to prescribe) medication to treat it.
Available for free on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android.
These first 4 mobile apps should give you a good base to start providing more integrated and connected care. Download them on your mobile phone or tablet and give them a test run before next week, where we’ll give you the last 4 of our favourite apps for carers.