How do you choose the right help app for seniors?

Start with what you need help with: medicine reminders, daily routines, someone to talk to or your life stories. Then check that the app works on your phone and that you can control it with your voice, what it can do for your day, and what happens to your data. If you can, try it on your own phone before you decide.

Lots of apps promise to help older adults with everyday life, and they don't all do the same things. Here's what to check before you pick one.

Start with what you need

Before you compare apps, figure out what you want help with. Do you need reminders for your medicines, help sticking to a routine, or someone to talk to? And how much does it matter to you to tell the stories of your life and share them with your family?

For a week, jot down what you forget, or wish you had help with. Then pick the three things that come up most. That gives you something concrete to test each app against.

An app that fits you

Choose an app you can adjust to your needs. A single feature, like life stories or a link to your calendar, can be what decides it. In Elsy, for example, you can turn on Sync with calendar. Then Elsy can see the appointments in your phone's calendar, and your reminders show up there too. Elsy also remembers words you teach her, like a word from your local dialect or how a name is pronounced.

Your life stories

When you tell Elsy about your childhood, your working life or people you've known, she writes the story down after the conversation, with your own words as quotes and a picture painted by Elsy. You can read the story or listen to it, and you can send it to your family whenever you like. See how life stories with Elsy work.

Does it work on your phone, and is it easy to use?

Make sure the app works on the phone you have, whether that's an iPhone or an Android. Look for one that's easy to find your way around, and one you can control with your voice, because talking is often easier. Researchers who studied how older adults use voice assistants note that the assistants take very little technical skill, and that many older people would rather speak hands-free than type or click.

Elsy works on iPhone, iPad and Android. Open the app, tap Talk to Elsy and start talking. The rest happens with your voice. Elsy speaks English and 14 other languages.

Try it before you decide

Check that the app is in the App Store or Google Play and that it runs smoothly on your phone. Many apps have a free trial, so you can try them on your own phone before you decide.

Help with your day

Elsy is an AI companion who can help you plan your day, stay in touch with your family and keep your mind active. Help remembering appointments and a daily conversation can both make everyday life easier. You might say, "Remind me to call Susan tomorrow at 11." The reminder arrives as a notification on your phone, and Elsy brings it up when you talk. You can also ask her to tell your daughter you're doing well today. If your daughter is in Your circle, she gets a short message.

Someone to talk to

Regular conversations can be good company and help keep your mind active. The US National Institute on Aging writes that staying connected with family, friends and neighbors is a great way to ward off isolation and loneliness, and that it may also help support your cognitive function.

In Elsy, the Daily question gives you a reason to talk. Every day, a personal question from Elsy arrives as a notification on your phone, and if you feel like it, you answer by opening the app and talking with her. Elsy doesn't replace time with other people, but she can be good company when no one else is around.

What happens to your data

Before you choose an app, find out how it protects your data. With Elsy, your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember what you tell her, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. So that Elsy can hear you, answer and remember, what you say is processed by AI services in the United States, and the app shows you which ones before you start. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models.

Then check who else can see anything. Your family never sees transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice. What else they can see depends on their level in Your circle, from Stories only up to Full trust, where they can also see what Elsy remembers about you. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in your circle is at Full trust. Read more about what your family can see.

Read the privacy policy

Read the app's privacy policy to see what data it collects and how it uses and protects that data. Your rights depend on where you live. In the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office explains that you have the right to be informed about how your personal data is collected and used, and the right to get a copy of it. In the US, the rules vary from state to state. In California, for example, the Consumer Privacy Act lets you ask a business what personal information it has about you and what it does with it. Elsy's privacy policy is on our website.

How to get started

Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, open the app and tap Talk to Elsy. Start with the things at the top of your list, like a reminder for your medicine. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. See how Elsy works step by step.

Frequently asked questions

What can a help app for seniors do for me?

A help app like Elsy can remind you about your medicines, help you stick to your routines and keep you company in conversation. Elsy can also write down your life stories.

Is a help app for seniors safe to use?

That depends on the app, so read the privacy policy before you start. With Elsy, your conversations are stored securely, your stored data is hosted in the EU, and we never sell your personal data. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so that Elsy can hear you and answer. Read more about using an AI assistant safely.

How do I choose the right app for me?

Think about what you need most, like reminders, someone to talk to or sharing your life stories. Choose one that's easy to use and works on your phone, and try it yourself before you decide.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.