How do you compare apps for seniors to find the easiest one to use?

Try each app on the things you'll actually use it for, like setting a reminder or adding a medicine. Look for simple steps, large buttons, clear text and, ideally, the option to talk instead of tap. Give each app a little time, read reviews, and get free help if you get stuck.

If ease of use matters most to you, it helps to compare apps the same way each time. Here's a simple way to do it.

Why ease of use matters

An app only helps if you can actually use it, simply and without fuss. Many older adults want simple screens without complicated features, and an app like that helps them stay independent. In the UK, almost half of people aged 75 and over can't do all the basic things needed to get online, according to Age UK. Elsy is one example of an app made for older adults, where most things happen by talking.

What makes an app easy to use?

Many older adults want technology that's easy to get to, with clear instructions and a simple layout. Large buttons and clear text are the basics. A voice-controlled AI companion like Elsy can also make technology easier to get into, because you handle reminders and daily tasks by talking. Say "Remind me to pick up my prescription at the pharmacy on Friday," and she sets up the reminder. See more about reminders and daily routines with Elsy.

How to judge whether an app is easy to use

Look at two things: the features and the screens. Does the app have the features you need, like reminders? And are the screens easy to understand? The researchers behind a Canadian study of medicine apps suggest that involving older adults in developing apps may help reduce mistrust of them. Testing an app yourself can also show you where it falls short.

Try it yourself

A good test is to see how you actually get on with the app. Try the steps you'll use most, like setting up a reminder or adding a medicine. In the Canadian study, 35 people aged 52 to 78 tried four medicine apps. Most felt they could use the apps after some time and training, but their first attempts were frustrating. They preferred apps that take you one step at a time, with buttons that say clearly what they do, like "undo" rather than "cancel." So give an app a little time before you judge it.

Here's a small test you can do with Elsy. Tell her, for example, "I take a blood pressure pill every morning at eight." She adds the medicine, and when it's time, a notification arrives on your phone where you can tap Taken. It's fine to ask someone in your family to sit with you the first time.

How apps for older adults differ

Many apps are made for older adults' everyday needs, Elsy among them. Comparing them side by side shows you how they really differ in what they do and how they look. Elsy relies on talking and keeps things simple, while other apps may rely more on text. In the UK, public sector websites and apps have a legal duty to be accessible. The government's guidance says they should be usable by as many people as possible, including people with impaired vision, motor difficulties, cognitive impairments or impaired hearing. That's a good yardstick for the apps you choose for yourself, too.

How Elsy is different

With Elsy, you talk instead of tap. Some apps rely mainly on text, but with Elsy you say what you want in full sentences, and she creates the reminder from what you say. That can make Elsy easier to get into if you're not used to apps. The flip side is that you can't type to her, because conversations happen only by voice. Besides reminders and medicines, Elsy can also write down your life stories after a conversation, with your own words as quotes.

What reviews can tell you

Reviews help too. What experts and other older adults say about an app gives you a sense of how well it works and how easy it is to use day to day.

Free help

Ask your children or grandchildren for a hand. If they want to help you get started with Elsy, they can read about Elsy for families. In the US, AARP's Senior Planet offers free technology classes for people 60 and older, online and in person. In the UK, Age UK's free introduction, Understanding AI, gives practical advice, like never giving passwords or your bank account number to public AI tools. Resources like these can help you work out which apps suit you. Read more about getting started with AI.

How to get started

Make a list of the features that matter most to you, like reminders or help with your medicines, and compare it with the apps available. Ask people who already use an app, like Elsy, what they think of it. You can also contact an app's customer support with questions about its features. Free resources from sources you trust, like Senior Planet and Age UK, can help too.

If you'd like to try Elsy, download the app from the App Store or Google Play, open it and tap Talk to Elsy. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. See how Elsy works step by step.

Frequently asked questions

How important is ease of use in an app for older adults?

Very. If an app is simple to find your way around, you're more likely to actually use it. Then it can make everyday life easier and help you manage more on your own.

What should I look for when choosing an app?

Look at how easy the app is to use, how it handles your data, and how it helps with everyday needs like reminders and staying in touch with family. Read more about how to choose the right help app.

How can I test whether an app is easy to use?

Use it for real. Try the tasks you'll actually use the app for, notice where you get stuck, and give it a few days.

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