Tech Tips to Support Your Family’s Physical & Mental Wellness
by
PSN Team 
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Over the course of the last year, the words “health” & “safety” have taken on a new meaning for most of us. Not only are we caring for the day-to-day health and safety needs of our families, but we are also taking precautions to protect them from a virus that still holds many unknowns.
Today we share some new ways to keep your family safe using mobile technology. Have a loved one that lives independently but needs an easy way to ask for help in case of an emergency? Try the My SOS Family Emergency Alert app. Have a family member who you need to keep track of when they are out without you? Try Life 360: Find Family and Friends. In addition, another way to keep your family safe during the ongoing pandemic (and beyond) might be to try to avoid doctor’s visits for minor injuries. Try downloading the First Aid: American Red Cross app so that you will always know how to treat those everyday injuries around the house.
Although doctor’s visits have changed over the past year, with many minor injuries and illnesses being handled at home with basic first aid or via virtual visits, there are still times that we need to prepare our children for in-person visits and maybe even procedures in a hospital. There are apps that can assist with this by helping you explain to your child what to expect during the visit and even those that allow them to “play doctor” and explore a medical setting. Lastly, as we have discussed many times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of our health not only includes our physical health, but also our mental health. At BridgingApps, we continue to research and test out new apps for mental health so that we can pass them along to you. Take a look at what we have gathered below, you might find the perfect fit for you and your loved ones.
My SOS Family Emergency Alert
By MY SOS FAMILY LTD
This app allows the user to trigger the My SOS Family Automated Personal Alert assistant simply by using their voice. The app will send a text and call pre-set SOS Family contacts asking for help. Once a person responds that they will help, the other caregivers will be notified that someone is taking care of the user’s needs. This is a great way for caregiving networks to work together for their loved one.
Price: Free to download with in-app purchases
Life 360: Find Family & Friends
By Life360
Great for children and teens with special needs, Find My Family, Friends, Phone is an intuitive tracker app to keep family, friends and caregivers connected. Find My Family, Friends, Phone runs on your mobile device and allows you to view your family members on a map, communicate with them, and receive alerts when your loved ones leave and arrive at home, school or work.
Price: Free to download with in-app purchases
First Aid: American Red Cross
By American Red Cross
At a time when visiting a doctor’s office in-person could be risky, being familiar with the First Aid app may help with minor injuries. First Aid is a healthcare information app that gives users access to a plethora of medical information that they can use during emergencies. The app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid.
Price: FREE
Although doctor’s visits have changed over the past year, with many minor injuries and illnesses being handled at home with basic first aid or via virtual visits, there are still times that we need to prepare our children for in-person visits and maybe even procedures in a hospital. There are apps that can assist with this by helping you explain to your child what to expect during the visit and even those that allow them to “play doctor” and explore a medical setting.
Simply Sayin’ Medical Jargon
By MediaKube, LLC
Simply Sayin’ is a valuable resource to help medical professionals explain common procedures and surgeries to patients and their families. Straightforward and easy to navigate, Simply Sayin’ can also help parents prepare their children for doctor’s appointments and medical procedures, thereby easing children’s fears and anxiety.
Price: FREE
Pepi Hospital: Learn & Care
By: Pepi Play
Pepi Hospital is excellent for teaching body parts, places in the hospital, following directions, sequencing and storytelling. For a child that has been hospitalized or is going to be hospitalized, this app would present a great opportunity to create social stories or to use for discussion of what could be seen and heard while in the hospital.
Price: FREE
Lastly, as we have discussed many times throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of our health not only includes our physical health, but also our mental health. At BridgingApps, we continue to research and test out new apps for mental health so that we can pass them along to you. Take a look at what we have gathered below, you might find the perfect fit for you and your loved ones.
Youper: AI Mental Health
By: Youper, Inc.
Youper is an emotional health assistant that applies artificial intelligence to monitor and improve the user’s emotional health. Youper focuses on emotional tracking to support the user on their pursuit of happiness. It offers several assessments to better understand the users struggles and needs. Assessments are recorded and journaled with in the app. Monitoring features offer assessments on emotional topics such as post traumatic stress, depression, social anxiety. depression, and others.
Price: Free to download with in-app purchases
Endel: Focus & Sleep Sounds
By: Endel
Endel: Focus, Sleep, Relax is a software available on the web and as an app on IOS and android devices. This app uses algorithms to provide soundscapes. They vary based on the users location, weather conditions, and heart rate. Modes include focus, relax, on the go, and sleep. Endel could be an effective tool for caregivers and is reported by users to be effective with focus, relaxation, deep concentration, and calm sleep.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
If you are interested in searching for more apps, creating your own list of apps and sharing them, please go to BridgingApps.org. BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers who share information about using mobile devices with people who have special needs.
Amy Fuchs is the Program Coordinator at BridgingApps and a former special education teacher. Amy Barry is the Content Manager and Editor at BridgingApps and mother of five children.
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her children who have special needs. We share a passion for using mobile technology to enhance the lives of people of all ages with disabilities.
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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2021 Magazine
