Technology The 6 Best Apps for Loneliness 9/3/2020 | By Rachel Marsh There are a lot of factors that contribute to loneliness – weather, age, and a global pandemic, to name a few. But, even when your loved ones are far or staying hunkered down for a variety of reasons, we’ve found several of the best apps for loneliness to help ease the isolation. Especially as we age, loneliness and isolation can become even more prominent – and even more serious. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, nearly one-third of all seniors live alone. But it’s not just seniors: caregivers, too, oftentimes feel the sting of seclusion, particularly in such an isolating field. And it’s not just about mental and emotional health: studies show that loneliness even affects physical health; increases unhealthy habits; and can even lead to Alzheimer’s. Particularly during a global quarantine, when we are told to go home and stay home, it can be even worse. However – in such a technology-heavy world, there are many ways to alleviate the crush of loneliness. Indeed, connecting with others, even virtually, can help feed that need of human connection. Download one (or multiple!) of these six apps for loneliness. Happy Whether you’re craving a casual chat, need to unload, or your day to day is becoming too much to handle: one touch connects you to the key to Happy. Available 24 hours a day, the app puts you in touch with a “Support Giver”: an encouraging, nonjudgmental listening ear on the other side of the line. Confidential? Yep. Supportive? Absolutely. 93% satisfaction rate? Check. Talkspace Connect with a licensed therapist in the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home. Talkspace links each user with a professionally trained counselor, with whom they can video chat or text with at a much greater availability than traditional therapists. Everything is completely confidential. And, Talkspace is now even covered by many insurance providers. Interested in other therapy apps? Check out E-Counseling.com’s list here! Predictable This app is ideal for those who, for whatever reason, have lost the ability to speak. Using the power of technology, it gives a voice to those who don’t otherwise have one. It’s designed to be very easy to use – plus: the more you use it, the more it’s able to predict what you’re trying to say. HearMe Created for people who just want to talk; whether it’s something serious (loss of a loved one, severe isolation, significant life changes), or merely a craving of human interaction (and someone to chat with who’s not, for example, a cat!). This is one of the best apps for loneliness; it’s designed for emotional health and wellbeing, allows users to text-chat with a trained volunteer. And, though less cute than a four-legged fur baby, they do respond – any time of the day! WhatsApp Got family and friends all over the world? WhatsApp allows free communication for users – from texting, to sharing pictures, to even phone calls. Instead of using cell phone data like traditional means of technological communicating, this instead utilizes the internet. So as long as your internet connection is reliable, so too will be your WhatsApp conversations. Happier Aimed at enhancing gratitude in the lives of its users, this app helps users stay present and appreciate the positives in their every day. It features a “gratitude journal,” virtual courses on happiness, and a community motivated by optimism. It boasts many different features and facets, each one intently geared toward making its users … Happier. Coming Soon: Remarkable Lives This soon-to-launch app is a private social media platform, created to share the memories and celebrate the lives of those who matter most. Invite friends and family to share images, add comments, and take a virtual walk down memory lane. Read More Rachel Marsh Award-winning writer Rachel Marsh has written for many different sites and publications on a variety of topics. She is the multimedia editor for Seniors Guide and works hard to make sure seniors and their families have the best information possible. When she’s not writing for work, she can be found writing for fun. Really!