A Daughter-in-Law’s Guide to Ageing Well

The Top 10 Apps Canadian Seniors Are Actually Using in 2026

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Why My 75-Year-Old Mother-in-Law Won’t Put Her Phone Down

A few months ago, I noticed my mother-in-law was suddenly glued to her phone. At first it was one of those “brain training” games — dodging cars in a parking lot, over and over, because she’d heard it was good for preventing dementia. Now, it’s Duolingo. Every single day, she sits down for her Spanish lesson for our Mexico Trip.

She’s 75. Watching her choose to learn a brand new language, on her own, just because she wanted to, genuinely stopped me in my tracks. It’s easy to assume that as we get older, we stop reaching for new things. But there she is, lighting up over correctly conjugating a verb, and honestly, it’s contagious.

That got me curious about what other apps Canadian seniors are actually using — not just what tech blogs assume they should be using, but what’s genuinely making their days easier, safer, or more fun. So I did some digging. If you’re an adult child (or in-law, like me) trying to figure out what to set up on your parent’s phone, I hope this saves you some time.

Top 10 Apps Seniors in Canada Are Using Right Now

1. Duolingo — For Keeping the Mind Sharp

Free to start, and genuinely gentle for beginners — lessons come in short, game-like bursts, so it never feels overwhelming. Daily reminders help build a habit, and with both French and Spanish available, it’s especially handy in a bilingual country like Canada. If you’re looking for something that combines mental stimulation with a real sense of accomplishment, this is it.

2. WhatsApp — Staying Close to Family Overseas

Canada is home to a huge number of immigrant families, and WhatsApp has become the go-to way to stay in touch with relatives and friends abroad. Free video and voice calls, photo sharing, and group chats make it easy for seniors to feel connected across time zones and oceans.

3. Zoom — Face-to-Face, Without Leaving the House

Zoom stuck around long after the pandemic for a good reason: the “Join” button is simple, the video windows are large, and there’s very little guesswork involved. It’s a favourite for grandparent-grandchild video calls and virtual family get-togethers.

4. Facebook — Community and Connection

Facebook is still very much alive among Canadian seniors. Local community groups, reunion pages, hobby groups, and — of course — a steady stream of grandkid photos make it one of the most-used apps in this age group.

5. YouTube — A Never-Ending Well of Interests

Cooking, gardening, news, church services, old favourite songs — YouTube’s library covers just about everything seniors love. As long as they know how to type a search, they can find exactly what they’re looking for.

6. Google Maps — Confident Driving, Less Worry

For seniors who still drive, Google Maps is invaluable — not just for real-time directions, but for its parking spot memory feature, which takes away that “wait, where did I park?” panic.

7. Medisafe — Never Missing a Dose

For anyone managing multiple medications, this app is a lifesaver. It sends reminders when it’s time to take a pill, and keeps a log that can be shown directly to a doctor at the next appointment.

8. Lumosity — Brain Training, Made Fun

Memory, focus, and problem-solving, all wrapped up in short games that adapt to how you’re doing. It’s the same category of app as the parking-lot game my mother-in-law started with — genuinely engaging, not just “good for you” in theory.

9. Uber — Freedom to Get Around

For seniors who’ve stopped driving, or who live somewhere public transit isn’t very convenient, Uber offers real independence. No cash needed, no complicated booking — just type in a destination and go.

10. Life360 — Peace of Mind for the Whole Family

A location-sharing app that’s especially popular with adult children whose parents live alone. It offers a quiet kind of reassurance — knowing someone’s home safe — plus an emergency alert feature for when it really counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. My parent finds new apps overwhelming. How do I help them get comfortable? Start with just one or two apps, not a dozen at once. Turn on larger text and bigger buttons first, and put the apps they’ll use most often right on the home screen where they won’t have to search for them.

Q2. Do brain training apps like Lumosity actually help prevent dementia? There’s research suggesting brain training apps can support cognitive function, but no app can promise to prevent dementia outright. What seems to matter most is staying mentally engaged and continuing to learn — which is exactly what makes language apps like Duolingo a great fit too.

Q3. Are these apps free to use? Most of these apps are free for their core features. Some, like Duolingo and Lumosity, offer optional paid subscriptions for an ad-free experience or extra content — but the free version is usually more than enough to start.

Q4. Can I set these apps up on my parent’s phone remotely? Yes — if you share an Apple ID or Google account with a parent, you can often install apps remotely from your own device. Just be sure to walk them through where the icon landed and how notifications work afterward.

Q5. Do Canadian seniors use different apps than seniors elsewhere? The overall picture is similar, but a few things stand out here. Because Canada has such a large immigrant population, apps like WhatsApp see especially heavy use for staying in touch with family abroad. And with winters that make public transit less reliable in many areas, ride-hailing apps like Uber tend to see more use among Canadian seniors than in some other countries.

A Final Thought

It’s easy to think of installing an app for a parent as a small, practical task — and it is. But watching my mother-in-law go from “let’s just video call the grandkids” to a full daily Spanish habit has shown me it can turn into something more. A little independence, a little joy, a reason to look forward to the next day.

If you’re not sure where to start with your own parents or in-laws, pick just one or two from this list. That’s usually all it takes. 

"and the person I'll become tomorrow. See you in the next post. "

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● About Me

Hi, I’m Kim — Korean-Australian, now calling Canada home, raising two boys and paying closer attention to the people who raised us. This blog is my way of asking more, and understanding a little better, while there’s still time.

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