June 2025

GERIATRICS

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT APPS

Featuring: Alexandra Petrakos, MD, Marianne Tschoe, MD, Lee A. Lindquist, MD, MPH, and James Webster, MD
The number of family caregivers for older adults increased from 34.2 million in 2015 to 41.8 million in 2020, heightening the demand for effective support resources. While mobile apps are marketed as tools for caregivers, many fall short in utility, content quality and data security.

In a recent commentary published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Northwestern Medicine scientists reviewed 21 caregiver support apps and revealed that only 57% included helpful features such as educational resources, medication reminders, shared calendars or social networking opportunities.

User feedback has been predominantly negative, citing time constraints, lack of technological skills and poorly tailored content. Pricing also varied widely — from free to over $40,000 annually — without guarantees of privacy.

With an average rating of just 2.7 out of 5, many apps lack caregiver input and geriatric expertise yet are endorsed by organizations like AARP. Research shows that technology-based interventions have had limited effects on caregiver burden and depression, underscoring the need for future studies on advanced solutions, including AI.
 
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