How to Choose Dementia Apps and Games

App stores are full of games labeled for seniors, memory or dementia. Some are thoughtfully made. Others add medical-sounding promises, timers that turn play into a test, or ads and data collection. This page gives you a way to judge any app yourself. We do not rank or review other products.

What should I decide before choosing a dementia app?

Decide what you want the app to do. “A game for Mom” could mean very different things, and the best choice for one goal is often a poor choice for another.

The research on structured “cognitive stimulation” for people with dementia mostly involves group sessions led by trained staff, with discussion, word games, puzzles, music and creative activities. A Cochrane review found small benefits on average, varying between studies. That kind of social, varied program is not the same thing as a solo app, so treat any app as one shared activity among many.

How do I know if an app fits the person’s abilities?

Watch how they respond, rather than going by a diagnosis or stage label. Two people at the “same stage” can differ greatly in eyesight, hearing, hand control, language and comfort with screens. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests keeping past interests and current abilities in mind and focusing on enjoyment rather than achievement.

Signs of a good fit:

• they start or join in without much coaxing;
• they smile, comment or tell a story;
• mistakes do not seem to bother them;
• they are happy to stop when it is time.

Signs it is a poor fit:

• repeated “I can’t” or “this is silly”;
• confusion about what to tap;
• frustration, embarrassment or pushing the device away;
• it only works if you do almost everything.

Distress is a signal, not something to push through. See what to do when they say no. For stage-based ideas beyond apps, see early-stage and late-stage activities.

What design features should I look for or avoid?

Look for calm, simple, adult design, and avoid anything that adds pressure.

Ads and purchase prompts are easy to tap by accident.

How do I check an app’s privacy?

Check what the app collects, who it shares with, and whether you can delete it. Before you install:

1. Read the store’s privacy summary. Google Play’s Data safety section and the App Store’s privacy information section list the data types an app may collect and share. Both companies note that developers provide this information themselves, so it is a starting point, not an audit.
2. Ask whether it needs an account. If an app only shows pictures or simple games, there may be no reason for it to know your name, email or birthday.
3. Check permissions. Does a matching game really need location, contacts, microphone or your whole photo library? Turn off anything it does not need.
4. Look for ads and analytics. Advertising and tracking tools can send data about how the app is used to other companies.
5. Find out where photos go. If you add family photos, do they stay on the device or upload to a server? Can you remove them?
6. Check deletion. Look in the privacy policy or data summary for how to delete data and the account. An app that says data cannot be deleted deserves extra caution, especially if it holds photos or health details.
7. Read the privacy policy for plain answers on what is collected, why, for how long, and who it is shared with.

Does HIPAA protect information in dementia apps?

Usually not, which surprises many people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains that HIPAA applies to health plans, most health care providers, health care clearinghouses and their business associates. In most cases it does not protect data you enter into an app for personal use, unless a covered entity or its business associate provided the app. A “dementia app” from an app store is often outside HIPAA, even if it talks about health.

What protects health data in apps that HIPAA does not cover?

The Federal Trade Commission’s Health Breach Notification Rule covers many of them. In 2024 the FTC finalized changes clarifying that the rule applies to health apps and similar technologies not covered by HIPAA. A “breach” includes unauthorized disclosures, not just hacking, and companies must notify affected people and the FTC. That is a safety net after something goes wrong, not a promise that an app collects only what it needs.

How should I read claims about research and evidence?

Read evidence claims slowly, and be most skeptical of the biggest promises. Questions to ask:

• What exactly was studied? A study of one training program does not show that every game in an app works the same way.
• Who was studied? Results in healthy older adults may not apply to someone living with dementia.
• What was measured? Getting better at the game itself is different from changes in daily life, conversation, mood or independence.
• How strong is the study? A randomized controlled trial (RCT) compares a group using the app with a group that does not. It is a good design, but one small or short RCT is not proof. Look for several studies, by independent researchers, that agree.
• Does it claim to change the disease? A study showing small improvements on a test is not evidence that an app slows, prevents or treats dementia.

The National Institute on Aging’s page on cognitive health and older adults describes a large NIH-funded trial of structured cognitive training, and then warns readers to beware of claims that certain computer and online games can improve memory and thinking. It says there is not yet enough evidence that commercially available brain-training apps have the same impact as the training tested in that trial. You can read more in our guide to brain games and the evidence and what research says about preventing dementia.

What is a public example of a misleading claim?

In January 2016, the FTC announced a settlement with the makers of Lumosity, a “brain training” program. The FTC alleged that the company claimed, without adequate evidence, that its games could delay age-related cognitive decline and protect against mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The company agreed to pay $2 million and must have competent and reliable scientific evidence before making such claims in future. The case is a useful reminder that marketing language is not evidence.

Which words are red flags?

Be cautious when an app or ad says it:

• “prevents,” “reverses,” “stops” or “cures” dementia or Alzheimer’s;
• is “clinically proven” without naming the study, who was in it, and what was measured;
• gives a “brain age” or a memory score that implies a diagnosis;
• will “sharpen,” “boost” or “train” the brain;
• uses testimonials as proof.

If you are unsure about a claim, ask the person’s doctor.

Where does Golden Moments fit?

Golden Moments offers simple shared activities, not a memory test, therapy or medical advice. Our games, such as Picture Pairs, Conversation Cards, Photo Pairs, Picture Bingo and Calm Breathing, are made for enjoyment and conversation. They do not diagnose, treat, prevent or measure dementia, and we make no claims about memory or thinking.

We would rather you judge us than trust us. Use the checklist on this page, read our privacy page and medical disclaimer, and stop using anything, including ours, that does not suit the person you care for.

What is a sensible way to try a new app?

Try it together for a couple of weeks and watch what happens.

1. Set it up first using our tablet and phone setup guide, and start at the easiest level.
2. Keep sessions short, notice smiles, conversation and calm, and end on a good moment.
3. Drop it if it causes frustration, however highly rated it is.