Down Syndrome Australia recently released an app called Down Syndrome Good Health. As of now, it is available only on the App Store for iPhones (available at no cost). The App Store description says, “Down Syndrome Good Health supports people with Down syndrome to keep a diary of their meals, water intake, exercise, and daily activities to share with family, support people, and healthcare providers.”

The app is simple to use, includes many images, and requires minimal typing. It allows users to: 

• Take photos of the foods they eat. It also records the time at which the food was added.

• Indicate how many cups of water they drink.

• Record their exercise by selecting a picture of the type of exercise completed. Exercises include running, dancing, cycling, yoga, and sports, among others. There is also an "Other" option. Additionally, users can give the app access to the Apple Health app, so their daily step count is displayed in the Down Syndrome Good Health app.

• Note the activities they do throughout the day and choose from a scale of smiley faces to indicate how the activities make them feel. Options include a variety of work, social, and leisure activities. 

• Unlock daily "mini-games" by recording their progress.

As an example, here are the steps to record water intake: 

After opening the app, tap on the "Add water" button.

Tap the plus button to record how many cups of water were drunk. Then tap "Save."

The diary opens and shows the number of cups of water you recorded. To record another activity, tap the button with a house icon in the upper left corner.

The app will return to the home screen. It will show the number of cups of water you recorded.

Apps such as Down Syndrome Good Health can help individuals with and without Down syndrome set goals, track their progress, and hold themselves accountable. Other apps that may be helpful are listed in this Nutrition and Hydration Apps article in our Resource Library.

We are sharing information about this app for educational purposes only. The Adult Down Syndrome Center does not receive financial support or compensation for sharing information about the app.