Boca Raton teen builds free app for people facing cognitive decline

A 16-year-old Boca Raton student created Howie’s Place, a free, ad-free app and website for people with Alzheimer’s, special needs, brain injuries and children. The platform is now being used across South Florida and can be downloaded on iOS and Android or played online.

Why it matters: - Howie’s Place gives people with cognitive decline a simpler way to stay mentally active without ads, countdown clocks or confusing instructions. - The app also broadens access for families, caregivers and clinicians looking for an easy tool that can be tailored to different abilities. - The free platform is designed for users who benefit from low-pressure brain games, not just older adults with memory loss.

What happened: - Boca Raton resident Morgan Cole, 16, created Howie’s Place after trying to find a better game resource for her grandfather, Howie, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. - Cole built the app around familiar word and math games that could help users maintain computer skills and mental acuity. - The app now reaches seniors, children, people with special needs and individuals with traumatic brain injuries across South Florida. - Cole has presented Howie’s Place to organizations throughout South Florida.

The details: - Users, caretakers or clinicians can adjust difficulty to beginner, medium or challenging levels. - The app can track game statistics for users and occupational therapists if they want that feature. - Howie’s Place works in English and Spanish. - The platform is available free on iOS and Android. - The app can also be played online at howiesplace.org. - The company’s information page is available at abouthowiesplace.org.

Between the lines: - Cole’s project started as a personal response to a gap in online tools for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. - The app’s broader use shows a wider market for accessible, simplified digital activities that can serve mixed-age and mixed-ability users. - The emphasis on no ads and no pressure signals a product built for usability first, not engagement metrics.

What's next: - Cole wants to make the resource available to as many people and families as possible. - Broader awareness could expand use beyond South Florida as more users find the free app and website. - The app’s continued growth will likely depend on outreach to caregivers, therapists and community organizations.

The bottom line: - A teenager turned a family need into a free tool that could help make brain games more accessible for people who often get left out of mainstream apps.