Home living aids can ensure that your home remains your castle—regardless of your age or mobility level. If you would like to make your home more comfortable and accessible but are not sure where to begin, the list of ten top home living aids provided below should help you get started:
1. Grabbers and reachers. Grabbers and reachers (some of which come equipped with magnetic tips) are incredibly useful for people who suffer from arthritis. A magnetic reacher can, for example, help you pick up dropped change or vehicle keys without having to bend over. Not only does this reduce pain, in many cases owning a grabber or reacher can help to prevent dangerous falls.
2. Dental swabs (Toothettes). Dental swabs provide a soothing, gentle way to clean the teeth and gums—perfect for those who have a hard time brushing their teeth or who have lost a significant number of teeth. They help to remove debris, get rid of bacteria, and stimulate the gums, reducing the risk of infection and calming irritation.
3. Gardening reaches and arm supports. Many elderly people enjoy gardening as a relaxing, fulfilling pastime, but it can become difficult if you have arthritis or other mobility limitations. A special gardening reach with an arm support can help you easily reach and remove weeds, reducing the physical strain associated with gardening.
4. Driving aids. If you have lost the full use of your legs but still wish to drive a vehicle, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of portable automotive hand control systems available. These devices allow people to control vehicles with their hands, rather than their feet.
5. Accessibility ramps. If you are in a wheelchair or use a walker, you’ll need to install accessibility ramps anywhere steep inclines are present in and around your home. If your home has stairs, you should also install a motorised chair lift to help you safely ascend and descend staircases.
6. Extra-large easy-to-use lamp switches. Switching lamps on and off can cause a great deal of pain for those who have hands and fingers affected by arthritis. Furthermore, ‘Clap on/Clap off’ systems are often little easier to manage. Fortunately, there is an alternative: Extra-large lamp knobs can be installed on most standard lamps and make switching lamps on and off much easier.
7. Grab bars. Grab bars are one of the most essential home living aids on the market. They can make even ‘high risk’ areas like shower stalls safe to use as they provide additional support while the user navigates slippery surfaces. Installing grab bars in your home should be of the utmost priority as they can help to prevent many of the most dangerous types of falls.
8. Transfer boards. As any wheelchair user knows, transferring from a wheelchair to an armchair, toilet, couch, etc., can be extremely difficult without help. Thankfully, there are wheelchair transfer boards available to make this transition smoother. Many transfer boards come with cut-out handles, making them easy to carry around the house.
9. Lifting cushions. For wheelchair users (and those with limited mobility), transferring into chairs and onto couches is only half the battle—getting up can be even more difficult. That’s why it’s important to keep at least a few lifting cushions around the house. These cushions, which support up to 80 per cent of a person’s body weight, will gently raise you out of your chair so that you can more easily transfer to a standing position or into a wheelchair. Lifting cushions are typically light and portable, making them great for outings, too; take your lifting chair along when you go to restaurants, to the theatre, etc.
10. Swinging door hinges. One of the biggest challenges new wheelchair users face is the cost and hassle involved in remodelling their homes—particularly widening their doors. Thanks to the invention of swinging door hinges, however, you might not have to. Swinging door hinges provide a very affordable (and easy) way to widen your doorways by about 5 centimetres, allowing you to fit your wheelchair through them without issue.
The above list of home living aids, while an excellent place to start, is by no means complete. There is an incredibly wide range of different living aids available to elderly people today, making living at home easier than ever before. If you’re struggling with an everyday task, try researching your specific need online—you’re almost sure to find a possible solution.