Many of us in the 50+ age group are in the phase of life that involves managing the eldercare of parents/relatives. This can mean many things, from working to assist them in their current living situation, to helping them downsize into an assisted living facility and then managing that living situation, to coordinating appointments/health issues, and a million other things in between.
Joanne and I both are actively involved in these phases of life with parents/in-laws/aunts/uncles and we’ve found some items that have improved the quality of life for our relatives plus made them happy which makes us happy!
Home Products:
This is the item that inspired this post! Chrissie found out, while helping her father-in-law move, that he LOVES his! This clock has huge numbers and is super easy to read, but the bonus is that it also tells you the day of the week and if it’s morning or afternoon. It’s easy for this population to lose track of what day of the week it is, so it’s very handy to have all the info displayed and easy to read.
It’s easy to keep parents/grandparents updated on what everyone in the family is up to with this digital frame. The Aura let’s anyone you give access to upload photos with one click on their phone and they will display immediately – so easy!
If someone isn’t particularly tech savvy or has lost some phone/keyboard dexterity a paper calendar is a great option. It also let’s people visually look at an entire month at a time to see upcoming doctor appointments. You can add in family birthdays and other notable events. For the family members doing the elder-care, a shared online Google calendar that shows doctors appointments and various family members’ commitments (vacations etc) is very handy.
Having a notebook on hand is important for people to keep track of notes and appointments, especially notes on recent doctors’ visits!
Dried Wreath for Front Door:
In many care facilities, residents like to put a wreath on the front door so they can easily recognize which room is theirs. Finding a good-looking one isn’t always easy! This and this are great options, or this lavender one if you want a fragrant option.
It was a happy day for Jo’s mom when she converted all her necklaces and bracelets to magnetic clasps! As dexterity declines it can be really hard to attach jewelry on your own and these allow someone to maintain their independence in this part of getting dressed each day.
Having fresh flowers in a living space can make all the difference of making it feel like a real home. If an elderly person doesn’t get outside much, or is in a new environment/living situation, a subscription for regular flower delivery can really brighten someone’s day.
A warm blanket is cozy for watching TV or if someone gets cold sitting in a wheelchair (it can be tricky to put on a sweater or jacket when in a wheelchair). Monograms make it a bit more special and ensures it won’t get lost.
Daily Living/Personal Care:
Elastic Wristband for Key:
When a key is needed to get in/out of an assisted-living room, or a house, and memories may not be what they used to be, it’s handy to have a key on a wristband so it’s both easily accessible and secure. Here is a basic plastic one, and here is a softer ‘scrunchie’ option.
Fall Detection/SOS Help:
There are many ‘smart call’ systems for seniors, and we haven’t personally used them so can’t make a specific recommendation, however, we know lots of people opt (in early days of elder care) for an Apple watch which has fall detection that detects when the wearer has a hard fall and allows the wearer to hit the SOS button for help.
There is much less chance of making a mistake or forgetting pills when the organizer is large and the day of the week is easy to read. Plus, less dexterity is needed with a larger container.
Cane:
The cane market is full of options, but we’ve found the ones with ‘multiple touchpoints’ at the bottom vs. a single one offer a lot more stability.
Walker/Rollator:
The rollator is a great invention – such an improvement over a regular walker. Make sure, like this one, that it has a place to sit, good brakes, quality wheels (some are large enough to easily go over dirt/gravel), ample storage, and folds up easily! Don’t forget to put a name tag on the walker, like this one from Visitag, so it’s easy to identify the walker if it’s in the parking lot outside the retirement home dining hall!!
Wheelchair:
There are lots of choices out there for wheelchairs but this one is a good option – the footrests are easy to swing away or remove, the arms flip back, the wheels are good, there is a storage pouch, the brakes are easy to access/use, and it folds up easily.
We also found that these bars, that you tuck onto the side of a mattress, are an easy, great way to offer assistance for someone with reduced strength to get out of bed.
Set up a subscription when your relative starts having incontinence issues so they never run out and reordering is off your ‘to-do’ list.
Clothing:
Elastic Waist Pants:
As mobility declines and as one spends more time seated, pants with an elastic waist can be both easy to put on/take off (no buttons/snaps/belts to deal with) and more comfortable for all-day wear. Plus, there are so many great looking options on the market now – not just the baggy sweats of yesteryear. Here and here are great options for women, and here and here are some male options.
My father-in-law loves having a vest so he can always have his phone handy. If someone is more sedentary they can’t keep a phone in their back pocket and having a zip pocket for a phone is a great option for a sense of security.
Slip On Shoes/Extra Long Shoe Horn:
It can be hard to bend over to put on/tie shoes as one ages, and slip on shoes, or those without ties at a minimum, are a good option.
The brand VIVAIA markets these athletic/walking shoes that come in 16 colors and are for both men and women (they have ties but no tie action is needed as they are ‘fake’ laces). They also make a casual flat that is a good choice for women, and it comes in 16 colors.
Additionally, for women, this Nike pair has lots of cushion and are easy to take on/off, as are these Rothys. For men, these Ecco are a good choice, as well as these. And look at these Rockports that are ‘step-activated’ for hands free putting on/taking off!
An extra long shoe horn also assists in that it prevents someone from having to bend down to slip the shoes on.
0 thoughts on “Eldercare Products to Make Daily Living Easier & Happier”
Vests with pockets are the bomb!