Adjustable beds are good at relieving pain, swelling, snoring, and arthritis. Propping up your head and legs in different combinations and heights relieves pressure and discomfort. That relief helps you sleep.
Now we have recliners called “lift chairs” that can transport you from sitting to standing up. We have cushions that expand as we get up to give us just enough push to stand up. We have sitting and standing assistance devices for couches, hard chairs, and toilets.
Learn how to have a pet without bringing an animal into the house. If you’re in Florida, you can rent a grandkid. Learn three ways to make friends while volunteering.
Grab bars, entrance ramps, removing rugs, moving the bedroom, stair lifts, elevators, shower seats, better lighting, pullout shelves and comfort height toilets.
Taking care of Mom or Dad is by far the hardest and most important job we have. But it’s hard, time-consuming, and stressful. The Alexa smart home device is an amazing tool that can ease the burdens of caring for the elderly. Here are four outstanding ways to use Alexa.
Weighted blankets are safe. They help reduce anxiety. They can create a calm, peaceful feeling. Seniors can safely use weighted blankets. Use a lighter version if the user is weaker than normal.
Elder Helpers is a platform that matches volunteers with seniors. It is a great idea that I would endorse, but something seems to have gone wrong.
I found two outstanding book readers for older eyes and shorter patience. Their fonts are big and they are simple to operate.
For airborne allergens, the best allergy device is a HEPA air purifier. The best air purifier will be the one that not only cleans the air, but also has the sense not to wake us up at night with lights and noise.
To check your AFib at home, get an over-the-counter ECG (electrocardiogram), also known as a “home heart monitor.”
The single most effective way to protect an elderly person living alone is to make him or her an undesirable target. The best break-in is the one that never happens.
Tactile devices allow you to use your sense of touch to landmark where you are. For example, “bump dots” are small pieces of plastic you attach to the phone, oven, or similar device. You put the dots on dial settings. Then use your sense of touch to turn the dial to the desired setting.
A hands-free lighted magnifier allows you to hold the book while getting magnification and light for reading. Both floor stand and desktop lighted magnifiers help, which one is best depends on where you are doing your reading. You can also use reading glasses, various types of hand-held magnifiers, and digital magnifiers. Finally, you can use a computer tablet with a large display, and use the font accessbility feature to make the book easier to see.
A bed alarm alerts a caregiver when the patient is getting up from bed, chair, or the toilet. Bed alarms prevent falls by calling the caregiver to intervene. I call the Bed Alarm the “Mom needs help but refuses to ask for it alarm.”
Do balance, strength, and posture exercises to keep yourself strong and upright. De-clutter your home to avoid tripping. Re-arrange furniture to make wide paths.
Bose Hearphones use noise suppression and selective frequency amplification to clarify conversations. They are not “hearing aids.” They help you to hear conversations.
