27 July 2022
The vast range of independent living aids available can often be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re caring for someone or needing these aids for the first time. This can result in you missing out on some truly ingenious products, ones that are simple and yet could have a real impact on how easy it is to go about your day.
Make daily life easier in the kitchen with the help of handy eating and drinking aids. They’re designed to help maintain a person’s independence, so that they can complete tasks on their own without needing a lot of extra support.
To help with making a hot drink the Uccello Kettle, The Easy Pour Kettle could be just what they need, especially if they have concerns about pouring out water from their existing kettle once it’s boiled. With this clever kettle, there’s no lifting necessary. All they have to do is gently tip it forward to pour the boiling water into their cup.
Is it food preparation they’re finding difficult? Try the Food Workstation. This ingenious kitchen has multiple functions to help make the preparation of food easier for those who have limited mobility on one side or who find it difficult to use both hands when preparing a meal. There’s a grip to help with peeling and slicing, a raised lip for when making sandwiches or buttering bread, a grater, a brush, a clamp to hold items in place, it’s extremely versatile.
If standard kitchen bread knives, carving knives, and general-purpose knives are giving them trouble with their wrists or hands, it may be time to consider an alternative. Have you heard of the Easi Grip range of knives? It includes a bread knife, carving knife, and general-purpose knife that all have one special feature: a thick, non-slip handle set at 90 degrees to the blade. The chunkier handles help to make the knives easier to hold while the angle means that their wrist is kept in a comfier, more natural position.
Everyone wants to feel comfortable in their own home, but age, illness, injury, or disability can sometimes leave things decidedly uncomfortable. Did you know there are a range of aids and equipment available to help with this?
If it’s an inability to get up from their favourite chair that’s getting them down, there’s no need to go looking for new furniture. The clever SitnStand Portable Rising Seat could be just what they need to give them the confidence to sit where they like again. It’s suitable for use with most types of chairs and can be moved around as needed. The controller has two buttons; one to inflate it and help them rise up out of the seat, and one to deflate it and gently lower them down.
For those living with diabetes, foot care is of paramount importance. The IOMI Footnurse Gentle Grip Diabetic Socks have been specially designed for people with diabetes and will mould to the contours of their legs without increasing pressure. They come in a variety of colours but if their feet are of particular concern then it may be a good idea to consider a white pair, as it may be easier to notice if any issues arise.
Are they spending a lot of time in bed? If they need support to sit up, have you considered trying an adjustable backrest? The NRS Healthcare Adjustable Backrest can be put up in one of six different settings, so they can find the position that’s most comfortable for them, whether they’re watching television or reading a book. It can be more effective than just using pillows to support them as it doesn’t result in the spine being curved, so their posture is better.
There are household tasks that most of us don’t even think about. Things like carrying an item from one room to another or even unplugging something are done almost without thought, yet these are tasks that can be difficult for those with limited mobility.
The Handy Tray – with Non-Slip Mat could be really useful for someone who finds it difficult to carry items round the house – especially food or drinks. What makes this tray so helpful is that it can be carried with one hand. This means if they need to use a walking stick to get around, they can still carry items on the tray, thanks to the large handle.
Ever seen them struggle to unplug something? Whether it’s due to a poor grip that makes it hard to remove the plug or a tangle of cables that gives them pause, Plug Tugs may help. Simple and yet so clever, Plug Tugs wrap around a plug to create a small handle. This serves two purposes: the first is that the handle makes it much easier to remove the plug from the socket, and the second is that it can be labelled, so they know exactly which item is being unplugged.
If they’re experiencing memory troubles, have you considered a memory aid like the Rosebud Reminder Clock? Its ingenious design has several functions including the ability to record audio and video reminders to help them remember to do important tasks or that a key event or appointment is happening. Alongside this, it has 17 other alarm reminders available and will also clearly state the date and time.
Independent living aids aren’t just restricted to those for the home, there are a variety available to help when they’re outdoors or travelling too.
Take the classic shopping trolley. You may have already considered this as a way to help them carry their shopping, but did you know that there were those with helpful features beyond being a useful bag on wheels? The Tri Wheeled Leisure Shopping Trolley With Fold Down Seat has two very handy features that really help to set it apart. The first is the special stair-climbing wheels, that make it far easier to pull it up stairs or kerbs without unnecessary struggle. The second is the fold down seat that gives them somewhere to rest while waiting for the bus or for their ride home.
Are they having difficulties getting in and out of the car? Rather than risk injury pulling them up or lowering them down yourself, there are aids available that could help. The Handy Bar helps them to lever themselves up and out of the car under their own power. It slots into most cars, providing a stable surface for them to push down on as they stand. As an added bonus, it also functions as a seat belt cutter and glass breaker in emergencies.
Tending to the garden can be one of life’s simple pleasures, so when gardening starts to become more and more difficult for the person you care for it can be hard to know how best to help them. The Easi-Grip range of gardening tools may be just the thing to help. This ingenious range of garden tools come in two main types: long handled and short handled. The short handled tools feature an ergonomic grip that’s designed to help the wrist stay in a more natural position and improve grip. These are ideal if they have raised beds or a windowsill garden in their home. The long handled tools also include the ergonomic handles, but the extended length means that they won’t need to bend down as far (perhaps even at all) to tend to their garden.
Interested in seeing other clever products that could make everyday life easier? You can find our full range here.
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