22 helpful gadgets, gifts, and other things for seniors to make living at home easier in 2024
It’s not easy getting older. With it can come decreased mobility, less dexterity, and perhaps even pain from doing the things that were so simple just a few years ago. When difficulty with everyday tasks threatens elderly independence, there may just be the perfect solution – in a gadget.
For those of advanced years living alone and loving it, or patients in the process of post-surgery recovery regaining their health and dexterity, these things might be the difference between staying in your own home and having to move to an assisted care facility.
Read on to find some of the best affordable gadgets, gifts and other things for the elderly living at home or those recovering from an injury. Whether you are aging and looking for some aids to daily living, or you’re caring for aging loved ones in their home and want to help them remain independent, here is our list of great gadgets and other things to make life easier. (They also make great gifts!)
Dressing made easy
Socks and shoes aids
When you wake in the morning, getting up and dressed can seem insurmountable if you suffer from back or joint pain that limits your movement. Bending to put on socks and shoes doesn’t have to be impossible. If bending causes pain or shortness of breath, finding an ingenious gadget for dressing will makes life easier and start your day off right.
The Sock Aid Device is a handy gadget designed to allow you to pull on socks without having to bend all the way to your feet.
- No need to bend: Thanks to the height-adjustable handle and patented leg lift system, you no longer need to bend over to put on and take off your stockings.
- Patented hard plastic sock puller holds socks in place and makes it easy to put on socks while sitting or standing.
Once your socks are on, it’s time for shoes. With the Blue Jay Heavy Duty Shoe Horn, it’s easy to slip on any type of shoe. The steel construction ensures durability and the long handle does not bend or twist when you maneuver it. It also works great for taking off socks. Slide the horn into the top of your sock and push down. It’s just that easy. Use the handy grabber (featured later in this list) to pick up your socks and toss them in the dirty laundry bin.
Clothing aids
When a stroke or arthritis means less strength and dexterity in the fingers, buttoning or zipping can become a challenge. But you don’t have to start your day frustrated. Now you can maintain your dignity and independence with the help of a few nifty products for delicate dressing tasks. Check out these helpful tools for dressing and self-care.
Buttons and zippers
This button hook and zipper pull combo takes the pain-in-the-neck out of trying to force those pesky buttons through the buttonhole. With its slip-resistant rubber handle and tough, heavy-duty wire, you can easily button everything from a delicate blouse button to your jeans. Reach through the buttonhole, slip the wide area of the protruding wire over the button, slide it to the narrow end to secure it, and pull through. Viola! And it also is a zipper pull!
Grooming and hygiene gadgets
Hair care
When neck or shoulder pain limits your ability to reach over your head, a long handled brush and comb set can make all the difference. Comb your own hair with ease.
Toothbrush handle
Handling a toothbrush is made so much easier with the Ableware Universal Built-up Handle. Grab narrow items much more easily and hold them firmly during use. Keep your autonomy in the little things and you’ll be that much more independent. Use this in the kitchen for silverware too.
Wiping aid
Going to the bathroom without assistance is one of the vital components of maintaining elderly independence. If back and hip pain prevent twisting, effective hygiene is difficult. The Self Wipe Assist wiping aid may make all the difference.
Getting out and about
Being independent includes getting out to see friends, go shopping, and take care of important errands like doctor visits.
According to the National Council on Aging, research indicates that older adults withdraw from social activities when they experience limited mobility,* both online and off.
Mobility aids, like walkers, canes, and power chairs, can empower older adults to either return to previously enjoyed activities in the community or never lose those activities in the first place!
Keep seniors staying mobile with some of these ingenious gadgets.
Shopping
Easily transport groceries, laundry, personal items and more with a rolling shopping cart. This 3-wheel design allows you to roll up stairs and over curbs. And when you need to rest, simply unfold the seat and take a load off.
Key turners
Time to lock or unlock? Yup, you have to do that when you leave your home. Even the inability to turn a key can keep a senior at home. But it will no longer be a problem with the KeyWing Key Turner. This grip-able rubber gadget snaps onto the head of your key to give you a broad, non-slip surface to turn. Great for house and car keys alike.
Car entry and exit aids
If balance issues, back pain, or decreased leg strength makes getting in and out of the car difficult, try the Stander HandyBar. Rated up to 340 lbs, it slides into the striker located in the door jam of every car.
If you need even more support or a second handle, add the Stander CarCaddie. This versatile hold loops around the door jam and provides a second grip to help you stand. It will not pull the door toward you due to the downward force of standing. And the window can be rolled up and the door closed once it is installed, so you can leave it in place for every time you get in and out of the car.
Risers & ramps
Sometimes it’s physically taxing to lift your foot high enough to climb stairs. If you are in a wheelchair, then a wheelchair ramp is the perfect solution to get in and out of the house.
But what if you just need shallower steps? Then try the Support Plus Riser Step. Hip pain, post-surgery weakness, or balance issues no longer means being housebound.
Cane seat
When you are on-the-go, you may find you need to rest for a few moments when there is no chair handy. Whether it’s during a walk with family, looking for a book at the library, or shopping for groceries, a quick break will make any outing manageable.
The Adjustable Cane Seat is a perfect solution. Light and easy to use while walking, its three legs fold open with a nine-inch-wide seat that drops down for a stable place to rest. Getting out and about just got a whole lot easier.
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Aids for Daily Living
Getting out of your seat
When rising from couches and chairs, sometimes a little extra help is necessary. With the UpEasy Seat Assist sold here at American Discount Home Medical the hydro-pneumatic gas spring takes 70% of your weight while you do the rest. And it’s weight-adjustable. The seat folds even up and has a handle molded into the base for easy carrying if you need to take it on-the-go.
The UpEasy Power Seat electric lift makes getting up from your favorite chair easier than you ever thought it could be. Power levers can go on either side of the lift, and the design provides a safe lift without any forward dumping motion.
The Assist-a-Tray Safety Handle & Table provides assistance in standing and sitting from your couch, chair or lift chair. Tray swivels and arm pivots 360 degrees to swivel away when not in use.
Reacher/grabber
If you have trouble bending to reach items, what’s more convenient than a tool to help you pick up items off the floor. The CQ Wellness Pick Up Grabber Reaching Tool lets you extend your reach 32 inches. With rubber tips and swiveling arms to change pick up position, you can make this tool fit your lifestyle. Easily retrieve keys, phone, papers and more.
Turn on lights – Get smart!
There are plenty of gadgets you can attach to lamp switches that make it easier for arthritic hands to turn on and off lamps, but we think even that is too hard. Get smart bulbs instead.
- ACTIVATE WITH MOTION – With a minimum of two WiZ lights in a room you can activate the SpaceSense feature in the WiZ Connected app and lights will turn on and off automatically when they detect motion – no sensors needed!
- EASY TO SET UP – Start enjoying the benefits of the smart features instantly. Just screw in your new bulb, download the WiZ Connected app, and connect to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi! No need to install additional hardware such as a hub or gateway.
- EASY TO USE – Adjust lights with your smartphone- voice- the WiZ remote control- or by using your existing wall switch to toggle between two favorite modes. Works with Google Home- Alexa- and Siri Shortcuts.
- EASY TO AUTOMATE – Using the WiZ Connected app, you can schedule your lights to automatically turn on and off, dim, or change color according to your daily or weekly routines. Even when you’re not at home, you’ll always have access.
Long Term Longevity
Gentle exerciser
Getting older does not have to mean losing all of your fitness and strength. With the Economy Exercise Peddler or this Deluxe Peddler Exerciser you can keep the fitness of bike riding without having to take the falling risks associated with riding your bike outside. Use it for arms or legs for a safe and gentle low-impact exercise to keep you feeling your best.
Kitchen Gadgets
Door knob turner
Turning the door knob doesn’t have to be a pain. These EZ Doorknob Grips makes getting into your home a breeze.
Lid looseners
Tight jars and pop-tops can seem impossible to twist off if your grip isn’t what it was due to pain or weakness. Now you can still get into the pickle jar with this battery-powered Hamilton Beach Open Ease Jar Opener. It’s a bit pricy, but it beats the other options out there that still require you to grip and turn.
Here’s to great gadgets!
Getting older isn’t for the faint of heart, but there is no need for frustration as you go about your day to day routine. Whether you are helping a loved one find ways to stay independant or looking for way for yourself, we hope this list of things to make elderly life easier will give you some great ideas.
And finally, if you have any suggestions for gadgets your seniors love, let us know!
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P.S. The NCOA article linked above provides more info on:
- How to provide accessible communication for folks with vision, hearing or mobility challenges
- One of the most comprehensive lists of applications and technologies available to help people navigating each of these challenges stay connected to friends and family
- Practical tips to stay social and enjoy the fine arts
Matthew Voralik grew up working in the brick and mortar store after school and during the summers. When most boys his age were playing video games, he was assembling wheelchairs and hospital beds and showing people how to use all the things they sold in his dad’s store. Today he does the same thing for his online customers. This also makes America Discount Home Medical uniquely qualified to select and recommend the best products for our customers.
Tags: senior gifts, senior living
