Products To Make Life Easier For Older Adults (Updated)

We’re big fans of hacks and innovative products to make life easier for older adults. And there’s such a fantastic, wide range available. So we thought we’d round up our favourites.

The gadgets and assistive devices that we’ve selected are easy to install and use, are inexpensive and available to buy online. We’ve also road tested these useful products for everyday life with some of our senior clients previously too, so we know that they really do make life easier and the home safer. Meaning peace of mind for you too!

We’ve split these must-have elderly gadgets out by room (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room), so you can easily see what a difference they can make around the home. And if you’re concerned about incontinence, check out our article reviewing the different types of incontinence products available, from washable pants to bedding.

In our opinion, the drop in function on the Amazon Echo Show is the best way to easily communicate and check in with your elderly parents. Find out more in our article on the best ways to use Alexa for the elderly.

1. Helping Seniors Stay Safe In The Bedroom

Motion Sensor Lights Can Reduce Falls At Night

Super Bright Plug In Motion Sensor Hallway Living Aid

Seniors often fall over at night, mainly due to your older loved one rushing to the toilet in the dark. This clever indoor motion sensor light fits into a free plug socket and will automatically illuminate when someone passes within five metres. The light stays on for 30 seconds, and it only operates in darkness to save on electricity.

Ideal if sharing a room with someone and your parent doesn’t want to wake them by turning on the main light, or to light up the corridor. It should help to reduce the risk of falls at night, making the home safer for seniors. Especially important during lockdown when we can’t see them.

Improve Bed Mobility With A Bed Lever

Being comfortable in bed is so important. Our physiotherapist Nancy has rounded up her favourite beds and bed aids for older adults.

Bed Lever

Getting in and out of bed gets harder as we age, and a bed lever is an inexpensive mobility aid that can make all the difference. Positioned about a third of the way down the bed, it gives your parent something to hold onto when getting into bed (so is good for people who struggle with balance). Moving in bed when lying down can also be problematic and using this bed transfer aid as support, your parent will be able to move themselves up or turn over. As well as the type above (which slots between the mattress and bed frame), there’s also this free standing style.

Fall Detector Alarm

Taking Care Anywhere Personal Alarm

Whether it’s slipping on an uneven pavement or tripping over a rug, falls can happen in and out of the home. Personal alarms for the elderly are a great way to help our parents maintain their independence and give us peace of mind.

This Taking Care fall detector alarm (from Which? Magazine favourite and Age UK personal alarm provider) offers a way to call for help in an emergency, 24/7 and is location aware so the alarm monitoring system knows where your parent is.

It also comes with a pendant which they can push anytime day or night, and Taking Care will speak to your parent directly through it. It is water resistant (which is great considering the number of falls that take place in the bathroom) and has a one-month battery life.

Neck Reading Light

Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light

This great hands-free around the neck reading light means your parent can easily read, play sudoku, do the crossword or knit from the comfort of their chair or bed. Easily transportable and with awkward clips, it has three colour temperatures to avoid eye strain and is rechargable via USB (once charged, it lasts up to 80 hours). It’s an everyday product that can transform a senior’s quality of life.

Adaptive Clothing Makes Getting Dressed Easier

If you’ve ever wanted to find clothing that makes getting dressed easier for your elderly mum or dad then the answer is ADAPTIVE CLOTHING! We’re impressed with the quality and style of clothes from The Able Label. They use hidden fastenings to make clothing, accessories, nightwear and loungewear for men and women. They also have washable incontinence underwear and front fastening bras. We especially love this 100% cotton floral blouse which looks smart and on-trend. It has a centre front velcro fastening and is machine washable.

Using A Sock Aid

Sock Aid

We’re big fans of sock aids. Another inexpensive must-have aid that promotes independent dressing, they help people put on socks as they don’t have to lean down. And with us all likely living in socks and slippers currently, it’s a useful gadget to own. Find out how to use a sock aid here.

Easy To Put On Shoes

We’ve got a secret for you – there’s a new adaptive footwear company on the block. Friendly Shoes make wide fitting shoes that your parent can slide on, do up easily with a zip and are super lightweight yet sturdy. They also look great!

Created by an occupational therapist, their specialist shoes for men and women have a deep toe box (E width) and anti-slip soles. Little tip – their Friendly Force style (below) is the widest shoe in the range. Eligible people can also claim VAT exemption.

2. Products That Promote Independence In The Kitchen

Don’t Worry About Spilling A Hot Drink

Hearing loss is common as we get older. If your parent is turning the volume up, you might be interested in our article on devices that help hear the TV more clearly.

SpillNot Cup Holder

This unspillable cup holder is really neat! If your loved one can n longer carry a hot drink any distance, and resorts to drinking it in the kitchen or needs assistance then this is for them. Thanks to some amazing science, the liquid doesn’t slosh around in the cup and the cup doesn’t move off the tray. The Spill Not cup holder is great for anyone with mobility problems, one-sided weakness, tremors or just worried about carrying hot liquid. One of those gadgets that don’t cost much and can really make the world of difference.

Lightweight Cookware Sets

Analon Synchrony Lightweight Pots And Pans

The saucepans that have been in our parents’ kitchen drawers for years are great for cooking but can be too heavy to lift as they get older. Conditions such as arthritis and decreased body strength means that lightweight cookware could be a good solution to help them keep cooking. We like these heavy duty but lightweight saucepans from Analon, a brand known for quality.

Take The Weight Off Feet With A Perching Stool

Aidapt Malling Perching Stool with Padded Arms and Padded Back

Another useful product for everyday life. A perching stool is a good solution for someone who struggles to stand for too long but wants to cook as it takes the pressure off their feet. This is especially important for someone living alone but still wants to stay independent and keep cooking. We like this perching stool as it has a padded angled seat and adjustable legs. There are also side mounted bars for extra stability and safety.

Easy Open Jar Opener

Latest Jar Opener and Bottle Opener with Silicone Jar Gripper

We’re all using up the ingredients in our cupboards – and that means starting to find those jars that have been at the back for years. Weak hands (for example with arthritis) can struggle to open them, so we like this easy open jar opener. A good product for the elderly, it has eight circular openings so can be used on a variety of lid sizes, and will help them keep cooking solo.

It also comes with a rubber mat which you can use to place the jar on when opening – or for a multitude of other helpful things, such as placing your cup of tea on so it doesn’t slide when using a tray.

Hands Free Tin Opener

Hands Free Can Opener

Another great product for seniors living at home, especially for when we’re raiding our pantries and relying on tins. This electric tin opener helps people with limited movement in their hands (arthritis, carpal tunnel, multiple sclerosis etc) by opening the tins for them with just one touch of the start button. It’s less expensive and in our opinion works better than the larger options that sit on the surface and take up space. We also love the name, Kitchen Mama! It requires 2 AA batteries which aren’t included.

Electric Hot Water Dispenser

Best Hot Water Dispenser, Great For People With Arthritis And Parkinson’s

When it comes to hot water, safety is paramount which is why we like hot water dispensers. Unlike a kettle, there’s no need to pick up a heavy and hot object to get your cup of tea, making it ideal for people with less hand strength.

You might have heard of hot water taps but these are a cheaper and more arthritis-friendly way of making of a drink (you have to have good grip to work a hot water tap). With this hot water dispenser, you can boil water in 50 seconds and the tank holds enough for 10 cups – your parent can always fill it up with a jug of cold water which will be lighter than carrying the tank back and forth to the sink. A great and inexpensive senior living gadget.

Dementia Clocks

Dementia Day Clock

This large display digital clock for elderly people living with dementia helps with confusion over what day, date and time it is. Losing track of time is an early symptom of dementia, and it’s a question which loved ones and carers hear often.

This day and night clock clears up any confusion. It spells out the date and time without any abbreviations, and the bright white text stands out against the black background. It helps the individual understand if it’s morning or evening – especially useful when the seasons change and the extra hours of light and darkness can easily confuse.

There are more advanced dementia clocks available, but we believe this inexpensive model deserves to be called a “life saver” by someone we know!

If your mum or dad has an Alexa Echo Show (with a screen) then you can use that to clearly show and speak the time and date. We’ve written more about why Alexa is so good for your older parents, you can have a good read of it here!

If you’re worried that your parents have accumulated too much stuff, then read our article on helping your senior parents declutter their home. Decluttering can help older adults to stay safe at home (removing clutter can reduce the risk of falls) and also help when preparing to downsize. We’ve also included tips to encourage someone to declutter.

3. Making Life Easier For Seniors In The Living Room

Don’t Trip Over Rugs

Sinnlein Anti Slip Rug Gripper Underlay

Did you know that the majority of falls take place at home, and rugs are a major cause of this? If your parents don’t want to take their rugs up but you are concerned about them falling, then a good cost-effective solution is a rug gripper.

This brand comes in a variety of sizes and essentially sticks the rug to the floor (without harming either). So the corners of the rug won’t come up and the rug won’t slip on the floor when someone walks on it.

Say Goodbye To Nuisance Calls

BT Advanced Cordless Home Phone with 100% Nuisance Call Blocking and Answering Machine

A lot of our older clients experience nuisance calls which can be annoying and scary. Scammers are getting more experienced and seem to have no shame. And during self isolation it is harder to ignore them as we are home all the time.

There are some landline phones on the market which block 100% of nuisance and unwanted phone calls. We really like this everyday BT model. It also comes with three handsets (and charging bases), has an answerphone with 30-minute capacity and can store up to 200 contacts.

Best Grabber Tool For Elderly

Helping Hands Classic Pro Reacher Grabber

Bending down to pick something up off the ground, holding things in weak hands for too long or reaching up high gets harder as we age. One of the easiest ways to help your parent stay safe when doing these movements (and help them feel independent), is a grabber stick.

This long handled pick up tool for elderly is just the ticket. The bright yellow means it’s easy to see and it comes in folding or fixed – it really comes down to personal preference. Plus you can choose the length of the reaching aid so it’s best suited to the individual (don’t go too long). It means that tasks like putting clothes into the washing machine or picking up letters that have fallen on the floor are much easier.

TV Speaker For The Hearing Impaired

Sony Wireless TV Handy Speaker

One of our clients said the Sony Wireless Handy TV Speaker has “transformed her life”. It doesn’t just turn up the volume (as that would just make everything including background noise louder and not really help the situation), but it enhances dialogue so people who are hard of hearing can actually hear.

It’s also wireless so can be moved around – meaning you can place it next to the person with impaired hearing to aid them, but leave other viewers to watch at their preferred level. You can read our review of it here.

Make Sitting Down More Comfortable

Ergonomic Foot Rest

This height adjustable foot rest is great for people who spend considerable time sitting down or have swollen feet. It also can be turned over and used as a rocker, so is great for getting circulation going. It stays put on hard floors and carpet, and is a good solution if your parent isn’t ready to invest in a riser recliner chair or sits in different places in the house.

Machine washable and breathable, it’s mesh cover is pet friendly as pet hair can easily be removed.

Robot Vacuum Gets To Work

Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac

If you’re worried about your parents bending down to vacuum and carrying it around, then a robot vacuum could be a good solution. This model works on all flooring except high pile carpet and cleans continuously for 100 minutes at a go, getting into all crevices.

Charge it and use it. It doesn’t go up or down stairs, and make sure that any pet excrement has been cleared up before using the vacuum. We like this version as it’s a cost-effective model which works well and makes life easier for senior.

4. Staying Safe In The Bathroom

We’ve written more in-depth about this topic in other articles. Find out about more about getting in and out of the bath or assisted toileting.

Toilet Frames Offer Added Safety

NRS Healthcare Free Standing Toilet Frame

A toilet frame is a good temporary solution to aid stability when we can’t arrange for grab rails to be fitted. Use it when lowering yourself down and pulling yourself up from the toilet seat.

We like this version which can be moved in and out of place – useful if more than one person is using the toilet. It is height and width adjustable.

Stop Flooding The Bath

Water Leak Detector

If your parents take a bath and you’re worried about them potentially forgetting to turn it off, this alarm could be for you. Simply put a battery in, attach it to the bath and if the water reaches a certain level, it will emit a loud (very loud!) alarm. This can be turned off by taking the battery out. A top product to help the elderly stay safe at home. Note, it doesn’t come with a 9V battery so you’ll need to purchase separately.

Get In And Out Of The Bath Safely

NRS Healthcare Slatted Bath Board

Getting in and out of the bath can be harder as we get older – we have less mobility and flexibility, and it can be easy to slip. A removable bath board is an inexpensive way to help people get in and out of the bath safely.

Place it across the top of the bath near where you would get in (it’s held in place with non-slip brackets). Then sit on it and use a stepped approach to lower yourself safely. Reverse for getting out. We like this NRS version.

Avoid Falls In The Bathroom

Non Slip Bath Mat

My mum has had a few falls, and that worry is always in the back of my mind – especially in the wet bathroom. Bathroom aids like this non slip bath mat really help us to feel reassured and mum to feel safer.

It’s inexpensive and can be used as the main mat (it’s comfortable enough to stand on) or if it doesn’t match the bathroom decor it can be used with a luxury bath mat on top of it. You can even use it in the bath or shower for extra stability. It really is a bit of a wonder item!

Feel Reassured With A First Aid Kit

90 Piece Premium First Aid Kit Bag

Be prepared and get your parents a first aid kit. We like this version which is complete with bandages, tape roll, sterile eye wash and pads, medical scissors, tweezers, vinyl medical gloves, plasters, cold packs, antiseptic wipes and a foil emergency blanket. It also isn’t over stuffed so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

Gardening is a great way to stay fit and active but it does get harder as you get older. We’ve compiled our favourite products to make life easier for older gardeners. Or look at our tips for keen gardeners who are getting older, written by our physiotherapist Nancy Farmer and an expert gardener.

Conclusion

We hope your parents find these tried-and-tested products useful and give you peace of mind that they’re safe at home. We’ve got other articles on the topic of independent living and staying safe and well during self isolation. Check them out, and let us know any feedback, or other products you recommend by contacting us here. Thank you!