Sites like RehabMart have a wide array of
items that can help make activities of daily living easier and foster
independence. There are lots
of similar websites, including Amazon, with a wide array of price points.
If you are looking for ways to either simplify
a task or still be able to do it alone, consider the following:
• Check with your
condition specific support group, in person or on line, for recommendations. For
example-for motion disorders, check out Assistive Devices from International Essential Tremor Foundation. Other sites are included below in the “links” section.
• Visit the
exhibit areas of condition specific conferences. Many vendors have amazing
“freebies” such as long shoehorns, devices to open jars and a wide selection of
pill caddies to help remind you when to take meds. Sometimes specialty clinics
and centers at a hospital or health center have items to try out and/or keep.
• Visit your local
durable medical goods supply store and try items before buying.
• An
occupational or physical therapist can also make suggestions, but will need to be
paid for consultation.
• Case
managers, social workers and your care providers are also good sources to check.
• Ordering items
from specialty catalogues and web sites will cost more than if you can buy
them from a regular store. For example OXO makes a variety of cooking,
housewares and gardening tools that are known for their ease of use.
Consequently, you can find them on sale at places like TJ Maxx, making it much
cheaper than ordering from a website that is exclusively providing assistive
devices
• Do It Yourself
(DIY): There are lots of websites that are dedicated to addressing needs with
gadgets you can make yourself:
- Zebreda Makes it Work: Lots of videos on DIY Assistive devices
Gadgets to Consider
Cleaning: Fatigue is a major issue for many with chronic conditions so having devices
that can vacuum, mop, clean the pool, cut the lawn, change the litter box or
clean your shower can make life easier. Some of these product aren’t cheap but
for many having them makes a big difference in home cleanliness. Some products to consider include: iRobot; Gadgets that do the cleaning for you; Husqvarna Automower; Bissell Spotbot Pet Deep Cleaner; CleanWave Sanitizing Wand; Winbot (cleans windows) ; Steam cleaners (ideal for those with allergies/asthma; all
in one washer/dryer combos or washer/steam dryer (some of these are about the
cost of a washing machine and take up less space).
Swiffer makes
a variety of gadgets and has various ads promoting their products for seniors
and those with disabilities. However, when reading reviews, the hype doesn’t
match actual use, particularly for products like the Wet Jet. There are also
seem to be problems with the mop breaking.
As with any
product you are considering purchasing, read the reviews.
Kitchen Gadgets: To save time and
energy, as well as to remind you to cook, leave items out on the counter so
they are easily accessible.
• The Magic Bullet is
definitely helpful for a lot of people dealing with chronic conditions.
However, you can get the same benefit, and save money, by using a mason jar instead of the pitcher
on most blenders.
• A slow cooker, also called a Crock Pot, can be a real benefit for
those who don’t have energy to cook at the end of the day, or who cook a lot of
food so some of it can be frozen for another day.
• A Heat Diffuser distributes heat evenly on the stove top and eliminates
the need to stir food while cooking.
• An electric can opener.
• Food processors are not only a time saver, they make vegetable chopping a
breeze.
• Food storage containers that go directly from the freezer to the oven or
microwave are ideal. TJ Maxx will often have a variety of these on sale. Look
for ones that you can easily lock and open. Use glass and avoid the plastics if
possible.
• A dishwasher is an essential in many homes, but if you aren’t fortunate
enough to have one, try the following to make hand washing dishes easier: Put a
dishpan or bin near the sink and fill it, not the sink with dirty dishes. This
way your sink is always available to wash dishes. Let pots or pans that are a
greasy mess soak for a while in soapy water. Clean in the following order:
glasses, then cutlery, then plates that are scraped, then pots and pans Cold
water gets off starches and dairy products while hot water makes them gum up. There
are a wide variety of dish detergent holders/scrubbers that are pretty
convenient, including one made by OXO
• Foaming soap dispenser are easy to use and aids in cleaner hands. Don’t
buy the liquid soap that is marketed for these dispensers instead pour 3-4 T of
soap and add water. Use more or less depending on how much suds you like. While
there are a variety of fancy “foamers” out there, the ones that seem to hold up
come preloaded with a product, such as Method.
Liquid Dispenser for
shampoo, conditioner etc: Set at a convenient height and save your energy for
something else.
TrackR StickR: These small but useful little gadgets were made specifically
for people who have a habit of misplacing their keys, phone, wallet or other
things. Avoid the frustration that comes with searching for a lost item by
attaching these quarter-sized devices on them. The TrackR StickR communicates with a companion app to reveal
the location of the sticker attached to the missing object. 
Links to check out
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