Daily Living Aids That Keep Older Adults Independent

What counts as a daily living aid

A daily living aid is any tool, gadget or adaptation that makes an ordinary task easier, safer or possible. They range from a simple rubber mat that stops a plate sliding to a talking clock or an alarm pendant. Occupational therapists group everyday tasks into "activities of daily living", such as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting and moving about, and "instrumental" ones, such as cooking, shopping, managing money and medicines and using the phone; see activities of daily living explained. Aids exist for every one of these.

The best aids are those that fit the person's real problem. A gadget that solves a problem your parent does not have is clutter, and a problem with no aid is a reason to ask a professional.

Who benefits

• People with arthritis, weak grip or tremor.
• People with limited reach or bending, from back pain, hip or knee problems or after surgery.
• Stroke survivors, managing with one hand or one side.
• People with low vision or hearing loss.
• People with memory loss, who need cues and routines.
• People who are frail or breathless, who tire easily.
• Those recovering from illness or surgery, at home.
• Carers, who want to support rather than take over.

The main categories of aid

### Eating and drinking

Built-up and angled cutlery, plate guards, non-slip mats, two-handled mugs and lidded cups; see easy-grip cutlery and eating aids and eating with a tremor or weak grip. For swallowing problems, special cups and spoons need a speech therapist's advice; see swallowing difficulties: cups, spoons and meal aids.

### Kitchen and cooking

Jar and bottle openers, tap turners, kettle tippers, easy-pour jugs, chopping boards with spikes, lightweight pans and auto-off kettles; see jar openers and kitchen aids, kitchen safety for older adults and cooking for one.

### Dressing

Sock aids, long shoehorns, button hooks, dressing sticks, elastic laces and easy clothing; see dressing aids and dressing after a stroke.

### Reaching and picking up

Reachers and grabbers, long-handled tools and well-placed shelves; see reachers and grabbers.

### Bathing and toileting

Grab bars, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, non-slip mats and handheld showers; see bathroom safety checklist for seniors.

### Medicines

Pill organisers, reminder alarms, large-print labels and a medicine list; see pill organisers, setting up a weekly medicine box and medicine reminders for a forgetful parent.

### Memory and orientation

Clocks that show the day and date, calendars, whiteboards and labels; see talking clocks for low vision and dementia and orientation aids for memory loss.

### Phones and technology

Large-button or amplified phones, speakerphone, voice assistants and simplified settings; see phone and remote aids for arthritis and amplified phones.

### Moving about

Sticks, walkers, rollators and wheelchairs; see stick or walker: which one does your parent need.

### Safety

Alarms, pendants, key safes and night lights; see home safety for seniors living alone.

### Seating and positioning

Firm chairs with arms, cushions and wedges; see choosing a chair for an older person.

How to choose: a simple method

1. Watch the task, don't guess. Ask your parent to show you the thing they struggle with. Is it the grip, the reach, the vision, the strength, the memory or the speed? The cause decides the aid. 2. Start with the biggest problem. One aid that solves the problem your parent minds most is worth more than ten they do not use. 3. Try before you buy, or buy where you can return. Many aids need a test in the hand. 4. Prefer simple. A basic, sturdy aid usually works better than a complicated one. 5. Prefer familiar-looking. Aids that look ordinary are used more often than ones that look medical. 6. Check the safety, such as weight limits, stability and fire safety. 7. Ask a professional for anything involving falls, swallowing, pressure sores or dementia. 8. Review after two weeks. Is it being used? Does it help? Does it need changing?

Introducing aids with respect

Many older people resist aids. They may see them as a sign of decline, may feel that others are taking over or may simply dislike change. A few approaches help.

• Ask, don't tell. "I noticed the jar was hard. Would you like to try this?"
• Focus on what the aid lets them do, not what they cannot do.
• Offer a trial, and let them choose the style and colour.
• Let them use it in private at first.
• Do not take over. If your parent can do a task slowly, allow it.
• Be patient with the learning curve. Many aids take a few tries.
• Use a professional, whose advice may be heard more readily than a family member's.
• Respect refusals, and try again later, perhaps with a different aid.

A room-by-room starter list

Kitchen: non-slip mat, jar opener, easy-pour kettle or auto-off kettle, large-handled utensils, a stool with a back to sit on while cooking, good lighting.

Dining area: firm chair with arms, plate guard if needed, non-slip mat, easy-grip cutlery, two-handled mug.

Living room: firm chair at the right height, a reacher beside the chair, a large-button remote, a clock with day and date, good reading light.

Bedroom: bed at a good height, a night light, a bedside table with water, glasses and phone, a reacher, a pill organiser, a chair for dressing.

Bathroom: grab bars, shower chair, raised toilet seat or frame, non-slip mat, handheld shower, long-handled sponge.

Hall and entrance: a key safe, a bench for putting on shoes, a long shoehorn, good lighting.

Throughout: clear walkways, bright lights, no loose rugs, an alert device within reach.

What aids cannot do

• They cannot replace strength, balance or health. Exercise, medical care and good nutrition matter as much; see exercise at home for seniors.
• They cannot fix a home that is unsafe; see ageing in place, room by room.
• They cannot substitute for company and care when needs grow.
• They need regular checks and replacement.

When needs change

Review aids every few months and whenever health changes, after a fall, an illness or a hospital stay. A parent who needed a button hook last year may need a different set of aids now. Keep what works, remove what does not and ask a professional when things are changing quickly. See occupational therapy home assessment for what an assessment involves, and keeping independence with small aids for a room-by-room list.

Budget and where to buy

Many daily living aids are inexpensive. Buy from reputable suppliers, pharmacies and medical equipment stores, check return policies and keep receipts. Avoid unbranded items with no information. For larger items, such as beds and wheelchairs, see mobility aid budget for Indian families. Ask about prices and delivery; our care advisors can help.

When to ask a professional

An occupational therapist is the best person to assess daily living and recommend aids and adaptations; they can visit at home. Ask a doctor about new difficulties with daily tasks, since sudden changes can signal illness. A speech and language therapist assesses swallowing and an optometrist or audiologist checks vision and hearing. Our care advisors can arrange assessments and help choose and supply aids.