Older adults are expressing a desire to age with dignity, and a part of that is they want to remain in their homes for as long as they are able. After all, they are the greatest generation! They’re strong, independent, live life on their own terms and they want to keep living that way. We’ve put together a list of items older adults can use to remain independent and age in place, ranging from fall prevention and detection to handy objects to have around the house.
Please note that these are not affiliate links, just helpful finds!
Grab Bars
Grab bars can be useful for getting up from the toilet, bath or shower. You can choose between grab bars to install for ensured stability or ones made with suction cups which can be great to travel with. Both are about the same price.
Bath Mat
Going along with keeping safe in the bathroom, another must-have product is the anti-slip bathmat. The Gorilla Grip bath mat is unique in that it covers the entire tub as opposed to most bathmats which only cover part of the bathtub, giving you extra stability.
Gorilla Grip bath mat on Amazon >
Built-Up Handles
These handles are great for those with arthritis pain. They attach to silverware, pens, pencils, toothbrushes, etc. to make them easier to grip.
Zipper Pull
These are also good for folks with arthritis pain or just have difficulty grasping small zippers. It also has a button hook on the other side, making dressing daily a little easier.
Garden Kneeler
Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby. The garden kneeler has a padded seat and tool pouch.
Grabber
Avoid stools with a reacher grabber to reach items in hard to reach or high areas.
Jar Opener
Opening jars can be difficult for anyone! Here are some helpful jar and can openers. Some help you get a grip on the jar and others do all the work for you!
Lively Phones for Seniors
Lively (formerly Great Call) makes phones specifically designed for seniors. They also make a variety of fall detection devices that could be useful for those living independently.
GrandPad
The GrandPad is a tablet designed to help seniors stay connected with their families. Older adults can email, share photos, video call and more using the GrandPad.
CarePenguin
CarePenguin is a sensor and app that non-invasively detects activity in a house through water use. Families know their elderly loved ones are okay by seeing their activity on the app and receiving alerts if there’s a lack of activity, encouraging them to check in. It’s less invasive than cameras or motion sensors and doesn’t require the senior citizen to do or wear anything.
