Helpful Gadgets for Elders and Caregivers

This is a summary for the products that are helpful for me as an Alzheimer’s patient’s caregiver. I hope these helpful gadgets for elders can help other caregivers in their journeys as well. From my personal experience, I truly feel that if the quality of life for elder can be improved and well maintained, the caregiving process will be less stressful and frustrating. I hope that other caregivers don’t need to go through the difficulty and stress I experienced when trying to search for the right products to make the life easier. I put them into below five categories: Dinning/Dressing/Living/Transportation/Entertainment

Dinning

Eat Well tableware: Brilliants anti-tip design with high contrast color. Slanted bottom and deep chambers collect food at corners for easier scooping. The set is designed for patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

Resource Thicken Up Clear: A non-starch based thickening agent designed to rapidly thicken liquids and food for patients with dysphagia or swallowing difficulties. Once prepared, liquids remain clear and lump-free. It does not affect the taste or odor of the food or liquid.

Braun Hand Blender: Great for preparing purée food.

Compressor Nebulizer: help to reduce inflammation in the lungs and/or open airways. Can be used with Saline solution or prescribed medicine to help break up mucus in the lungs. I got mine from Amazon:

Probiotic with Urinary Support: Promotes digestive balance. Prevent UTI

Elderberry Syrup: Home made elderberry syrup to boost immune system and prevent cold and flu.

Prune juice: high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, which work as a laxative and can help maintain a healthy digestive system along with preventing heart disease, strokes, and other health problems.

Adult Bib: Protecting from food or beverage spills. I chose below bib that is easy to roll up to put in my purse. The design is suitable and appropriate for any private or public setting. The design is classic and elegant. No embarrassment in protecting the clothing from spills.

Dressing

Try to choose loose fitting clothing with minimal fastenings. Cotton clothing is comfortable, cool, and easy to clean, which makes it an ideal choice for senior garments. Also look for comfortable, nonslip shoes and clothing with large front-fasteners like Velcro and zippers. Slip-resistant slippers and gripper socks will also be helpful to prevent falls.

Choice of adult diapers – Pull-ups or Brief: My grandpa wears pull-ups in the morning and changed to brief when he goes to bed at night. Adult briefs feature re-fastenable tabs on the sides that allow the adult diaper to be opened and closed for repositioning or changing out without the wearer removing their other clothing. Made of thicker layers of absorbent materials, adult incontinence briefs are also less discreet. It is more suitable for bedridden elderly or those with reduced mobility. When I take my grandpa out for a road trip, I also let him wear brief instead of pull-ups as its easier to take off and change.

Catheter (foley or straight) for those who have urinary retention: please see here for more details.

Living (Bedroom)

Adjustable bed frame / Hospital bed: Hospital beds can lower and raise the foot and head portions of the frame whereas adjustable beds independently elevate these areas. If the patient is bed-ridden then hospital bed will be more suitable as the caregiver often needs to reposition the patient. Pressure relief mattress is recommended to prevent bedsores.

Read more about how to apply hospital bed with Medicare Here with Medicaid Here

Alternating Air Pressure Mattress Topper: Prevents bedsores, eliminates pressure points on the body, and promotes blood circulation

Bed rail: A must have for getting up from the bed.

Bed light motion sensor: Prevent falls when the elder wakes up and goes to bathroom at night.

Bed alarm: There are three major types: alarms with bed pads, motion sensors and pull cords. All three of them aim to detect in some way or another that the elderly resident vacated a bed.

Bedroom Motion Sensor Camera: Allow you to check on the seniors when you are not there.

Underpads: There are washable and disposable underpads. I always put one layer of disposable on top of the washable so that you don’t need to wash the underpads too often.

Kasa smart light switch (w/ Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini): Turn on the light of the senior’s room even when you are in the kitchen preparing the meals.

Electric power lift recliner and Overbed table: Helping elderly who have difficulty standing from a sitting position. I chose a dual motor recliner because the backrest and footrest can be adjustable individually. You can get any position you want easily. I also love that it can goes flat.

Living (Bedroom)

Toto Washlet: A MUST HAVE! providing a more thorough clean and added comfort! Can’t live without it now!

Bathroom rails for toilet and shower: Prevent falls in the bathroom.

Bathroom sink faucet: Single handle or motion sensor faucet will be easier for elder to use.

Lutron Motion Sensor Switch for bathroom: No need to look for the light switch when entering bathroom.

Remedy protectant Zinc Paste: Prevent diaper rashes and bedsores.

Remedy Phytoplex Hydrating No-Rinse Cleansing Foam: Gentle no-rinse cleanser for elder who is bedridden or has difficulty to take shower every day. Skin stays hydrated after use!

Diatomaceous Earth Bath Mat: Another great tool to prevent falls when the elder comes out from the shower. Easy to clean and store.

Step Trash Can with large capacity: A large capacity trash can is needed to dispose all the wipes and diapers!

Transportation

Stair lift: Must have if there is stairs in the house. Make sure the length of the stairlift will fit your stair properly!

Gait Belt: Added hand-holds make transferring patients easier, and better contact guard assistance when walking.

Entertainment (for dementia patients)

Aqua paint (art therapy): Simply brush the sheets of card with water and watch as the beautiful pictures magically appear. Once finished, leave the sheets to dry to use them time and time again. With 5 different canvases there is plenty to pique interest and spark smiles. My grandpa truly enjoyed it at his middle stage of Alzheimer’s!

Match the Dots Domino Games: bought this for my grandpa and he enjoyed playing with the set . We had a good time playing the games together!

Memory Exercises: Spend some time looking at the family photos together, Listening to the elder’s old favorite songs, and watching his favorite movies. All these can be a prompt or guide through a treasure trove of memories. I hear stories I’ve never heard before, gaining new insights into family history and myself in the process. Only wish I have recorded these conversations, since they’re a snapshot of a time long gone.

Quiet Books: I made some toys and quiet books for my grandpa to play with as some hands-on activities. I enjoy seeing the smile on his face when I show him the new toys I made!