For many seniors, living independently for as long as possible is a life goal. They want to stay in their own home, caring for themselves as much as possible, and living life to the fullest. You can support your beloved senior’s goal to stay independent by filling their home with devices, gadgets, and improvements to potentially help reduce their chances of a slip and fall, sprain or strain, or other type of injury. Here are a few last-minute ideas to add to your holiday shopping list!
1. A Medical Alert System
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” is more than a tagline; it is a very real way your senior can access help when needed. There are tons of these devices on the market now, including ones that can detect if your loved one falls over and stops moving, so it can call for help even if they can’t.
2. Bathroom Upgrades
Getting your loved one an accessory like a shower chair or toilet heightener is one way you can show your love. If you really want to go all out, pool your money with the rest of the family and get a full bathroom upgrade, complete with a built-in shower seat and installed grab bars.
3. Kitchen Gadgets
Make your senior’s life easier with kitchen accessories designed to streamline daily tasks. A little electric kettle can make boiling water a snap. A jar opener can ease pressure on arthritic joints, as can an automatic can opener. It’s the little things that make a difference.
4. A Video Doorbell
A video doorbell can make it extremely easy for your loved one to find out if they need to get up and answer the door, or if they can ignore it. With a speaker option, they can tell important visitors to wait a few moments while they navigate to the door, so there’s less risk of tripping while rushing to catch a visitor or delivery person before they drive off.
5. Light Strips for Stairs and Steps
Extra light is never a mistake, and with light strips, you can highlight steps and stairs where falls are more likely. Add a line down the wall along the railing to make it easy to see where to hold on as well as where to step.
6. The Trusty Grabber Claw
Many senior injuries happen because someone tries to stand on a step or chair to reach a high object like an item on the top shelf or a light bulb in need of changing. Help prevent injuries and make life easier with a fancy claw grabber extension that puts everything back in their reach.These gifts keep giving all year long, and show you really are thinking about your senior’s health. Is your loved one complaining of joint discomfort? Make them an appointment with Dr. Scott Strasburger. We can often provide non-invasive solutions to help mitigate chronic discomfort and restore mobility.