5 Life Hacks for Older People

Introduction

For those of us living at home in later life, health conditions and a decrease of dexterity can result in some of life’s everyday tasks becoming quite a challenge.

We have assembled some simple yet effective tips and tricks to help make it easier to carry out these everyday tasks and also reduce the risk of injuries.

Take a Seat

Add a chair to the rooms where you need to stand for long periods of time. Keep a tall stool in the kitchen for washing up the dishes, chopping veg and baking. Place a chair with arm rests in the bathroom for your nightly routine, so that while you are brushing your teeth and washing your face ready for bed, you can take the weight off your feet without the risk of losing your balance.

Forget About Forgetfulness

If you are one for forgetting to take your medicine, use an alarm as a reminder! You can set names for your alarms on your smart phone as a helpful prompt of what the alarm is for. Alternatively, you could use a pill box with separate sections for each day of the week, so you can clearly see if you have taken your pills for that day. A cost-effective version of this is an egg box or even an unused ice cube tray.

Eliminate The Hunt

Us brits spend 2 and a half days each year hunting for lost items! Are you forever losing the remote control? Same here. A top tip is to use Velcro strips and attach one to the arm of your sofa and the other to the remote. There are also armchair caddies available to purchase, so you can have a place for the remote, reading glasses anything you’d like at hand, from amazon or you will find some really jazzy ones from Etsy.

In Reach

Do you find you struggle to reach some items in the fridge or at the back of cupboards? A lazy Susan turntable can help bring those items to the front, you just need to turn it eliminating the need to stretch and reach too far. Another helpful gadget for reaching items is a grabber, it will save you from bending down low to pick things up, it is especially helpful if you don’t have the best balance or joint problems.

Get a Better Grip

If holding a glass has become problematic and slippery place rubber bands around it to improve your grip. You can also purchase silicone sleeves for glasses that work the same way. If you use a straw, you can get a straw clip for your glass to secure it in place and permitting hands free drinking. If you find it hard to open jars you can invest in an electrical jar opener to open your strawberry jam with zero effort, alternatively for a cheap option, put on a pair of marigolds as they will improve your grip on the jar, placing elastic bands on the lid will also work just as well.

If you or a loved one is in need of some additional help and support with everyday tasks then you may benefit from the services of a home carer. Get in contact with CareYourWay and speak to a member of our friendly team on 01548 521789