Daily Living Aids: What Are They & How Can They Help?

Aging, injuries, and a variety of medical conditions can all lead daily activities to become increasingly challenging. Tasks like using the bathroom, getting dressed, preparing and eating food, running errands, moving around the house, and a variety of other things can be difficult for people as mobility and balance are limited. Because of this, people often lose their independence, relying largely on the help of caregivers, or they isolate themselves, risking the danger of falls or further injury rather than ask for help.

This is where daily living aids step into the picture. These tools are uniquely designed to make living everyday life exponentially easier, and encompass a wide variety of devices varying from non-slip floor treads to adaptive cutlery to extensions for lamp and light switches. They help people maintain their independence by allowing them to more easily perform their daily tasks and regain control over their surroundings.

To help you get a better idea of tasks you might need assistance with and the tools available to make them easier, we’ve outlined the major categories, and will guide you through some of the best items in our catalog to help you regain control of these activities.

Tasks Made Easier by Daily Living Aids

Hygiene

Hygiene is a major part of day to day life, and a vital part of helping you feel your best. With limited strength or mobility, certain aspects of keeping clean can become progressively more difficult. 

Daily living aids come into the picture to make these tasks more possible. 

• Bathing tools such as back washers, hair washers, and body washers with an extended handle allows users who may not be as mobile or flexible to better access certain areas to wash.
• Entering and exiting the shower can also be a major challenge for some people, so products like bath & shower benches, shower chairs, and grab bars provide stability and support to make this process safe and simple.
• Toileting is something nobody likes to talk about, but it can become a big problem for people with decreased strength or mobility. Products like raised toilet seats and toilet safety frames can be great for easier sitting/standing, while wiping assistance aids make it easier to clean yourself without having to ask for assistance.

Recommendations:

• Best Tool for Better Bathing: Sliding Rotating Transfer Shower Bench

• Best Tool for Better Toileting: Amazing Free2Go Rollator with Built-in Commode Seat

Dressing

Getting dressed is something many of us take for granted. It just seems like an ultra-simple part of every day until you face something that starts to make it seem like a dreaded challenge. Once you start to have difficulties with dressing, you start to understand the wide variety of movements that need to be addressed in order to be able to easily get dressed independently.

• Zippers - Zippers can be difficult to reach and to grasp for people with decreased fine motor dexterity or pain and stiffness in the hands and fingers. Tools are available both to help with difficulty reaching zippers such as on the back of a dress, and with difficulty holding and pulling zippers.
• Buttons - Buttons can be another major issue for people who have trouble with fine motor tasks. A variety of simple tools are available to help you grasp and pull buttons through their holes for easy dressing. For more versatility, these button tools are also available in a range of sizes for easier grip accommodation.
• Socks & Shoes - Socks and shoes can provide a variety of challenges. Reaching, grabbing, and pulling motions are required to get both socks and shoes on your feet. Additionally, shoelaces can also pose a unique difficulty to fine motor skills. Long-handled shoe horns and easy-to-use sock aids help make the actual act of putting on socks and shoes easier, while elastic shoelaces can help eliminate the need to tie shoes at all.

Recommendations:

• Best Tool for Fine Motor Dressing: Dressing Aid Button Zipper Combo Hook

• Best Tool for Gross Motor Dressing: Pants Up Easy Support Lift System

Mobility

One of the most challenging parts of needing assistance with daily living is just the general difficulty with moving around your home or living space. Activities like getting up and out of bed, getting up and down from chairs and couches, and navigating through hallways and around corners can seem like obstacle courses if you aren’t properly supported. 

• Bed Mobility - Getting in and out of bed and adjusting and repositioning yourself in bed can both pose a challenge for people with muscle weakness, balance problems, and any other motor problems. A wide variety of bed rails and bed grab handles are available to help support you as you move in and out of bed, while products like bed pull-up assist straps can help you sit up and lay down more comfortably. Additionally, for people living with pain or difficulty adjusting in bed, slide sheets can be a great solution, helping you move more easily across the bed's surface.
• Couch and Chair Accessibility - For trouble getting in and out of chairs, products like lift chairs can help, providing an added boost to help you get up more easily, while lift seats are also available to allow you to make every chair into a lift chair. Additionally, shorter chair and couch handles and standing support frames are also available to make getting up and sitting down much easier.
• General Mobility - For moving around the house, products like grab bars, poles, and even mobility devices like canes, walkers, and rollators, can make a huge difference in your ability to feel safe and supported throughout your home. 

Recommendations:

• Best Tool for Bed Mobility - Bed Cane Grab Bar for Sit-To-Stand Assistance

• Best Tool for Couch/Chair Mobility - Couch Cane Sit-to-Stand Mobility Handle with Organizer Pouch

• Best Tool for Transferring Between Surfaces - The Original Beasy Transfer System

• Best Tool for General Mobility Support - HealthCraft SuperPole System

Dining

Feeding yourself is one of the most important aspects of feeling independent, so finding a tool or aid that allows people to feel confident in their ability to perform this task is an integral part of any daily routine.

Adaptive cups and drinking helpers, as well as assistive plates and bowls, are all available to provide a comfortable and convenient solution for better dining. However, utensils tend to be the biggest problem for many people, and there are a plethora of designs to make handling, holding, and bringing them safely to and from your mouth for a comfortable eating experience.

Rocker knives help alleviate the amount of pressure you need to cut food, while utensils with built-up, cushioned handles or weighted handles are designed to help improve grip or stabilize tremors. Swivel utensils are also available for users who have difficulty keeping them steady.

Recommendations:

• Best Plate for Steady Dining - GripWare Round Scoop Dish

• Best Bowl for Easier Eating - Spill Proof Rolled Edge Scooper Bowl

• Best Utensils for Gripping Trouble - Bendable Cushioned Good Grips Utensils

• Best Tool for Steady Eating - ELISpoon Steady Eating Aid - Eli Spoon

Summary

Daily living shouldn’t have to be hard, but for many people all over the world struggling with various injuries, illnesses, or aging-related concerns, the tasks we all take for granted can become a daily struggle for independence. Daily living aids are designed to make these tasks easy again, helping provide the adaptive tools you need so that you can maintain your independence. 

For more information about adaptive tools and ways to live better every day, check out the rest of our helpful tips and tricks on Caregiver University. When you’re wanting to compare the types of tools available, or you’re ready to make a purchase to improve your life, come visit Rehabmart.com for all your rehabilitative and assistive needs.