With seniors projected to be 20% of the population by 2030 (one in five!), you can bet that devices will proliferate that help seniors manage their lives. There are already thousands of them on the market, ranging from easy-to-grip utensils to motorized seats that attach to a banister and carry you between floors in your home.
Household adaptations developed for people with physical handicaps also make life easier and safer for seniors (who are often people with physical handicaps). These include replacing steps with ramps and installing grab bars in bathrooms.
Assistive devices can be simple or complex, off-the-shelf or custom-made. They have four basic purposes: to compensate for lost function, to alleviate stress on joints, to reduce the effort needed to do a task, and to increase safety.
There are innumerable medical aids, including replacement joints, pacemakers, hearing aids and walkers, which could also be labeled “assistive devices” but which aren’t discussed in this section.
Where to Find Assistive Devices
Google “elderly assistive devices” and you’ll get more information than you want about devices for people losing independence. Although I haven’t needed many assistive devices yet (beyond the reading glasses I keep everywhere), I’ve been keeping track of what’s available from ElderDepot and other online venues.
ElderDepot’s products are categorized under the headings Incontinence, Bed, Bath, Dining, Clothing, Vision/Hearing, and Mobility. When the time comes (and it may already be here), I know we’ll appreciate them.
When I first checked out ElderDepot five years ago, its motto was: “Caring for an Elderly Loved One? More than 800 Products Available,” and its products for the “elderly or disabled” were pitched to caregivers. When I checked during the summer of 2013, ElderDepot had evolved. While the items were similar, words like “elderly” and “caregiver” were missing and the people in the illustrative photos had gotten younger.
There are many other online sites, like PersonalCare.net, which promises free shipping. Also, many cities have stores where you can sample the devices and talk to knowledgeable salesclerks. (Surely this is a growth industry.)
In a way, it’s reassuring to see the vast array of assistive devices available. It reminds you that you’re far from the only one having problems and that creative minds are working busily to improve the situation.
Assistive Devices for Household and Yard Chores
As people get older, many are happy to have housecleaning and outdoor work done by others, often paid assistants. Others, through preference or necessity, continue doing their own house and yard tasks for as long as possible.
Many tools for housekeeping and gardening have been modified for old and disabled people. There are easy-grab scissors with elongated looped handles as well as scissors mounted on a base so you can cut with one hand. You can find oversized lamp switches, a device for pulling an electrical plug out of a socket, long handled brooms and brushes, and on and on.
Many older people enjoy gardening and tools have been developed to help them. Googling “elderly gardening tools” will bring a wealth of options, including “Tips and Techniques for the Senior Gardener” from the University of Missouri Agricultural Engineering Extension, with links to other gardening sites for seniors and people with disabilities.