Equipment, Supplies,
and Assistive Devises to Make Life Easier,
Part 2 of 2
Parts
As health changes for an older adult he or she may need help at
home to support recovery after an illness or hospital stay and to help maintain independence.
Mobility Aids provide increased comfort and help a person move around more easily as well as ensure safety
for the caregiver
- Gait/transfer belt is almost essential for anyone who has difficulty getting up and down and lack mobility. Gait Belts have proven to
be helpful to use in the transfer of patients or to gain a secure hold on Alzheimer's patients that are prone to falls. A Gait Belt also provides a
secure way to steady or guide patients when transferring or walking.
- Wheelchair with padding and removable arms
- Walker to help maintain
balance and provide some support
- Electric scooter (higher cost but may be worth it for increased mobility and less strain on caregiver)
- Crutches for use when weight
cannot be put on one leg or foot
- Cane to provide light weight-bearing support
- Transfer board (9" x 24") for moving someone in and out of bed
Low-cost Tools and Gadgets
- Baby monitors to give freedom for the caregiver when close monitoring is necessary.
- Phones - cordless phones; phones with large numbers
- Clock - large numbers to be
easily seen across a room.
- Drinking Straws, flexible – for easier drinking.
- Bibs with ties or snaps to keep clothing from being soiled.
- Bicycle baskets—strapped to a walker to store necessities and free hands
- Rubber safety-mats—ideal for the tub, shower, or anywhere the feet can slip; also useful to make non-slip surfaces on trays and
tables
- Enlarged handles—handlebar-style grips made with a garden hose, bendable aluminum tubing, a paint roller cover, or (on small surfaces) a
foam hair curler roller
- Light switch enlargements—made by putting a rubber pen cap over a light switch
- Enlarged pull switches—made by putting a plastic ball over small switches
- Clips for canes—spring clips or Velcro® placed on favorite chairs to keep a cane from falling
- Pull rope—rope attached to the foot board of the bed to help someone change positions in bed.
Taking Care of Yourself Remember that helping someone move about—even with equipment—can be physically
straining for you. Prevent injury by following a few simple rules and especially use techniques to take care of your back.
Ask your doctor to refer you to a physical and/or occupation
therapist to train you on safety, especially with lifting and the use of gait belts.
- Only lift as much as you can comfortably
handle.
- USE YOUR LEGS instead of your back to do most of the
work – leg muscles are stronger muscles than your back muscles.
- If you are able to adjust the bed, keep the top at
about waist level. If it is low or you are tall, put one foot on a foot stool to relieve pressure on your lower
back.
Keep Yourself in Good Shape
Research about caregiver health and lifestyles show that in
general caregivers are not taking good care of their own health as they care for a loved one. Maintain your own health by having
yearly medical check ups, especially recommended diagnostics such as Mammograms, Colonoscopies, Stress Tests, and other tests indicated by your age,
family history, and medical history,
Walks as often as you can in your neighborhood and enjoy some
fresh air and sunshine before our Texas heat makes daylight walking uncomfortable. When you run errands, try to park a distance from the entrance so
that you can get in extra steps each day.
Keep your muscles strong and flexible by doing floor exercises,
taking yoga or Tai Chi or other activity that keeps you energetic and helps you deal with stress. Contact your city parks and
recreation center, senior center, or local community college or go online for information about exercise classes in your community.
Feeling Good About Yourself
Here are some low-cost tools for you to stay calm and
healthy!
- A CD or cassette of peaceful music for meditating or napping
- A pillow made of buckwheat and scents to rest on the eyes or forehead.
- A hand-held massager for sore spots on the back or legs.
What if you could use many of these ideas, but can’t
afford them or want to know how to find them at the lowest cost? Call the area agency on aging by dialing 2-1-1 and ask for a
caregiver specialist. Also, many nonprofit organizations such as senior centers, Red Cross, Easter Seals, Catholic Charities,
Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer chapters loan or sell used equipment. Another idea is to ask a local senior center or assisted living center if you
could post a sign in the lobby asking for used equipment or ask them to publish the request in their newsletters.
You can also go online to Family Caregivers Online, sponsored
by the local area agencies on aging, and find links to assistive tools and gadgets, online education about caring for the caregiver, chronic disease
management and caregiver stress management. Go to www.familycaregiversonline.net.
