Resource/Tools: 'Home-aids'

What's worked for us. Food for thought, not a promotion.

Hello, Dear Reader! Welcome to our new Carer Mentor community members!

I’m Victoria. You can read why I’m publishing Carer Mentor here: Who Started Carer Mentor and Why?

The list of Home Aids we use

1. Grab Handles

2. Motion Sensor Lights

3. Bedside Rails

4. Two Handle-Walking stick with light, Stands Alone

5. Camera, Sound & Movement Monitor

6. Carers UK Video Preventing Trips and Falls

7. Shower Chair versus Swivel-Top Stool

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Connecting article:

1. Grab-Handles

Reasons for buying:

1. Extra handle for leverage off and onto the toilet. A raised toilet frame is worth considering if your loved one / career has significant difficulties. After a GP referral, occupational therapists could supply it. It's a big step change in someone's toileting habits. I'd advise trying the grab handles first, if possible. Consult with your GP.

2. Safety and reassurance whilst moving around the bathroom, at potential risk spots.

3. Easy to install and no need for screws, hammers, other fixtures or tools.

Key features:

1. Wide handles, for weakened hands to grab easily.

2. Suction pads and small lever to sustain suction per pad. They can be set at a diagonal angle, so the user can push-off. This motion was easier than pulling up for my Dad who had rheumatoid arthritis and gnarled fingers and toes.

3. There are 2 per pack

4. Easy to remove and re-install (but can fall off the wall with a bang if suction dissipates)

Important Caveat (thanks,

Donna Baird

!)  ‘These grab rails are good for casual support. But they won’t hold the full weight of a person.’

Verdict:

1. 6+ years of use and still useful. After about a year, one falls off the wall because the vacuum suction dissipates. But, it's easy to clean, reinstall onto the wall

2. Follow the simple instructions carefully. Wash the surfaces of each pad and dry around it. Apply pressure to make sure the suction is strong before pushing the lever into place.

3. We have one near the shower door frame for stability.

4. For those less confident in their steps, especially in the bathroom, these handles offer reassurance. They work best on slippery wall-tile surfaces

A hyperlinked Amazon example: Newthinking Suction Bathroom Grab Rails, Hand Rail for Elderly, Portable Mobility Aids Safety Handle with Suction Cup Fitting, No Fixings Needed for Bathroom, Children and Disability Aids (2 Pack)

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2. Motion Sensor Lights

Reasons for buying:

1. Automatic motion sensor light at night

2. Floor lighting

3. Battery operated for random easy placement

Key features:

1. Motion activated

2. USB charging (check plug-wire connection) or AA or AAA battery powered

3. Continuous light or automatic motion setting. Can be mounted or lean on the bottom ridge against the wall

4. Decided NOT to buy a plug in night light. Some plug in lights have had fire-hazard warnings.

Verdict:

1. Battery ones work well. The battery runs down every couple of months. So rechargeable may be better.  We didn’t use the fixtures because we wanted to be able to move them around.

2. The rounded table lights looked good, but took up space on the side-table (pills, water are more important).

3. Look for multi-pack discounts.

Use the buttons below to link to the Monitors on Amazon (FYI I receive a commission as an Amazon affiliate, if you buy through these links).

Usually there is a comparison table to review similar products in terms of features and prices

Signstek Wireless PIR Motion Sensor LED Night Light,Table Lamp,Battery Operated Table Lamp for Kids Room, Bedroom, Bedside, Bathroom, Hallway(Round)

Motion Sensor Lights Indoor Rechargeable,LED Night Light Warm/Cool White,Stick On Stair Lights for Wardrobe, Bedroom, Cabinet, Kitchen, Hallway, 6 Pack

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3. Bedside Rails

Reasons for buying:

1. Need extra leverage to get up out of bed and sitting onto the bed

2. Avoid slips and sliding off the bed.

3. Prevent rolling and slipping between bed and bedside table.

Key features:

1. Adjustable height (check the detail)

2. Rubber, easy to hold rail for someone with Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis

3. Safety strap to secure rail (check the strap is included)

4. Solid anchor and handle

Verdict:

1. The single rail version is  solid and good leverage from a lying down position. It’s basic, no frills but fulfils its function very well.

Over the years I bought quite a few things from The Ability Superstore

Bed Transfer Aid

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4. Two Handle-Walking stick with light, Stands Alone

Reasons for buying:

1. Traditional walking sticks need to be propped up, lean on chairs or a wall. When they fall to the ground they create a fall risk

2. Need soft grip for gnarled rheumatoid hands

3. Base of walking stick slips & is unsteady

Key features:

1. Adjustable height, stands up by itself because 5-rubber-foot base

2. Rubber, foam handles which are easy to hold for someone with Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis

3. 2nd handle for increased leverage

4. A light on handle

Verdict:

1. I bought 2, one for Dad and one for an elderly uncle who had wooden uncarpeted floors. This was particularly useful for my uncle because it did not slip. He could have it standing ready for him, by his chair. One chair was a little low in his sitting room. The stick helped him to pull himself up and out of the chair.

2. Dad did not use his stick very much because usually we were his support. Holding onto him, behind or to his side. He did use it a few years ago, outside the home, when we were still able to take him out to lunch.

Healifty Folding Walking Sticks - Foldable Collapsible with Alarm with LED Light Folding Cane Fold up Walking Aids - Lightweight Travel Stick - for Elder, Men, Women, Ladies

How to measure yourself for a standard walking stick. We need to get the height right.

Ho to use your walking stick by NHS Lanarkshire:

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5. Camera, Sound & Movement Monitor

Reasons for buying:

1. Mum couldn’t hear Dad when she was downstairs

2. Saved Mum having to go up & downstairs

3. Dad often moved/awoke but didn’t want help. We could watch to see if he settled.

4. We couldn’t easily see Dad without switching on the bedroom light

Key features:

1. Motion and sound-activated, the image appeared immediately

2. Increase volume as needed

3. Infrared and 2-way audio works well

4. Easy to use console

Verdict:

1. First Choice: The ‘discoball’ camera set with camera & console worked well for Mum to use. I paid £34.58 in 2016. In 2019, this was a key & easy instrument for Carers (Hospice at-home nurses and care assistants) to use without giving each one our Home Wifi key & password. As several people were helping us towards the end, this became an important feature.

2. The Second Choice: I have bought several picture cameras as security for my own home and for multi-room us home. These c’s home. These cameras are connected to the WiFi of the home, and the App enables you to see the image even when you’re in a different city. The features are principally the same but are not so easy for less-tech-savvy users.

GHB Baby Monitor Video Baby Monitor Wireless with Camera Night Vision Temperature Monitoring Lullaby Function 2 Way Talk

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6. Carers UK Preventing Trips and Falls

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Above all Please share to help others.

What home aids, and support tools have worked for you. Let’s share the ideas/tools!

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7. Shower chair versus Swivel-Top Stool

Reasons for buying:

1. The shower seat that folds up against the wall was not secure. The screws loosened over time. It was not safe

2. A stool and grab rails were an interim solution.

   However, we quickly realised that they were not suitable for Dad with his rheumatoid arthritis. Dad had no arm muscles, and his hands were gnarled and deformed, so he could not grip the handles easily and could not stabilise himself easily.

3. We needed a stable, seat with arms for some leverage.

4. A chair with holes would allow water to flow through, and allow a little more space for movement, instead of a stool.

Key features:

1. Anti-slip, rubber feet with adjustable height.

2. A broad, comfortable, sturdy seat with drainage holes and a backrest

3. Arms on the chair so the person has additional support to lower themselves into the chair, and leverage to rise up from the chair

4. Easy to clean.  

Verdict:

1. The shower chair was essential to our care routine.

2. We sometimes used the stool with a swivel top around the house, but it became obsolete quite quickly.

Please note: If you live in the UK it’s worth contacting your GP (General Practitioner Doctor) to request a referral to an occupational therapist. There may be a waiting time before you have your appointment. However, an occupational therapist can discuss home aids and support around the home e.g. hand rails for the stairs.

These home-adjustments can be free with the NHS. Occupational Therapy. (OT)

The reality may be that there is a lot of well meaning advice, lots of ideas BUT the intended user may refuse to use any of it.

You may find, as the caregiver, that you’ve orchestrated appointments for the OT to meet your loved one. Dad (to use his words) ‘complied with us’ wanting him to try the equipment in the presence of the OT, then as soon as the door closes on the OT he quoted many reasons why it wouldn’t work, became very frustrated, then angry.

Shower chair, yes. Everything else, no.

Stool adjustable height with swivel seat.Stool

Shower chair. Similar to the one we have

Caregiving Hacks & Tips