Calling other disabled people - What is the best gadgets etc. you have ever bought.

[PeppermintParty]

Inspired by another thread about the best thing you have bought in 2023, I thought it would be good to chat with other disabled people about the best things you have bought to make your life easier.

Mine is my mobility scooter. I was reading on the other thread about no rinse shower caps. I had never heard of them and it made me think about what other things other disabled people had bought to make their life easier.

Was thinking about getting an electric potato peeler and something to pick things up from the floor, but there are probably loads of other stuff I haven't even considered, so would love to hear from other disabled mumsnetters.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2

That is exactly what I needed- thanks.

Now need to go and buy a washing up brush though because the only one I have is kept outside to clean my wheelchair wheels.

B and m do cheap microfibre dusters on a longish handle. The microfibre part is the noodle style microfibre. Not good for scrubbing (I tried 🤣) but they are great for dusting! And washable. They have new cleaning and bathroom products hitting the shelves around this time of year.

Not a gadget but we are renovating our house and putting in a downstairs shower room. Have a Burlington regal toilet which is a comfort height toilet and it is brilliant, makes such a difference to a standard height one.

Haha, snap!

Does anyone have recommendations for a specific sock-putter-on?

I think this may be the next thing in my life.

I'm looking at the Soxon, because I have weak hands so stretching the sock over a rigid frame would be a mission in itself.
https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/living-aids/daily/dressing-aids/soxon-sock-and-stocking-aid?sku=L20473

Come to that, I suppose I could make my own. Even if it weren't v durable at least I could try it out.

@PerkingFaintly cooking tongs! You can get long ones for bbqs. Work very well. 😃

Ohhh, clever!

@PerkingFaintly some sticky backed felt wrapped around the end of the tongs works if you have tender skin to protect you from the metal /plastic edges of the tongs. Or tape bit of material over the edges.

As it happens I have just ordered some chiropody felt, so that sounds a plan!

Is it taller so you don’t have to use one of those awful plastic raised seats?

Yes!

I got some wooden ones

@TigerRag they will be kinder to skin than metal ones. I used to have a set of wooden ones for use with my twin tub - got a lot of use as picker uppers too!

Ah yes, laundry tongs would be perfect. Robust and gentle.

Way hey!!! Didn’t know they still made them - found some on eBay. And some rubber tipped ones!!!

the rubber tipped ones look slimmer. Whereas the wooden ones are chunkier- would a normal sock expand enough to allow wooden tongs plus foot to slip inside the sock???

Let's not bid against each other, @Alphabet1spaghetti2 I'll let you know if I decide to go for any of the current batch of trad wooden ones!

I think you're right about the problem of space for foot and tongs inside a sock...

@PerkingFaintly sounds like a plan!!! 🤣

Well, having slept on it, I'm convinced by your argument that there won't be much space for the foot and laundry tongs in the sock.

Shame, as they're such nice objects!

I think I'll have to invent something and go on Dragon's Den.

Maybe socks with handles on. Like a sock equivalent of the wellington boots that you buy for toddlers.

I'm needing to pick all your minds again. I need something that is electric that grinds large tablets into dust so I can eat it rather than swallow with a drink. They are too big/hard for cutting and my hands are too weak for the manual grinders. The only ones I've seen are for a hundred tablets in one go. I just want the one tablet! Or do I just need a hunky gardener who is kind?

Btw, that knicker elastic book holder makes my heart sing with joy every time I read a book. I'm easily pleased 😂

What about a small coffee grinder? I got one in Lidl for about £5 a few years ago.

Or a pestle and mortar. Or a small battery operated hand held blender/ chopper for veggies. Think I’ve seen something on amazon?

seriously though - please ask the dispensing pharmacist what can be done. Some tablets are designed to be coated to do their job and dispense medication either in a certain place in our bodies or at a certain rate of being dissolved (I’ve described it awkwardly cos I’m tired but you get the meaning I’m sure). The pharmacy may be able to dispense the meds in a liquid suspension or in a plastic lozenge type shape or smaller tablets. It’s worth asking first before you potentially impair the efficacy of the medication.

https://amzn.eu/d/fSDdgOV

would this do? @Pixiedust1234

Bidet shower and washable pads, have greatly helped provide comfort for my endometriosis. Also the heat from electric blankets is vital for me.

I'll be honest, I'm not a coffee drinker so assumed coffee beans aren't as hard as tablets, plus you use multiple beans as opposed to one. I don't want the container to have the tablet particles up the side and none in the bottom which would happen in a larger container. If beans are that hard I can certainly look into some. I used to have a nut chopper but I have never found them very good (plus container is too big).

I have a tall twist one @Alphabet1spaghetti2 and I do not have the strength (plus a lot of pain) in my hands and wrists. It's a health supplement aimed at arthritis sufferers and annoyingly H&B used to do it in liquid form but they have stopped making it.