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.

@Pixiedust1234 ahhh in that case perhaps a small battery operated kitchen grinder - amazon?

@Pixiedust1234 When you say they are too large to cut, have you been trying with just a large knife? Or a specific tablet cutter?

I would have thought tablet cutters could cope with fairly large tablets and even with little use in your hands, you should be able to press heavily on it.

Here is one example, but if you google, there are lots available.

https://www.medisave.co.uk/products/sure-health-pill-cutter

I have the exact one of those blue cutters to cut my dog’s pills into eighths, she’s a tiny dog. It’s really good. Got it from the vets

I had a little gadget I got from the pharmacy that had a tablet cutter and a crusher that you just screwed down, if your hands will do that. Similar to this, except mine also had a cutter on top
https://medicaldressings.co.uk/pill-tablet-crusher/

Thanks all. I have a tablet cutter, the tablets are too thick as well as big. Daughter has cut them up for me with a knife before (just) but even when quartered they hurt my throat when swallowed. I have a twister which I can't use due to pain/strength. I really need an electrical/battery item but most are too big for one tablet. Yes, I am pathetic and needy😂

This is the horrible tablet, it's very hard unlike a paracetamol tablet. I was hoping someone had an elderly aunt who had found a miracle electric tablet grinder, I'll keep looking.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-vegetarian-glucosamine-hydrochloride-tablets-60021916

Sorry not to be of more help! Good luck

Would you be able to pop the tablet in a plastic bag and bash it to bits with a hammer or rolling pin?

Can anyone recommend a nonslip bath mat for inside the bath suitable for an elderly person who isn't great on her feet?

Honestly? Would probably be much better to either have a full, walk in with zero or very low shower tray shower cubicle installed with hand rails and possibly the fold down seat. Or a sit in bath.
anti slip bath mats are all much of a muchness so long as they have suction caps on the reverse. Be aware that they may not be able to either push the bath mat down to secure it properly or remove it to stop water/limescale/soap scum build up which can lead to mould problems.
To avoid the last problem you could try those small anti slip stickers (designed for kids) which adhere permanently to the bath floor - but they won’t cover the whole surface unless you are prepared to buy a lot of them.
unfortunately, depending on the level of unsteadiness, this may one of those times when spending money is better than trying to scrimp and save. A broken hip (which is a likely outcome from a slip getting out of the bath) is always best avoided at any cost.
Sorry to not be of much help - but am speaking from personal experience of several elderly parents and my own arthritis! (As well as care home work.)

I recently wasted so much money on non slip mats, had grab rails fitted etc etc so decided to bite the bullet and have a shower room installed. Having the bath taken out, the whole bathroom floor non slip, seat and screens and by doing it with the Occupational Therapy I don't have to pay VAT. Yes it is alot of money but better than doing bed baths or employing carers that only do what I do. Not installed yet but looking forward to it being up and running in a couple of weeks. Looked at it this way - Attendance Allowance will have paid for it as I have been getting it for a couple of years now.

SS are submitting a referral for a wet room and in the mean time are has a bath board and is ok with that. Her current bath mat is manky so I wondered if there were any recommendations of a good one that doesn't go manky. I agree with everything you've said btw. Thank you.

@HoldMyHalo given that the usual problem with shower mats is the mankyness which always appears around the suction cups, I would probably just go to b and m and purchase one in a colour you like! Cheap and cheerful. My latest b and m one is clear and has so far done two years of near daily use with just being cleaned with a a bit of flash spray and a microfibre cloth once a month. Think it was £5? So cheap but not cheerful being clear! (I use it in the shower as it has foot scrubby bristle ends)

I got a big elastic pelvic band when pregnant. Bloody brilliant for menopause and after COVID when I'd not exercised do much. Helped when muscles were tired and stopped supporting my pelvis and connective tissue was extra stretch due to menopause. Meant I could walk a little bit further without looking like Bambi on ice or quote drunk.

Also a gadget for opening ring pull cans. Stops my fingers bruising and swelling

Holdmyhalo

In case this is of use- my husband has very little mobility (just about manages with a walker in the house, wheelchair outside the house) but we have found this excellent. We will need a wet room further down the line, but this has put off the need for one for now. The LA OT department gave it to us.

www.manageathome.co.uk/pd/swivel-bath-seat_10099?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoKeuBhCoARIsAB4Wxtdq_JHlcPwtlhgW2KdLVRlpWxJhrVHKRJ8uQolzszhKx_OM-A5RK4waApZCEALw_wcB

@HoldMyHalo my nan had one of these and it was brilliant. https://www.mobilitysmart.co.uk/mangar-inflatable-bath-lift.html

Right, thanks to this thread I'm going to buy a dressing stick.

Can anyone help me decide between one with a grabber end (which sounds like it should be more useful), and a simple hook (which may be more robust).

Pics:

I would probably go for the first one. caveat: I have never used a dressing stick!

so here is my reasoning. The first one can easily be used as a pick up stick to teach stuff on the floor or higher up - like picking up dropped tissues or closing curtains and windows. The second one reminds me of the old school window closer, and I can’t imagine trying to get dressed using an ‘s’ hook without damaging my clothes or my skin. Plus I cannot see how clothes would stay on it whilst trying to get dressed? Having said that, you do need to be able to grip to use the first pick up stick. Is that possible for you?
sorry this probably doesn’t help.

Grabber. Mum uses hers for everything she drops from cans of soup to rubbish that misses the bin.

@PerkingFaintly - ignore me!! I see the second one is in fact a shoe horn!!! Yes brilliant get a long shoe horn it saves a LOT of effort and yes I have one only it doesn’t have the hook style handle - it has a hole so I can hang it up on a hook!!

Oooh they are shoe horns! That'll teach me to look properly. What a great idea to combine a grabber with a long shoe horn! Mum has fun with her socks but doesn't like using her sock gadget. She prefers to risk rolling off the bed 🤣🙄😩

Yes, sorry, should have said: they are both also shoe horns. This function will be getting a lot of use!

I'm also going to buy a proper sock-putter-on-thingie. After experimenting with homemade ones, I'm plumping for this one.

Linkie for sock-thingie
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386793112389

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 , that's exactly my thinking about the s-hook! Surely everything will fall off!

That said, I wondered if an s-hook might be unexpectedly good in practice, while a cheapy grabber might fail and the mechanism become a hindrance.

I already have a folding grabber (frequently deployed down back of sofa, fridge, ...) but it's rather feeble. Definitely wouldn't cope with clothing. So I'm hoping the non-folding one will be more robust.

@PerkingFaintly i think sometimes it’s worth getting quality! Totally agree with you about folding/cheap grabbers. I have a ‘99p’ one for the caravan and I always say I should throw it out as it’s so useless compared to my £10 I use in the house!