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.

@GarlicGiftsAndGlitter that's perfect, thank you so much!

Thank you fór the thread, OP.

A walk in shower that has the footprint of a bath, a big sliding door and an extra large grab rail. I can fit a non slip mat and a shelf at waist height so I don't have to reach up or down to get shampoo etc. I am much less afraid of falling in the larger space.
I haven't been able to get in or out of a bath for years, so it is no loss. DH doesn't care, we are both shower people now.
The other cheap and simple thing is a long handled shoe horn.

I'm surprised there isn't a disabilities board on Mumsnet.

There is
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnetters_with_sn

There's also a board for Neurodiverse MNers which was split out to leave the disabilities board more focused on physical disabilities: that's why the url is the slightly odd "with sn"

Thanks @EvilRingahBitch If I had realised that, I would have posted this thread on that board. 😂

Glad you didn't, @PeppermintParty, because I didn't know either! I'd never have seen your thread.

My newest addition.

I can take drinks etc upstairs without ruining the paintwork (carpet ruined by cats).

I have bought a topple tray since this thread and it is brilliant, very grateful for the suggestion.

< cat swipe mugs off tray before plonking floofy butt on it and staring up at @Alphabet1spaghetti2 with adoring puss-in-boots eyes >

@Pixiedust1234 i see you’ve meet my furry overlords 🤣🤣

I'm in love with my new bath lowering in contraption....no more getting stuck and dragged out undignified by DH.
It's great to have an independent bath with a book and HOT water again for as long as I want without DH hovering about waiting to rescue me.

Also love my lakekand electric potato masher. Will have to look into a potato peeler but I can usually get away with mashing them skins and all.
I also love my soup maker as its easier than using a blender in the pan and I adore HM soup.

I use a dryrobe in the wheelchair. It goes on like a normal coat but is wind and waterproof. And as its really used to change under for beach activities is long enough to cover knees etc. I think it would be too warm if you self propel. I can't due to dodgy shoulders.

Forearm crutches have also been great this year. I can't use regular ones due to dodgy shoulders and wrists so these where you take the weight on the flat of your forearms have helped for short distances.

STEROIDS - autoimmune disease here, so bad for you but can make you feel so well for a while😏

Would very much like a more accessible kitchen but am slowly rearranging it to suit me more, without making it too tedious for the rest of the family.

Also I've tried 1 plate but not bought the set yet....ikea do a very lightweight dinner service that still feels like china, though I think is mostly made of bamboo??? I detest plastic dinnerware but was impressed with this and am planning to replace our things with this to make serving food, (un)loading the dishwasher etc so much easier.

Oh and turtle dove cashmere wristlets really help with pain and help me keep warm. As do the lidl ski base layers.
I am constantly freezing😨these help

I bought my disabled son one of these. breville one cups. I am not sure he actually uses it but it is there if he feels the need. Quick cuppa for me when I visit though...

I'm a tea drinker, and have been holding off the Breville because hotwater dispensers have a reputation for delivering the water not quite hot enough for a decent cuppa.

Would love to hear opinions from folk who actually use it.

If you drink it and don't let it cool then it is hot enough

@PerkingFaintly they are acceptable Imo. Mil had one, my only issue with one was if Dh had used it, and set it for a large mug, and then forgot to turn the dial back to mil standard cup size. She had dementia so it was an issue if he forgot. (Oh the irony!!). But they are good and do exactly what they say. I would say the quality of the water is vastly improved if it’s filtered first and we just used a filter jug, and filled the water tank daily for mil. Which was plenty for her to use.

Many thanks!

@PerkingFaintly - my OT suggested I buy a travel kettle since I struggle with the weight of a normal one. Would this be worth a try first?

@70sDuvet - I'm in love with my new bath lowering in contraption....no more getting stuck and dragged out undignified by DH.

😱😱 Can you tell me more?

Thanks for the suggestion, @Pixiedust1234 . It's actually the faffing refilling the kettle I find wearing – even using a plastic water jug so I'm not carrying unnecessary weight around and I make as few trips to the tap as possible.

I do use a travel kettle in an emergency when I've blown up yet another normal one ( I make a LOT of ), and find it mysteriously more tiring than my normal kettle.

If you're struggling with the weight of a kettle, have you tried a kettle-tipper?
https://www.abilitysuperstore.com/collections/kettles-tippers

I've considered one but not tried it.

Well that sucks, was hoping it was going to be so useful, and cheaper than a One Cup (and I drink loads and loads of tea). I didn't know the tipper existed until I went on a couple of linked websites from this thread. I'm having to wait a bit as I'm in the process of divorce and don't want to lug this extra stuff to a new house. But I'm compiling a list of future goodies

Kettle tippers are quite good but not as good as a one cup Imo. My problem with them is that you still end up filling it too full if you want to stop the refilling of it everytime you want a brew but don’t want to overfill it. Even using a jug to refill was too much for mil once arthritis got her wrists and fingers. Filling the one cup once a day was enough (which we did and any carers/visitors). The one cup then only boils the exact amount of water you want from its reservoir so you aren’t boiling anymore than if you repeatedly refilled a kettle with a mug at a time. Iyswim.

sorry to waffle on.

For a bath seat that lowers into the bath, I've got something like this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lightweight-Reclining-Bathlift-Warranty-Accessibility/dp/B08H5WZNCR/ref=sr_1_7?crid=29E5AMDE3XKB1&keywords=mobility+bath+lift&qid=1703286681&sprefix=mobility+bath+%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-7&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.23648568-4ba5-49f2-9aa6-31ae75f1e9cd

Although mine was supplied by my local council.

You might find the travel kettle does the trick, though! Horses for courses.

I have dodgy hands, but my biggest problem is fatigue. I have a perching stool so I can sit down while the kettle boils, but don't always need it. I think with a travel kettle I would always need it.

Unfortunately the best way to find out what works for you is to try it - the shelling out can mount up.