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Elderly parents

Products you'd recommend if caring for elderly parents

29 replies

ItsAllSoSoBleak · 28/02/2024 21:39

I recently bought some of these and I love them. They are great when eating or brushing teeth. They look like a normal damask napkin and can be washed at 60 degrees. It lives up to the name of 'dignified'. It's ages since I bought something I was so pleased with. Inspired by the 'things that make your life easier' thread, thought I'd start one here for those of us caring for elderly parents.

https://www.healthandcare.co.uk/adult-bibs/napkin-style-dignified-adult-apron.html

Other thing I'd recommend is this company for rise recliner chairs - family business and truly excellent service

https://stuartmobility.co.uk/

Napkin-Style Dignified Adult Apron | Health and Care

Buy The Napkin-Style Dignified Adult Apron For £8.02 From Health And Care With Free UK Delivery. Quick-Drying Apron In A Choice Of Colours.

https://www.healthandcare.co.uk/adult-bibs/napkin-style-dignified-adult-apron.html

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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PermanentTemporary · 29/02/2024 14:01

Looking at those Philomena cups, I'm glad to see it's possible to remove the silicone bit inside the spout. In general as a SaLT I hate spouts and things people have to suck, but I get making it easier to drink more with less mess is popular. I'd say remove the silicone if you possibly can.

RB68 · 29/02/2024 14:16

My sister hunted down a few things, double handed china tea cups was one when Mum struggled to hold cups single handed without tipping etc. Came with saucer in plain white china rather than earthenware etc.

Super grippy bathroom large mats - so cover a large area and you don't have to have several/cause a trip hazard. Had cold bathroom tiles and she often needed to fully undress etc.

We also got a water heater rather than kettle and wish we had got this years earlier to let Mum embedd how to use it in her subconsious - was so much safer.

None slip trays for lap or bed eating. Tray table for bed with said none slip tray.

We also had our own slip mats for moving and turning and were taught how to use them, plus we used absorbent mats under sheets to save on washing etc, if you use disposable, the puppy mats are cheaper and work just as well, but we bought some kids ones that were wash and reuse - saved the mattress a few times.

We were also careful about the clothes we bought so that they were easy for us to put on and Mum to manage - so no massive over the head clothes - stuck to wraps, zips and larger buttons etc

Mum also had an Alexa - called it "my little computer" she enjoyed having it and
it amused her almost to the end with giving a weather forecast specifically for her small town. Could have been used for alot more - reminders, day and date reminders, books, music etc but we never really got to setting it all up to be more automated and her attention span rapidly reduced. She used to like music from her parents era as we think it was linked with her childhood in her mind which she didn't have too much trouble remembering.

ItsAllSoSoBleak · 29/02/2024 14:41

Thanks for your replies. I was hoping this thread would be recommendations for specific products (tried and tested with links) like the Philomena Cup (thanks @IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere rather than general ideas like a non-slip tray etc. More like - we have this particular tray and its good because...

Most of us deeply embedded in caring are familiar with available aid categories and most age/care websites have lots of stuff available in any catagory.

I've thought of another one - if you are getting washable bed pads/protectors for beds, ones that are breathable are much more comfortable and make the user less 'sweaty' over night.

This is a nice one from Guarded Sleep that I found that is breathable and you can get it with wings to tuck under the bed on both sides. The back is grippy but it doesn't have that full cover plastic- y backing that a lot of them have that makes the user sweaty. Only discovered this by trial and error.

https://guardedsleep.com/

guardedsleep.com

https://guardedsleep.com

OP posts:
NoBinturongsHereMate · 01/03/2024 17:56

For rollators, these https://www.byacre.com/carbon-ultralight/ are great. Much more stable than the usual style because they are positioned around rather than mostly in front of the user - which also means standing upright rather than leaning forward. And the seat/pocket bit is still far enough from the legs that it doesn't inhibit stride length.

Carbon Ultralight - The Worlds Lightest Rollator walker: 4,8 kg

https://www.byacre.com/carbon-ultralight

AutumnFroglets · 01/03/2024 17:59

Placemarking in case someone posts a brilliant mobility aid. Good idea for a thread OP.

ItsAllSoSoBleak · 01/03/2024 21:47

@NoBinturongsHereMate those rollators look great! Thanks for that.

Now contemplating whether worth replacing....they look so lovely and as you say very stable.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 02/03/2024 10:35

Help to get in and out of cars It hooks into the door hinge and is absolutely firm and strong

beetr00 · 02/03/2024 12:25

long reach handled comb and hair brush, useful if limited mobility in arms/shoulders,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aidapt-Applicable-hand-disabled-Inconvenient-activities/dp/B00C2UWD42?th=1

AnnaMagnani · 15/03/2024 18:12

My DM's pendant alarm from Taking Care is a big hit. They are light years better than her previous company.

So far they have contacted me:
To tell me her house is too cold - her boiler had broken
That she hasn't been moving around as much as usual - she had a UTI and was in bed
As well as the falls we got the alarm for

After an incident they also contact her later to check she is OK and doesn't need extra help

https://taking.care/collections/pendant-alarms

Pendant Alarms | Alarm Pendants for Elderly | TakingCare

Personal alarm pendants can be worn anywhere, even in the shower or bath, making them an ideal solution for the elderly and vulnerable. Try a 30-day trial.

https://taking.care/collections/pendant-alarms

AnnaMagnani · 15/03/2024 18:15

The other big hit is clothing from The Able Label. My DM has limited movement in her shoulders plus struggles with buttons. All the clothes are easy to get on and off while looking like something she'd actually choose to wear. Plus any adapted stuff is VAT free.

https://www.theablelabel.com/

The Able Label | Adaptive Clothing For Women & Men UK

The Able Label creates quality, stylish adaptive clothing with adapted designs and hidden extras to make self-dressing and assisted-dressing easier.

https://www.theablelabel.com

Caspianberg · 15/03/2024 18:18

Keep cup
https://uk.keepcup.com/shop/reusable-cups

Bought a couple for my grandmother when she went almost blind. She liked the glass ones for her tea at home as didn’t like ‘plastic’ for tea and it feels weighty like a mug. The lid stopped spills

Reusable Coffee Cup Collection | Glass | Steel | KeepCup

Say no to Single use with our Glass, Plastic and Steel Reusable Coffee Cup Collection. Buy Once, Buy Well - choose from a range Sizes to suit your Beverage.

https://uk.keepcup.com/shop/reusable-cups

DPotter · 15/03/2024 18:21

PermanentTemporary

In general as a SaLT I hate spouts and things people have to suck

Out of interest - why is this ? Have heard this before but can't understand why

PermanentTemporary · 15/03/2024 18:41

@DPotter because sucking speeds fluid to the back of the mouth.

For an awful lot of imperfect but functional swallows, that time/stimulation of the fluid being actively moved from the lips through the mouth gives everything that needs to happen to close the airway safely with the swallow reflex a fraction more time/notice to happen.

DPotter · 15/03/2024 22:30

Thank you

Rollontermtime · 04/09/2024 11:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TeenToTwenties · 04/09/2024 14:00

These half height shower doors https://www.impeyshowers.com/half-height-shower-doors have been fantastic for helping mum shower whilst staying dry myself.

Sittingontheporch · 04/09/2024 15:57

OP thanks for your recommendation for the riser-recliner company. Did you get them round to measure up and which chair did you get?

Sittingontheporch · 04/09/2024 15:59

Sorry, I'm taking and not giving, but does anyone have a recommendation for a calendar/clock thing for those with dementia? In an ideal world, I'd love something that I could update remotely or failing that when I'm there. I want something that says:
day of week
date and time
and then room for 'x is visiting today, y tomorrow and z on Saturday' or any other news.

JC03745 · 04/09/2024 16:25

@Sittingontheporch I've seen clocks that have the date and day of the week on them and automatically flip over to the following day.
I haven't used this specific one, but there are lots to choose from:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/U-want-Dementia-Calendar-Digital-Display/dp/B07H4GDWYP/ref=asc_df_B07H4GDWYP/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697352240810&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5871364697709760325&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045053&hvtargid=pla-574022781110&psc=1&mcid=b3b4ba90804e37269c2091a293ecf0ef&gad_source=1

For other reminders, the only thing I can think of, which could be accessed remotely, would be a TV screen or a computer monitor in their house. Something like a screen you see in a GP surgery with a message. You could have a timer to turn the screen on/off at set times. It would take someone IT savvy like my DH, but maybe they have installers. DH installed a thing called homeassist and we can turn on lights, plug sockets etc remotely. A TV screen would be no different. The person would need a computer or even just a raspberry Pi in their home that you could access to add the daily messages to the screen though.
www.home-assistant.io/

unsync · 04/09/2024 18:06

This organisation https://storyandsons.com/ is a great resource for lots of living aids. Sometimes it is useful just to have a browse through and you find things you didn't realise existed or you needed. We have one of the talking watches, nice big watch face, easy to read and it auto updates time zones.

Social media image

Story & Sons

From Visual Impairment To Dementia, We Specialise in User Friendly Product Design. Shop for Daily Living Aids, Health Monitors, Specialist Clocks & Watches.

https://storyandsons.com

ItsAllSoSoBleak · 05/09/2024 20:34

@Sittingontheporch

Yes - they did come to measure - they bring a chair with them for the user to test out. Great company.

We got the Warminster dual motor tilt in space rise and recline chair.

https://stuartmobility.co.uk/product/recliners-warminster/

Tilt in space allows the person to keep a correct posture when the chair is reclined/tilted back so pressure is evenly distributed across the body. It reduces the chance of pressure sores and injuries.

Even if you don't think you need that function now, if you are future proofing it is essential IMO.

Recliners Warminster

Warminster Riser Recliner Chair | Stuart Mobility Rise & Recline Chairs

A modern and stylish chair which has been designed with flat contemporary arms, a fixed chaise seat and footrest offering full comfort and support.

https://stuartmobility.co.uk/product/recliners-warminster

OP posts:
Myparentsdaughter · 25/09/2024 20:33

This is a wonderful thread, can I please ask for a recommendation for a seat cushion and or back support?
My Mum has lost a lot of weight and finds sitting very difficult, she says there is no padding on her bottom now 😥