Practical Living Tips for independent dependants

[Chumpfriend]

This isn’t about the big stuff - which seems to be really well covered within this topic - it’s about the tedious minutiae of day to day living. To clarify, caring at arms length where they’re just about managing.

I seem to be spending ages looking for stuff online to help with the practical aspects for my 86 year old FIL who lives alone.

For example, what’s the best size of the freezer to oven dishes for a meal for one and would you recommend any? what are the best Alexa features and what commands have been helpful? what are the best cooking appliances? (mines’s a one-person slow cooker) do you have any useful recipes for the freezer/slow cooker? any recommendations for ready meals that I can tag onto my shop? any life-changing app/tv package/tech recommendations?

If anyone could share practical, hard-earned tips it might be a useful resource for many caught up in this weird half-stage before we have to consider carers or residential care.

I brought my Dad who is partially sighted this microwave and then put different coloured bump dots on the buttons, green for start, red for stop, white for time.

Then I stuck large print instructions, a simple step by step on the cupboard door above.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/russell-hobbs-rhem2301b-solo-microwave-black-10154356.html

I bought some microwave containers with a steam flap and colourful lids so that he knows what he can use to heat food in the microwave.

My Dad eats less now so often a meal for one can last him for two meals. Ready meals wise he likes shepherds, cottage and fish pies and easy to eat. He also likes chicken chow mein noodles, sweet and sour duck and rice, prawn curry and rice and beef chilli con carne and rice. He also likes spaghetti Bolognese or carbonara.

Frozen jacket potatoes and prawn cocktail, tuna mayo and grated cheese, chilli con carne or coronation chicken also go down well. I buy him McCain frozen jacket potatoes, ready made prawn cocktail, tuna mayo or coronation chicken in a small pot and pre-grated cheese. Tesco tinned chilli con carne is quite nice taste wise.

Someone I work with also recommended a single cup hot water dispenser to reduce the risk of them burning themselves trying to lift a heavy kettle or missing the cup when making a cup of tea.

https://www.breville.co.uk/kettles-and-toasters/hot-water-dispensers/hot-cup-hot-water-dispenser/VKJ142-01.html

Devices to help with opening jars or cans are also useful.

Magnifying glass to see the TV remote buttons.

Big button phone so they can call out easily.

Bed transfer rail to help them getting up from bed.

Raised toilet seat with arm rests.

Second stair rail if they are still mobile and go up and down stairs.

I also brought a Call Genie which attaches to the TV to communicate with my elderly Aunt who has dementia and can't answer the phone easily, but there is also Komp which is a simple tablet type device that seems good too

This is exactly what I meant. Some great ideas here. Thank you. It’s so difficult trying to navigate it all.

He actually has carers for three days a week - at the moment for company - but we’re needing to scale up and I’m trying to keep everything simple for them and for him.

The dispenser is genius!

Microwaveable steam bags of vegetables - no chopping or prep involved, don't have to worry about it going off and they're divided into one portion bags already so very easy for the elderly person or a carer with limited time to deal with.

Basically a lot of the stuff that is the antithesis of zero-waste is your friend now! Ready-prepped mashed potato, ready chopped up fruit from the chiller cabinets.