When it comes to the world of independent living aids there can be so much choice that you miss out on finding those truly unique products, the ones that could really make a difference to your everyday life. Here are some of our favourites.
Ergonomic and easy to use, this Easy Pour Kettle from Uccello is a gamechanger for anyone who loves a cuppa but finds it difficult to pour boiling water from their existing kettle. The kettle is cradled on a kettle tipper allowing you to simply tip it and pour the boiling water into your cup without having to lift it up. This helps to reduce your risk of spilling the water and burning yourself, there’s also less strain involved as you aren’t lifting anything.
The kettle is lightweight, making it easier to lift and fill with water as required, but you could also fill it up using a jug if that’s more manageable for you.
Preparing food to make a meal can be very difficult if you have weakness or limited use of one hand. There may also be safety risks too, if you’re chopping something that could roll or move, causing the knife to slip. The versatile Kitchen Workstation is designed to help with this. It has a clamp to hold whatever you’re cutting in place, whether that’s vegetables or perhaps a loaf of bread. You could also use this to hold a bottle or a jar, so you can open it more easily.
Among its other features are the grating and slicing box, which can be mounted on the surface of the board, so it’s held in place, and a small group of spikes to hold fruit or vegetables in place while they’re peeled.
You can find out what else is included in the product description.
Don’t let fiddly, awkward buttons hold you back from wearing the clothes you love. This useful gadget pushes through the buttonhole of the item of clothing and hooks over the button, allowing you to then pull it through. Handy for anyone but especially those who have arthritis or a reduced grip in their hands.
As an extra bonus, on the other side is a zip pull that helps to make zipping up your jeans, skirt, or trousers that little bit easier as you don’t need to try and grab the fiddly little zip with your fingers.
The Button Hook with Zip Pull is small enough that it can fit in a bag or handbag, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
Heading anywhere in your home when it’s dark can be a worry – especially when it’s late at night and you don’t want to turn on the main light. This is where the Motion Sensor Light comes in handy. It's a battery powered light, so you won’t need to try and find a free plug socket somewhere. It also means you can put it wherever you need it, whether that’s in the hallway leading to the bathroom, on the stairs, or even under your bed so the light activates when you get up.
The ultra-bright light only comes on when motion is detected and will remain lit for 30 seconds after movement stops. It's a great way to help keep you safe at night, helping to reduce your risk of falling as you’ll be able to see any trip hazards (or pets) that lie in your path.
There’s an inherent joy in being able to sit back with a relaxing cuppa, but for those who find it difficult to hold a standard mug it can be harder to enjoy that simple pleasure. This is where the Wade Dignity Two Handled Mug can help. It has two handles, which help to offer a much more stable hold without having to grip the – potentially scalding hot – mug itself.
The extra control offered by having two handles means you can continue to enjoy your favourite hot drinks without having to worry so much about spills or inadvertently dropping it. It’s made from vitrified earthenware with added alumina for extra strength and wouldn’t look out of place in any cup cupboard.
Needing a bib when eating or drinking can sometimes leave you feel embarrassed or a little awkward. If you’re finding that you’re avoiding social situations where you may need to eat or drink there are products available to help you out. Like the Pashmina Clothing Protector.
The Pashmina Clothing Protector has been designed to look like an ordinary, stylish accessory to any outfit while also acting as a bib to keep your clothes clean and dry. With this product, no one would be any the wiser that you’re wearing a clothing protector. It comes in a variety of patterns and colours, so you can match it more to your personal style. It’s machine washable and can also be tumble-dried, so it’s easier to clean it between uses.
Shopping trolleys are a great way to carry your shopping (or any other personal items) from place to place without having to actually lift them up in your arms. But things can get a bit tricky when it comes to navigating stairs.
This clever shopping trolley has special stair climber wheels built in that mean it’s much easier to pull up stairs or kerbs, reducing the effort you need to put in to lift it.
Another handy feature is its fold down seat, so if you’re waiting for the bus or need to take a moment to rest tired feet then this could be ideal for you.
Plugs aren’t really something you always think about in daily life, unless you’re struggling to unplug something. Often plugs can be difficult to remove – especially if your grip is a little weaker than you’d like – or it can be difficult to know which plug needs removing in the first place if the wires have got in a tangle.
Plug Tugs are the ingenious solution to one of life’s little irritations. They’re designed to wrap around the plug, creating a little handle that makes it easier to remove the plug from the socket. They also come with labels, so you can label the plugs and finally know which one is which when you need to unplug something.
Going to the toilet is something people very, very rarely want to talk about. However, if your mobility is becoming limited, you may find yourself needing to ask for help. The Buckingham Easywipe Bottom Wiper offers a way for you maintain your independence in the toilet without needing to ask for assistance.
It was specially designed by an Occupational Therapist to help make wiping up after using the toilet easier. The toilet roll or wet wipe is wrapped around the end and then, once used, the plunger mechanism in the top will release it from the device, dropping it into the toilet or bin without you having to touch the paper.
If you or someone you care for are living with dementia, you may find that remembering to do certain tasks in the day or knowing the time or date is becoming a little tricky. Owing to the nature of the condition making lists and writing post-it reminders may not be as helpful as they used to be either.
The Rosebud Reminder Clock is a great option to consider to help make daily life that little bit easier. Not only will it tell you the date and time, but it also has 17 unique alarms to help remind you of a particular task. You can also add your own text and audio reminders to it, to help remind you of important events or things that you need to remember in a day.
Those with a cognitive impairment or autism may also find the features of this clever clock useful.
Check out our full list of products to help make daily life easier - who knows what hidden gem you might find?
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