6 Elderly Personal Devices That Are Convenient To Use

November 30, 2021

Being autonomous into older age is entirely possible, but sometimes the elderly might need a helping hand.

Thanks to the technological developments of the modern era, there are many elderly personal devices that improve their quality of life.

Here are some examples of these devices that are convenient and easy to use.

1. Liftware

While Liftware’s tech can be a little expensive, it provides a way for seniors to keep their autonomy while feeding themselves. When seniors suffer from conditions that impair their fine motor movements, Liftware helps them by stabilizing the utensil on its own. This means that seniors can move the food to their mouths without needing to worry about dropping any. This can be especially frustrating for seniors who are otherwise entirely autonomous except for the feeding process. Instead of getting familial assistance with feeding, they can choose to use one of these devices.

2. Handheld Reacher With Suction Cups

Elderly persons who have difficulty bending over and picking up items that they have dropped generally will use a handheld reacher. This is useful because it avoids needing to place a strain on their back and joints, while still giving them autonomy. The downside to a lot of reachers though is that they don’t really grip things well. They’re not fitted like a hand and items can easily slip in their grip. When a reacher has suction cups this means that it can hold onto objects more readily. This means that seniors won’t need to continuously attempt to grasp something that keeps falling, leading to frustration.

3. Cordless Phones

Many elderly people still enjoy using their landlines, but dislike the disadvantages associated with cordless phones. Corded phones tend to have bigger buttons but they aren’t able to be carried around the phone. If an older adult has a fall, they might not be able to get to the phone and call for help. If you read more about cordless phones, you’ll find there are some options that offer larger buttons. This is important because seniors may have visual impairments that require a magnified size. Cordless phones with better battery capability also mean that they won’t need to charge it throughout the day, and can keep it on their person while moving around the home.

4. Lap Desk

For seniors who enjoy their time in bed, a lap desk is a perfect way to get reading done. Holding a book in your hands for an extended period of time can take a strain on your joints and this doesn’t bode well with conditions like arthritis and tendonitis. A lap desk offers a portable way to conduct reading and writing in bed comfortably. With the added benefit of its own light, a lap desk means you won’t need to get out of bed if it starts getting dark outside. This device is also great for reading in the car without needing to hold the book up.

5. Roomba

Even young adults enjoy the effectiveness that a Roomba can provide. Using a vacuum can be physically demanding and may take a strain on seniors who have ligament or joint issues. For those who are unaware, a Roomba is a self-cleaning vacuum that cleans the floor on its own. It sweeps through the room while moving whenever it hits an object, and it can be set to an autoclean feature. The only downside about this device is that it can be easy to trip over for seniors who have impairments in regards to walking.

6. Voice Activated Systems

Even for those who aren’t tech-savvy, voice-activated systems can be useful for doing things like checking the weather, listening to the news, or playing music. Devices such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s voice-activated platforms are perfect for the elderly. If they want to listen to the news they can simply talk to the device without needing much assistance. They’re also able to check the weather remotely or listen to whatever music they please with ease. If they have a cell phone, they may also make phone calls or send texts. This is especially useful for elderly persons who are worried about having a fall or having a health-related incident and want to feel secure knowing they can get help if they need it.

Thanks to modern achievements there are more devices that strive to maintain the autonomy of older adults than ever. No matter what issue might be faced performing a specific task there is usually a device that can help you accomplish it. All of these devices are convenient to use for elderly persons and help improve their quality of life.