Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for them.

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Looking for a stocking stuffer for that aging friend or relative? As we grow older, the physical limitations that often accompany the aging process can sometimes make it difficult for older adults to carry on their day-to-day activities the way they once did, whether it be reaching an item on the top cupboard shelf, bathing, or even putting on their own shoes. However, there are a variety of gadgets available to help seniors overcome these functional limitations – and the frustration that often accompanies them. And they make great gifts.

There are many devices available to help older adults get hold of anything that might be out of reach, whether the item be on the ground or on a shelf that’s too high. These grippers usually take the form of a plastic or lightweight metal pole, about two feet long, with a claw or gripping hand at one end. A button or trigger at the other end of the pole, near the handle, activates the claw and allows it to grab hold of the item out of reach.

These devices are helpful for people who have difficulty bending over due to problems in their back or legs or who might be a fall risk and unsafe to climb a stool or ladder to get something from a high shelf.

Older adults with arthritis of other debilitating conditions in their hands may benefit from a device that helps them keep a better grasp on the objects they are trying to hold. There are a variety of shapes to fit different objects and to meet the different needs of the person using them. Grip aids are available for everything from silverware and writing utensils to makeup brushes and toothbrushes, and they can be particularly helpful for those who are trying to re-establish a sense of independence.

In addition to the grip aids, a variety of grooming and personal care items can be found with extended handles to help those whose reach may be limited due to problems with their range of motion. Simple things like brushes and combs can be found with long or flexible handles, as can items for tasks where privacy is important, such as long-handled scrub brushes for bathing and specialized devices with handles designed to hold toilet paper for use after toileting.

Grippers are also available to assist seniors with the chore of opening bottles and jars in the kitchen.

Items to assist with dressing are also available, including dressing sticks to help pull on or remove clothing; pulls that can be used on buttons and zippers to help close up shirts, dresses or jackets; and shoehorns with long handles that eliminate the need for bending over when putting on shoes. There are also several kinds of devices that can assist seniors with the more difficult task of putting on nylons or compression hose.

While these practical and functional gadgets would all make great gifts, perhaps the greatest gift of all may be restoring an older loved-one’s sense of dignity and independence.

Other devices are available to help seniors who have trouble standing up from a seated position. In addition to handles that can be fitted to chairs, shower benches and toilets, specially made cushions can be placed on chairs and raised toilet seats can be fitted to commodes to make standing easier. While they are more expensive, lift chairs can safely and comfortably raise a person up at the touch of a button, to make standing less of a strain on joints and backs.

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Information provided by Visiting Angels, America’s choice in homecare. Visiting Angels’ non-medical homecare services allow people to continue enjoying the independence of their daily routines and familiar surroundings. Visiting Angels Salem was recently recognized by HCP as seventh on the list of Top 100 Leader in Experience agencies in North America. To set up an appointment for a no-obligation in-home consultation, call 330-332-1203.