Four Practical and Fun Holiday Gifts for Seniors

The season of gift giving has arrived.  And if you have seniors in your life, you’re likely in a bit of a quandary.  After all, over the years they’ve accumulated all the goodies they need--and more!  They’re now in downsizing mode and, hopefully, de-cluttering their home.  So why would you want to buy them more stuff?

It’s time to think practically and to give gifts that will help to keep your Mom, Dad, favorite Aunt, or that special person you care for, safe and make life a little easier.  Here are four suggestions.

The Wheelchair-Friendly Bathroom

Most bathrooms were designed for people who are comfortably moving around on two feet.  But that’s changing.  In 1990 the American Disabilities Act (ADA) developed guidelines to accommodate physically challenged people in public facilities and businesses.  As more and more people decide to live out their lives at home, ADA bathroom rules are spilling over into residential design.

If you’re caring for someone who uses a wheelchair or you use a wheelchair yourself, keep these guidelines in mind when remodeling the bathroom.

Grab Bars: The Unsung Heroes

Grab bars. Do the words conjure up and image of cold, stainless steel bars braced on the walls of public bathrooms with a large handicapped sign adorning the door?

Is this what gives them a bad image?  Is this why seniors who just need a little help to remain safely in their bathrooms fail to install them?

Probably.  Who wants something ugly in their bathroom that shouts ‘handicapped’?  Vanity triumphs over safety.  Here’s why and where seniors need grab bars, and how you can make them fit into the bathroom decor.

Top Products to make a Long Life at Home Easier: The Bath Lift

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the majority of senior citizens have a disability.  So it’s challenging for many of them to take a bath.  This difficulty stems from neurological, orthopedic, and medical conditions.  It could be that arthritis has taken its toll on an elderly person’s hips and knees.  Maybe they’ve had a stroke and it’s not as easy as it once was to balance or coordinate movements.  Or perhaps motor skills have been impaired a condition such as multiple sclerosis. 

As a professional caregiver or occupational therapist you’re likely to recommend bath aids in these situations so a senior can continue to take care of their hygiene needs as independently as possible.

Elder Hygiene: Avoiding a Stinky Situation

As people age, good hygiene is no longer a given.  When our health is good we get up in the morning, shower, shave, brush our teeth and put on makeup.  But many seniors can’t conquer these tasks easily.

Why are these simple daily routines transformed into the daily grind?

Top Products to Make a Long Life at Home Easier: Tub Cuts

The hunt continues for the top products to keep seniors living happy, healthy lives at home. 

To understand why I think today’s featured product is among the best, I want you to imagine it’s a steamy August day. You’re hot and sticky and ready to cool off in a refreshing shower. But you can’t. There’s a barricade between you and the shower. 

Or think about one of those days when your muscles are in knots and your bones feel creaky.  You long for a soothing, hot bath, but access is impossible.

This is how some seniors feel when they want to take a bath or shower. The side of the bath, while less than two-feet high, becomes a formidable barrier. And it’s something they absolutely should be concerned about because, as I’ve said before, almost 22 million injuries occur in the bathroom each year, and getting in and out of the bath tub is one of the most hazardous activities.

Walk In Tub One of the Top Products to Make Long Life at Home Easier

In my last blog post in this series I told you about my quest to help people live long, healthy lives at home.  So I’m always looking for products that help them live happily and safely in their homes. Last time I talked about the portable shower. 

Another product that’s on the top of my list, and should be included in any bathroom remodeling project for senior citizens who want to live a long life at home, is the Jacuzzi walk in bath tub.  Not only does the walk in bath tub provide a warm, relaxing, and luxurious in-home spa experience, but it’s also safe, accessible, therapeutic, and health-promoting.