On the 11th of April every year we have World Parkinson’s Day. It is a day to help raise awareness of Parkinson’s because living with it is tougher than people think. Currently, 145,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson’s and it is the fastest neurodegenerative condition in the world.
In the past we have written more about the disease to help raise awareness and better the understanding around it. This week we would like to focus in on the daily living aids that can be used to help make your life or someone you know who is living with Parkinson’s safer, easier and keep them independent for longer at home.
We’ve reached out to a few of our own customers for their recommendations, so let us know what you think and if you have any you would like to share please feel free to comment under this blog or email our team here.
4 Daily Living Aids to Help Those Living with Parkinson’s
Kitchen Aids
There are many kitchen aids on the market to help keep anyone with limited strength, mobility and dexterity more independent at home for longer. Some of the best kitchen aids out there to help those living with Parkinson’s are:
- Uccello Kettle
The title to pour action of the Uccello Kettle means that there is no risk of burns or scalds with the shaking hands/tremors that come with Parkinson’s. The tapered spout of the kettle means that the water is directed to one spot (your cup) and will always hit its mark with no splashing.
The weighted cable of the kettle brings the kettle back to its original position so you don’t have to worry about the kettle constantly pouring if you experience a tremor or shake and happen to let go.
- Weighted utensils
A resting tremor can make holding and using utensils difficult and messy when moving from plate to mouth. Weighted utensils are designed to stay steady despite shaking hands which means you don’t have to worry about spills or messes and can enjoy your food comfortably.
Bedroom Aids
With the tremor and stiffness in the hands and feet, getting in and out of bed as well as getting dressed for bed can be a herculean task. That is why many of our customers have recommended investing in a par of satin or silk pyjamas. They make it easier to slide into and out of the bed. You can get some with elasticated waists too for easy dressing.
Brands like the Able Label have pyjamas with Velcro buttons to make life even easier for you so you don’t have to fuss with awkward small buttons.
Walking Aids
We are all different shapes, heights and sizes and there is nothing wrong with that. For many a walker helps them move freely around the home or out and about. For those who are taller this can cause you hunch over to use it. One of our creative customers recommended trying sky poles or a hiking poles if a walker or walking stick is too short. We think it’s genius and well worth a try.
Tech Aids
We live in the information age where technology allows us to find anything we need at our fingertips. However, with Parkinson’s the small screens or tabs on keyboards can make life harder to use them. Luckily there are keyboards with larger keys. There are some you can even connect to your phone or tablet. This can make using tech even easier for you and you can keep connected.
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