The right tools can make everyday life at home easier for older adults without taking away their independence. During my decade as a caregiver for both of my parents, I scoured the internet for the most useful products that would make their life easier.
Sometimes the solution is simple: clothing that's easier to put on, a tool that eliminates the need to bend toward the floor or better lighting for nighttime trips to the bathroom. Other needs may require more specialized equipment or help from a caregiver or healthcare professional.
If you're looking for useful things to help a senior at home, start with the activities that are becoming difficult. Dressing, bathing, reaching, preparing meals and managing everyday routines are all good places to look for small changes that can make a meaningful difference.
Here are 10 practical products and daily living aids to consider.
1. Adaptive Clothing
Getting dressed is something most of us do without thinking about it—until buttons, zippers, bending or lifting the legs become difficult.
Adaptive clothing changes how garments open and close so the person wearing them doesn't have to work as hard to get dressed.
Depending on the garment, helpful features may include:
- Magnetic closures: These can replace traditional shirt buttons for people who have difficulty manipulating small fasteners.
- Side zippers: Pants that open along the sides can make seated dressing easier for someone with limited lower-body mobility.
- Stretch waistbands: Flexible waistbands can eliminate belts and rigid closures.
- Easy-access designs: Some garments are designed to make caregiver-assisted dressing simpler.
Joe & Bella's adaptive clothing for seniors is designed to make dressing easier while still looking like traditional everyday clothing.
For someone who wants to continue getting dressed independently, changing the clothing may be easier than adding another dressing tool.
2. Gripper Socks
Smooth floors can be difficult to navigate in ordinary socks.
Gripper socks add traction to the bottom of the foot while retaining the comfort and ease of wearing socks around the house.
They're particularly useful for an older adult who prefers not to wear shoes indoors.
When choosing gripper socks, look for:
- Grips that cover a meaningful portion of the sole.
- A comfortable fit that doesn't bunch around the foot.
- An opening that's easy to get over the heel.
- Soft, comfortable materials for extended wear.
Joe & Bella's gripper socks are designed for everyday wear and combine an easy-on design with grippers on the soles.
Gripper socks are only one part of home safety. Someone with balance or mobility concerns should follow recommendations from their healthcare provider regarding appropriate footwear and mobility support.
3. A Reacher or Grabber Tool
A dropped remote or item on a high shelf can become surprisingly difficult to retrieve when bending, stretching or balance is limited.
A long-handled reacher lets someone grab lightweight objects without reaching all the way toward the floor or stretching overhead.
They can be useful around the home for:
- Picking up dropped clothing.
- Reaching items on shelves.
- Retrieving lightweight objects from behind furniture.
- Moving small household items without bending.
Look for a lightweight model with a comfortable trigger and a grip that doesn't require significant hand strength.
A reacher may also be useful as part of a dressing routine for someone who has difficulty reaching their feet.
4. Bathroom Safety Aids
Bathing and toileting can become more difficult when balance, strength or lower-body mobility changes.
Depending on the person's needs and bathroom layout, useful products may include:
- Grab bars.
- Shower chairs.
- Tub transfer benches.
- Raised toilet seats.
- Handheld showerheads.
- Nonslip surfaces in wet areas.
The National Institute on Aging recommends grab bars near toilets and tubs or showers, along with nonslip surfaces in areas that may become wet.
For larger modifications or significant mobility limitations, consider asking an occupational therapist or other healthcare professional to evaluate the person's specific needs.
For a more complete room-by-room approach, read Joe & Bella's guide to making a home safer for seniors.
5. Night Lights and Motion-Activated Lighting
Sometimes one of the most useful home improvements isn't a specialized senior product at all.
Better lighting can make hallways, stairs, bathrooms and bedrooms easier to navigate.
Consider adding:
- Night lights between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Motion-activated lights in hallways.
- Brighter bulbs in poorly lit rooms.
- Bedside lamps that are easy to reach.
- Lighting at both the top and bottom of stairs.
The National Institute on Aging and CDC both include improved lighting among their recommendations for making homes safer for older adults.
Motion-activated lighting can be especially convenient because the person doesn't have to find a switch while walking through a dark room.
6. Long-Handled Dressing and Grooming Tools
Some everyday routines become harder simply because they require reaching toward the feet or behind the body.
Long-handled tools can extend reach without requiring as much bending.
Depending on the person's needs, useful options might include:
- Long-handled shoehorns.
- Sock aids.
- Dressing sticks.
- Long-handled bath sponges.
- Easy-grip grooming tools.
These products can be particularly helpful during recovery from surgery or for someone whose range of motion is limited.
The right tool depends on the specific task the person is struggling with, so start by identifying the problem rather than buying a collection of aids they may never use.
7. Pill Organizers and Medication Reminders
Managing several medications can become complicated, particularly when prescriptions need to be taken at different times.
A pill organizer can make the schedule easier to see at a glance.
Options range from simple weekly boxes to organizers that separate morning, afternoon and evening medications. Electronic reminders and alarms are also available for people who want additional prompts.
Medication organizers should support an existing medication plan—not replace instructions from a physician or pharmacist.
If there's uncertainty about when or how a medication should be taken, check with the prescribing healthcare professional or pharmacist rather than relying on the organizer itself.
8. Voice-Activated Smart Home Devices
Voice-controlled devices can remove some of the physical steps involved in everyday tasks.
Depending on the person's home and technology comfort level, compatible devices may allow them to:
- Turn lights on and off.
- Set timers and reminders.
- Play music.
- Make lists.
- Call or message family members.
- Control certain thermostats, televisions or other connected devices.
A smart speaker can be particularly useful for someone who finds walking across the room or manipulating small controls difficult.
But technology should make life simpler, not more frustrating.
If you're setting up a smart-home device for an older family member, configure it for them and show them a few useful commands rather than expecting them to learn the entire system at once.
9. Easy-Grip Kitchen Tools
Cooking and preparing food can become harder when grip strength or hand dexterity changes.
Rather than redesigning the entire kitchen, start with the tasks the person finds most frustrating.
Useful products may include:
- Easy-grip utensils.
- Jar and bottle openers.
- Lightweight cookware.
- Nonslip cutting boards or mats.
- Ergonomic kitchen tools.
- Easy-to-hold cups or mugs.
Frequently used dishes, cookware and ingredients can also be moved to shelves that don't require excessive bending or reaching.
The goal is to keep familiar routines manageable rather than replacing everything with specialized equipment.
10. A Medical Alert or Emergency-Contact System
For an older adult who spends significant time at home alone, an emergency-contact system may provide an additional way to call for help.
Depending on the system, options can include:
- Wearable call buttons.
- Wall-mounted emergency buttons.
- Mobile alert devices.
- Smartwatches with emergency features.
- Home monitoring systems.
The appropriate option depends on the person's mobility, health needs, comfort with technology and whether they're likely to wear or use the device consistently.
A device only helps if the person is comfortable actually using it, so involve them in the decision whenever possible.
How to Choose Products That Actually Help a Senior at Home
Buying more equipment isn't always the solution.
Before purchasing something, ask:
What task is difficult?
Start with the activity rather than the product.
Is getting dressed frustrating? Is reaching the floor difficult? Is stepping into the shower uncomfortable? Is remembering a daily routine becoming challenging?
The clearer the problem, the easier it is to choose an appropriate solution.
Can the person use it independently?
A product intended to promote independence shouldn't introduce another task that requires caregiver help.
Consider:
- Hand strength.
- Range of motion.
- Vision.
- Balance.
- Mobility.
- Cognitive ability.
- Comfort with technology.
A simple solution is often better than a complicated one.
Does the person actually want it?
Include the older adult in the decision whenever possible.
Something that seems useful to a family member may feel unnecessary, unattractive or difficult to use to the person receiving it.
Maintaining independence also means maintaining choice.
Is professional guidance needed?
Products such as clothing, reachers or night lights can generally be selected based on preference and everyday needs.
Mobility aids, transfer equipment and significant home modifications may require more individualized guidance.
An occupational therapist can help evaluate how someone performs everyday activities at home and recommend adaptations based on their specific abilities and environment.
Making Everyday Life Easier at Home
Helping an older adult stay at home isn't about filling the house with products designed for “old people.”
It's about identifying the parts of everyday life that have become harder and finding thoughtful ways to make those tasks easier.
For one person, that might mean a grab bar in the shower. For another, it could be better lighting, a reacher or a voice-controlled device.
And sometimes the problem starts before someone even leaves the bedroom.
If getting dressed has become frustrating because of buttons, bending or limited mobility, Joe & Bella's adaptive clothing for seniors is designed to make dressing easier while preserving the look and style of traditional clothing.
Small changes that are matched to a person's actual needs can help them continue doing more for themselves—and make life at home easier for both older adults and the people who support them.
About the Author
Peter Zollo is the co-founder of Joe & Bella, the first contemporary adaptive apparel brand for older adults. He spent nearly a decade caring for and advocating for both of his parents; he led a family council at a senior-living community, providing leadership and a connection between families and staff. Peter has spoken at state and national levels on standards of care in assisted-living and memory-care communities.
You can read more from Peter. Here are some additional learnings he gained after caring for his parents in assisted living.