What are
/r/eldercare's
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From 3.5 billion Reddit comments
The most popular Products mentioned in /r/eldercare:
The most popular Services mentioned in /r/eldercare:
Flic
Nextdoor
FocusMe
JustWatch
WebMD
The most popular reviews in /r/eldercare:
I despise Amazon but https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0043RFKME will alert you if they try to get out of bed.
We had a crib sensor when my son was an infant. But my guess is that it's not prepared for the weight of an adult. Maybe borrow one and try it before you spend money on a crib sensor.
For a call button, I'd search for a remote doorbell.
What about something more rudimentary like a flashing doorbell? Your mom could use the button and the light would flash in your room.
Anpress 7 Color Lights Flash + Music Doorbell, Wireless Doorbell, The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Favorite, Music Can Be Changed https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UEFR6M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_A4RKSH80BV71Y3TPDMY8
Edit: sorry I see now that you want her to have something from her phone.
https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/anti-aging-science/20170404/super-ager-secrets
From research in the Blue Zones, places with high percentages of people who are independant into their 90s:
- A plant-based diet -- beans, whole grains, veggies
- Opportunities for natural movement, like walking, herding, and gardening
- Having a sense of purpose
- Belonging to a faith-based community
- Taking a daily nap or finding some other way to “downshift” daily
- Not overeating and not eating after sunset
From Alzheimers research at University of California at Irvine, on the habits of the "oldest old" who had maintained brain health:
- Took part in physical and nonphysical leisure activities
- Had an alcoholic drink or two each day
- Walking, higher brain volumes seen at 72 blocks per week
- Drank at least 1-2 cups of coffee daily
- Had a reading habit
I'll keep thinking, so sorry, this may help as well. This isn't a narrow item but something to think about for later. They do have standing help chairs/ recliners. like this
Homall Electric Power Lift Recliner Chair Sofa Home Recliner for Elderly Classic Lounge Chair Living Room Chair with Safety Motion Reclining (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084V31TJY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_glt_i_RNPXEYVZ35CADB5K26NG
my mom has had one for years.
This book explains how to get help paying for home health care for you or your loved one (its Florida specific):
I’ve used transfer disks with my mom and they work well. The standard disk I would only use when my mom was able to safely walk a few steps and there were grab bars around.
More recently I’ve used this successfully with my mom. As long as the patient can stand then this will work great.
https://www.amazon.com/Etac-57937-Turner-Transfer-Aid/dp/B07BHJFYBR/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_sp_1_0
I'm thinking about the ring doorbell. It has a motion sensor and can talk both ways.
We have a version of this product and it's easy to use, and it offers cloud storage for a fee, but you don't have to sign up for it (but could still use the camera). I think you could buy a couple of these and it would fit your needs:
I got this one for my elderly father 2 years ago, and it has been rock solid for him. He has to check his blood pressure each day due to his health conditions, and we've found this unit to be reliable and highly accurate.
This is what I use for my grandfather. We have alarms on all the doors and windows. It's been wonderful.
Feel free to ask any questions 😁
She is pretty unlikely to hurt herself cross stitching with shaky hands. Her aim might be bad, but not stab herself bad. Her project might not look great. If you are that concerned about it, you can get some blunt ended needles.
What about one of those mats that goes under her while she's sleeping? I have one on my mom's bed and her chair in the living room. The alarm only goes off if her weight isn't on it. I've attempted to link it below.
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RCYD69T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
If you feel the need for a smart phone, consider Bald Phone for Android, a launcher that radically streamlines the GUI. There may be something similar for iPhone; not sure. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bald.uriah.baldphone.gp
Ting, which is my carrier (subcontracts bandwidth from a handful of other bigger companies) always seems to offer at least one flip phone. https://tingmobile.com/shop. Reasonable rates, and their customer service is delightful (real people, smart people, no forking voice-menu hell). Downside for some: you buy the phone outright. Upside: they vet the phones they sell on their site and have fairly accurate reviews; you can bring some unlocked models of other phones as well.
We got my mom a cell phone adapter that has a plug for a land line phone. It works well.
I read about this on a Parkinson's caregivers' support board:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ITUBH0
(In the later stages, people with Parkinson's develop this distinctive, pervasive, kind of musky odor that has nothing to do with how clean they are.)
My person with Parkinson's doesn't live with us but I ordered it because we have dogs, we cook, the garbage gets smelly, etc. It's nontoxic so I just squirt it around in a spray bottle. So far, so good!
I have this CallToU Wireless Alert Button for my mom. It is VERY loud and works great for waking me up when I'm dead asleep, in a room different from where the receiver is located, or if I don't answer my phone, when she needs help. I have one call button positioned by her bed and a second in the bathroom. The only downside with it is that the receiver plugs into an outlet and if there's a power blip, it will alert when the power starts back and make me think there's an issue, so I run over to help my mother and she's absolutely fine.
Idk how hard of hearing your dad is but this is what I use and it is LOUD.
LIOTOIN Wireless Caregiver Pager Call Button Nurse Alert System Call Bell for Home/Elderly/Patients/Disabled 3 Transmitters 3 Plugin Receivers (600+ft Operating Range) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083XPDPNR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_C5C6JS72XVWMYSD7BEVJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I have the opposite problem of your dad in which I am very sensitive to noise, but this thing is LOUD. I can easily hear it from downstairs whenever my dad presses the button. Put two of these things in your dad’s room and he will wake up for sure.
If she can remember to take meds, you might try "silicone eye cups," or "silicone eye wash cups." (Amazon, Ebay; for image see https://www.amazon.com/Gdeal-Silicone-Refresh-Clean-Tired/dp/B07F8N5WHQ/)
They're white, but squishy—so easy to grab, pills stay in the cup, not slippery, easy to pick up and flip into the palm of your hand. I use them for my own meds. Big enough for a bunch of meds, including a few that are pretty large size. I fill up 10 days' worth at a time, line them up, and grab one each morning. For timing, you could set them on a tray with calendar dates labeled, in a place she passes every day. That way she can see whether or not she's taken the pills.
It doesn't track the meds, doesn't do refills, but also is hella cheaper, no subscription, no data tracking. Hero has an app which reminds you to take pills—but you can rig up smart phone alarms to do that if an app has to be involved.
It's hard to find soft enough wash cloths sometimes, and I just want to tag along here to say I found these on Amazon for my grandmother and they are very very soft. I couldn't find the right ones in the baby department at the big box store.
16 Pack Baby Washcloths - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DN1KTRH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_33164FS25MQC2672D9F5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hi - [https://www.amazon.com/PAYRFV-Wheelchair-Portable-Transport-Disabled/dp/B096XZHHGX]here is a link(PAYRFV Wheelchair Portable Transport). It is primarily going to be used for getting her from her bed to the shower.
Hi there!
Is your senior resource guide about a particular part of Florida? My mother is in Delray Beach just south of West Palm Beach. We are starting to look for in-home caregivers since I and my brothers don't live in Florida. I will look at the websites you have for Geriatric Managers. It is tempting to pay for someone else to figure this stuff out - especially because me and my brothers all disagree on how to best help my mother.
Any FL agencies to recommend to call about hiring someone? I have asked for local recommendations on NextDoor.com but no luck and nothing on Craigslist either.
Thanks and I will be checking out your podcast!
Check out https://flic.io/ you can pair the button directly to your phone and as long as you are within Bluetooth range you can make it play a sound (or many other options like a echo routine or whatnot)
As far as connecting directly from phone to phone, I've looked into that in the past and for iPhones/iOS I hadn't found anything that really worked.
This spring lift commode seat might help. It can be installed over a toilet or standalone.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E85GTM/
There are also power lift seats available
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-ACCESS-TILT-Toilet-Incline-Standard/dp/B01N6HLLZ9/
I use these for my wife. They are pull up / pull down. I like them better than the tab sided ones because I find them easier to get them on and off her.
Maybe this? It's not the same, but it might do the job. https://www.amazon.com/Rollator-Adjustable-Handicap-Aluminum-Transport/dp/B07X75VYWV/ref=sr_1_262?dchild=1&keywords=transfer+chair&qid=1620692392&sr=8-262
Or a regular wheelchair might work as well.
I don't know if this one would work as to visuals, but it is battery operated.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007KDX6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 These plug in so not battery operated. But I've had one for a few years and it has held up well and picks up radio stations well.
loom knitting or loom weaving with loops like this https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002EDNZD0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_7CLcGb1XQ8SY7 .
I've done the loom knitting. It's nice as you don't have to count stitches, unless you do a complicated pattern. Knitting a scarf a pretty easy.
I haven't done the loom weaving.
It... was not. Not only did it arrive damaged, but the radio tuner was digital despite having a tuning knob (it would "click" through only a handfull of stations and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to change that). On top of that, the annoying light display on the front could be turned off... but only temporarily, re-asserting itself every time you changed modes.
I'm trying this one next, but it hasn't arrived yet.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDC5QLK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_1jhgOSWP7jbvv
I bought my grandma this. 2 knobs, takes batteries. She can hold it in her lap and change stations or turn it off. She loves classical music.
Great idea! Another alternative could be a motion-sensing plug-light in the bedroom, hall and bathroom. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C634M98/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_2fSkFbFNXG6MS
I use resolve spray for pet stains Squirt it on there, blot up with a damp rag, no smell no mark.
They make incontenence briefs that look like real briefs if that would help.
A physical or occupational therapist will be able to design a plan specific to her situation and is always the safest way to go! I’ve seen this many times before, rocking chairs, low chairs and soft chairs can become challenging. There are many stand assist devices that would support her to independently stand up, I attached a link to one example below. At any rate it’s a common challenge and a therapist would certainly be able to support this with you.
https://www.amazon.ca/Able-Life-Universal-Stand-Assist/dp/B00I45JJRS