Day-to-day tasks can be a struggle when you’re living with a disability. Whether you’re a wheelchair user, have arthritis or require full-time care, there are plenty of living aids that can take the pressure off home life, and give you better tools to enjoy the everyday.
At Karma Mobility, we want to make this happen, which is why we’ve collected a list of equipment and gadgets recommended by the NHS to make your daily living easier.
Grab Rails
Grab rails can be attached at any point in the home where you feel you need added support. The most common places for grab rails are the bathroom – for the toilet, shower and bath – and beside the bed.
Grab rails are used by wheelchair users to boost themselves out of their chair, and by those with limited mobility in their legs as extra support if they need to stand for a long time.
Some people can find it difficult to adjust to needing grab rails, but they will provide incredible amounts of support around your home, allow you to do basic tasks with much more ease, and hopefully make you feel more independent.
Don’t feel like you only need to install them in the obvious places, either. Anywhere that you feel you need additional support with standing or moving is the right place for a grab rail.
Toilet Aid
To add mobility aid to your toilet, the NHS recommends installing:
- Grab rails.
- Raised toilet.
- Push button rather than a lever.
Each of these household gadgets make going to the toilet with limited mobility easier.
For more advice and guidance on disability aid for your bathroom, take a look at our blog: How to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible.
Reclining Chair
Reclining features make life immeasurably comfortable for wheelchair users. By allowing you to lie back, you’ll be able to find a leisure position that suits you, and remove some of the pressure from your buttocks.
This can likewise help reduce the chances of pressure injuries.
Reclining features can be found in both armchairs and wheelchairs:
- Armchairs: Mobility Smart have a wide range of Rise & Recline chairs that are designed with disability aid in mind. Each chair comes with a built in remote control so that you don’t need to faff around with fiddly buttons that can be difficult to reach with limited mobility.
- Wheelchairs: Positioning Wheelchairs allow you to recline wherever you are, making them the perfect chair for those with back pain/injuries
Kitchen Aid
The NHS recommends looking for the following gadgets to make your kitchen easier in daily life:
- Comfort grip cutlery.
- Easy to grip jugs or graters.
- Cups with 2 handles.
These are all fantastic tools to help with the little things, but we also recommend looking for:
- Disability food preparation boards: These come with built in gadgets to specifically allow food preparation with one hand
- Twister can openers/can keys: To assist in opening canned goods with limited mobility. You can also find these for bottle caps.
- Anti-slip trays.
- Angled cutlery: Which is ideal for those who struggle with weak or painful grip.
- Perching stalls: If you need to sit down when preparing food.
- Scoop dishes: These are bowls that are taller at the back and shorter at the front, designed to help those who can only eat using one hand.
Kettle tipper
Kettle tippers make pouring hot water from a kettle far easier for those with weak grip or minimal mobility or strength in their hands. These nifty gadgets can be used with most types of kettle and consist of a wire or plastic frame that cradles your kettle.
They hold the full weight of your kettle for you, enabling you to tilt your kettle and pour water directly into your cup without lifting it. This takes the strain off your hands, fingers and wrists and is a fantastic companion to aid in making your everyday brew.
Intercoms
If you require the assistance of a carer to carry out day-to-day activities then installing intercom systems throughout the house can give you the tools to ask for help when you need it.
This will allow you to remain in a room by yourself without care, and give your carer peace of mind to give you some space and trust that you’re safe.
Stairlift
If you live in a home with stairs and have limited mobility in your legs, then it is recommended that you have a stairlift installed. If you’re living with a disability, then you’ll know that having stairs in your house is one of the biggest inconveniences possible.
But, by installing a stairlift, you’ll be able to remove this obstacle from daily life and transport between floors with ease.
Take a look at our blog, Choosing the Right Stairlift For Your Home to discover which stairlift is right for your needs, and how to pay for it.
Walking Aids
Even if you only use a wheelchair sporadically or not at all, you may still require mobility aid when walking.
That’s why the NHS recommends investing in a walking stick or walking frame to help relieve the pressure and pain from your body when you’re walking around your home or out and about.
- Walking Stick: You can borrow a walking stick from the NHS by speaking to a GP, physiotherapist or hospital staff. They can also be bought online or from mobility shops. Make sure it is the right height for you and is either right or left handed, depending on your preference.
- Walking frame: Walking frames provide more support than walking sticks and allow you to rest your full body weight forward if needed. You will need to make sure you can lift your frame without assistance, that it’s the right height for you, whether you need wheels for days out and if it’s foldable and comes with a seat attached.
Disabled Facilities Grant
If you need to make changes to your home to accommodate daily living with a disability, then you could be eligible for Disabled Facilities Grant.
You could access:
- £30,000 if you live in England
- £36,000 if you live in Wales
- £25,000 if you live in Northern Ireland
For more information and guidance on daily living aids from the Karma community, follow Karma Mobility on social media.