Life Hacks is described as “…any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life.” (Wikipedia)
There are many different ways that tasks and activities can be made to be safer and easier for senior citizens in their own home.
The important thing for senior adults and family members to remember is that the hack be easy to use.
Here is our list of recommendations!
31 Life Hacks For Older Adults
Below are 28 general recommendations and lots of products that can help to improve the quality of life for many older adults and help to make everyday tasks easier and safer.
A little tip can go a long way to give you some peace of mind!
A note for family members and close friends – many of the products we recommend below can make for a great gift!
1. Motion Sensor Lights
Installing motion-sensor lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms can help prevent falls during the night and make it easier to navigate the house in the dark.
2. Reaching For Items
Use a Lazy Susan turntable in your cabinets and refrigerator to make it easier and safer to reach for things.
Use a Reacher (aka Grabber) to get items that are too high or on the ground.
3. Making Furniture Senior Friendly
Use Corner Guards on any furniture with sharp corners.
Another option is to use Moldable Glue (putty) to soften those corners.
4. Cheap Bed Bolsters
Use jumbo pool noodles placed underneath the fitted sheets to help the person in bed from rolling over and falling out of bed.
5. An Easier Way To Use A Straw To Drink
If you use a straw to drink your liquids, here are some easy ways that you can keep that straw in place.
- Use straw cups for your drinks – there’s a huge variety available
- If drinking out of a pop top can – turn the pop tab around so it’s over the open hole and place the straw inside the pop tab.
- Add a straw clip to your glass which can hold the straw in place nicely.
- Use Glad’s Press’n Seal to cover your glass. Then puncture a small hole in the top to put the straw through.
- Instead of using glassware – use Glass Mason Jars that have a hole in the lids for straws. Or, if you are handy you can drill a hole in your own Mason Jar lids!
6. Holding Glassware
If holding a glass is difficult you can place rubber bands around the glass to make it less slippery.
Or, another good option is to purchase any of these silicone sleeves for your glasses.
7. Switch To Elastic Shoelaces
Turn any lace-up shoe into a slip-on, making it easier to put on and take off your shoes without having to tie laces.
8. Feeling May Be Better Than Seeing
Raised stickers work great for older adults who may have vision problems or have trouble feeling the small buttons on a remote control device or phone, etc.
In addition – if it makes sense you can paint these stickers with a bright colored nail polish.
9. Getting A Better Grip
If holding smaller objects like pens or toothbrushes is difficult – wrapping rubber bands around the handle may also help.
Another good thing would be to purchase these Foam Grips which may be a bit more comfortable.
10. A Little Shower Safety
If you use a bar of soap in the bath or shower then you probably know how easy it is for that to slip out of your hands which then forces you to bend over to retrieve it.
This can result in a fall and injury so try any of the following:
- Put the bar of soap in the foot of panty hose. Cut the panty hose so that it’s knotted and manageable.
- But I would recommend to use liquid soap instead and place that in a wall mounted dispenser.
- You can use any of the Soap on a Rope products available.
- Of course – we strongly recommend grab bars in your shower and bathtub area.
11. For Button Wearers
If you have a tough time manipulating buttons on a daily basis then I would recommend purchasing a button hook.
The good news is that you can also make your own button hook by attaching a paper clip or bent wire to a cork or other object.
Here are some ideas for you. And here’s a video showing you how button hooks are used.
12. Pills, Pills And More Pills
Remembering what to take and when can be difficult for some so here are some hacks to help.
- Any product with compartments like an egg carton can be used to store and separate medications.
- Pill organizers are great, especially if you travel and need your medications with you.
- Amazon’s Pill Pack program does all the hard work for you.
13. Cleaning Duties
Getting down on your knees to clean a bathtub can be difficult for most anyone – but especially for older adults.
- Use a clean mop or a clean broom to clean the bathtub and baseboards.
- Or purchase the Simple Scrub Mop that is designed for this job
Use Scrub Free Bathroom Cleaner on the area first. This cuts through the grime and leaves you without having to scrub hard.
14. Senior Computer Nerds
A large print keyboard, Boogiio Large Print Computer Keyboard with the yellow keys and black letters is great for seniors with vision problems.
A large print password book can come in handy, too.
15. A Few Smartphone Camera Tricks
Here are some ways you can improve your daily life with your smartphone camera.
- Use the camera on your smartphone to take a photo of your parking spot and/or nearby landmark to help remind you where you parked your car
- If and when you lend something to someone – take a photo of them holding that something so that you can remember who you lent it to
- If you have to use a username/password on another computer – take a photo of that written information so you don’t have to re-write it again
- If you’re watching a commercial for something that you are interested in – take a photo of the commercial to remind you to look for it when you go to the store or when you are ready to order it online
- Take a photo of your medications, vitamins and supplements to show your doctor when you go for your annual physical. Also works when you are picking up some medication at the pharmacy.
16. Car Safety
Keep your hands from getting scalded from the summer heat that builds up in a parked car.
- Use a drink Coozie like these to put over your shift to keep the sun off of it.
- Place a towel over the steering wheel to protect it from the sun (even if you use a car window shield the wheel can still get very hot)
- Or you can purchase a steering wheel cover like these glow in the dark ones from Kafeek
- Check out the large variety of products that you can use to keep your skin intact and safe from the burning heat and also to keep the car cooler
17. Tricks To Make Items More Visible
Bright red nail polish is perfect to use on anything that you may have trouble seeing or feeling.
Things like…
- Smart phone
- Remote control
- Computer keyboard
- Computer mouse
- Small bottles of spices
- Small bottles of medication
18. Weak Hands
If your hands don’t have the strength they used to – and you have trouble squeezing lemons and limes – use a kitchen tong like this one to do the job.
19. Night Time Driving
Keep your headlights clean and bright may help you drive safer at night.
You can easily clean them by rubbing toothpaste on them and then buffing it off.
Try anti-glare eye glasses to make night driving safer.
20. Struggling To Open Jars
Two products to help you open jars are – the Hamilton Beach Automatic Jar Opener and the Black and Decker Jar Opener.
Here’s a video of my mom-in-law when she was 98 years old using her Black and Decker!
21. Hunting For The Television Remote
If you’re always searching for your television remote(s) – here are a couple of things you can do:
- Attach Velcro to your remote(s) and to an end table or coffee table that is conveniently located to your seating area.
- Purchase any of these great remote organizers
22. Lost And Found
I am forever losing my keys – but then I got these wonderful Item Locators by Tile Pro and life has been a bit easier!
It coordinates with an app on your smartphone to basically GPS where your keys are!
23. Which Key Goes To What?
If you have multiple keys on your key chain and you sometimes get them mixed up – you can color code them with nail polish and also color code where they go as well.
24. Keep Your Car Doors Dent Free (or at least try)
If your garage isn’t as wide as you would like it to be and you keep hitting your car door against your garage wall – then why not cut a large pool noodle in half, attach it to your wall to act as a bumper.
25. Don’t Trip Over Cords
Keep extension cords tucked away with a Floor Cord Management Kit.
26. For The Love Of Our Pets
If reaching down to the ground is too difficult for you or it simply throws you off balance – be safe and either raise your pet’s food and water bowls up (if they can still reach them safely and comfortably) or use the ReachaBowl Pet Feeder.
27. A Little Help From Your Pharmacist
Did you know that you can ask your pharmacist to NOT use childproof caps on your medication bottles?
Of course – this is only recommended if you do not have children in your home.
28. Making Zippers Senior Friendly
Put a key ring on your zipper – this should make it easier for you to pull your zipper up and down.
29. Trips To The Grocery Store
If getting to the grocery store (or anywhere) is difficult because of the weather or anything else, then consider ordering your items online and having them delivered.
30. Cell Phone Apps
There are many wonderful apps that seniors can use to make their lives easier and safer.
31. Carrying Items
Carrying items while using a walker or a cane or having a weakened hand grip can make this simple task difficult and sometimes dangerous.
Any of the following products can help.
- Walker trays – there are a variety of trays and pockets that can help older adults carry items throughout the house.
- Fanny packs – years ago the fanny pack became a part of our lives and it’s still around. It’s a great way to carry your keys, cell phone, small pad, pencil, etc.
- Aprons – wearing an apron with pockets is also another excellent way to carry small items, tools, etc. throughout the house.
