Top Ten Daily Aids for Parkinson’s Disease

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Introduction     |    Bathroom Safety     |    Emergency Alarms      |    Aided Walking      |     Aids for Basic Activities

Parkinson's disease can be classified as a neurological disorder that involves tremors, stiffness, slow movement, improper gait, and imbalance. A person suffering from Parkinson's finds it very difficult to manage daily life activities such as eating, drinking, washing, showering, using the toilet, etc. But the advent of technology has come to the aid of the patient, allowing them to complete these activities with a minimal amount of discomfort. These aids help in daily activities by providing the necessary support to execute them with ease and without harming or putting the patient in danger.

Bathroom Safety

The place where a patient is the most vulnerable in the house is the bathroom. Slippery surfaces and hard surroundings increase the chances of accidents. Using bathroom aids and appliances can improve the situation by eliminating the chances of falls, and also increasing the ease with which the patient can use the bathroom.

1. Grab Rails

Every time a person stumbles while walking, they look for something to hold on to and regain their balance. The same holds true for patients suffering from Parkinson's. Many a time, tremors and an imbalanced gait can result in a sudden stumble or fall, and hence grab rails installed in the right parts of the bathroom can aid the user and help them stabilize themselves.

2. Slip Resistant Aids

As mentioned earlier, one of the major risks for a patient suffering from Parkinson's is the slippery surface of the bathroom. There are a number of aids one can use that increase the friction thus reducing the chances of slipping and getting injured.

Emergency Alarms

3. Alarm Clocks

An alarm clock can be a handy aid for people with Parkinson's, not just for waking up in the morning but for a number of other activities as well. You can set an alarm for taking medicines on time, eating food, using the bathroom, and many more such basic activities. There are alarms where you can set multiple times and also save the instruction along with it

 

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

  • Designed for those who are deep-sleepers or who cannot hear the alarm
  • Built-in red flashing alert lights
  • 9V battery backup maintains time and alarm setting in the event of power failure (battery not included)
  • Dual power capability: 110 volts and 220 volts (requires optional transformer)
  • User selectable snooze time 1 to 30 minutes
  • User-selectable alarm duration from 1 to 59 minutes
  • New green power technology now uses 60% less energy
  • Dual time: 12 or 24 hour
  • Powerful 12V bed shaker
  • 113 decibels extra loud audio alarm with adjustable tone and volume control

4. Signaling Devices

Many a time, the caregiver has to know where and when the patient is and signaling devices such as motion sensors and weighted alarms can help in assisting them. These devices can be used by the patient to even call the caregiver or someone in the house when they are in danger. They are usually installed near doors and near the bed and help in alerting the caregiver about the movements and needs of the patient.

Bellman Visit Bed Shaker
Bellman Visit Bed Shaker

Bellman Visit Bed Shaker

Bellman Visit Bed Shaker is a vibrator for indoor use that is placed in the bed to attract the attention of the user via vibrations. It vibrates when instructed to do so by the unit to which it is connected. It can be used to put under the pillow and alerts during sleep by clear vibrations for all the various calls and alarms.

Aided Walking

5. Canes and Crutches

Walking around the house and also outdoors may require support in the case of Parkinson's. Imbalanced gait is a major problem faced by patients and hence using a cane or in some rare cases, a crutch can help the patient walk freely. These canes have an ergonomic design and are made for a smooth walking experience. These canes come with many features and so you can choose the one that fits your needs the best.

6. Walking Boots

Walking boots are majorly an orthopedic option but can be used by patients who have a severe problem with managing their gait and often tend to get injured while walking normally. These shoes stabilize the lower part of the foot and help the user walk easily around without damaging the foot

Ovation Medical Gen 2 Short Walker
Ovation Medical Gen 2 Short Walker

Ovation Medical Gen 2 Short Walker

  • Engineered to secure lower extremity
  • Anatomical rigor
  • Dynamic construction
  • Fluid and effective gait pattern
  • Intuitive edge-less sole
  • Pneumatic compression
  • Contoured struts are flared to fit the extremes of patient anatomy

Aids for Basic Activities

7. Leg Lifters

Many a time, weakness in the upper body or the inability to bend causes the patient discomfort while getting in and out of bed and also while moving around in the bed itself. Leg lifters help the patient lift their legs and lower their legs with ease without causing any discomfort and reducing the chances of getting injured to near nil. They are not very expensive and are very easy to use.

Calf-Based Toe Lifter
Calf-Based Toe Lifter

Calf-Based Toe Lifter

It is a toe lifter orthosis designed for individuals with foot drop. This ankle and foot positioning toe lifter is the perfect device to help maintain a neutral foot position. This is to use a one-handed application that includes easy hook and loop closures. It keeps the foot and ankle in the desired position that the user needs for comfort and support.

8. Dressing Aids

Tremors and weak grip can result in the inability to dress oneself up. Whether its wearing socks or buttoning your shirt, it becomes a tedious task. Dressing aids can help in easing the activity of wearing clothes. This includes the use of sock aids, buttoning aids, shoehorns, shoelace fasteners, etc.

Achieva Sock-eez Sock Aid
Achieva Sock-EEZ Sock Aid

9. Dining Aids

Utensils

One of the major issues faced by a person with Parkinson's is the difficulty to eat without dropping the food or getting the food off the plate. A weak grip, weakness in the forearm, and tremors can all result in the inability to eat easily. Especially made utensils can come in handy in such utensils. Spoons and forks made with special grips, with the ability to bend, with added weight for stability, or curved in shape can help in easy eating. Some come with a soft grip and some have a strong grip.

Comfort Grip Curved Utensils
Comfort Grip Curved Utensils

10. Drinking Aids

Another problem faced by people with Parkinson's is the difficulty faced while drinking liquids. Since they are more vulnerable to spilling or falling, the stability of the user is very necessary. Specially designed cups and glasses can help in such situations. They are made to be spill-proof, and some come with special grips to make sure that the user can hold them and use them stably.

Ark Therapeutic Cip-Kup Assembly
Ark Therapeutic Cip-Kup Assembly

 

Where can I get Living Aids for Parkinson's Disease?

There are a number of other aids that can also help in daily living with Parkinson's Disease. At Rehab Store we carry a number of products that can be very helpful to them and can help in making their lives easier and more comfortable. Place your order today and get exclusive discounts. 


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