People with Parkinson’s Disease can find that life is inhibited in so many ways, as things that were once easy can become difficult chores.
However, this is the modern age. Modern technology means that life can be a lot easier for people suffering with Parkinson’s. There are some simple, inexpensive, everyday gadgets that can make staying at home and retaining your independence a lot easier.
Not sure what they are? We’ve rounded them up below.
Weighted utensils
When you have Parkinson’s, there are certain things that become immensely more difficult. The one that occurs most of all is eating. Eating can start to feel more like a chore than something enjoyable.
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Whenever we eat, we actually use a lot more fine motor skills than we realise. The way that we hold our utensils, at such a fine and steady angle, is a feat that is next to impossible when you have Parkinson’s.
However, there is an answer to this. Weighted utensils help people with Parkinson’s eat a lot easier. The heaviness of the utensil prevents the hand from shaking so badly, making mealtimes a lot easier.
Keep warm dish
The other thing to consider when eating with Parkinson’s is how long mealtimes can take. Often, this can lead to frustration, as food gets colder as a result of having to be more meticulous with your movements.
However, there are Keep Warm dishes available, which do exactly what they say on the tin. Any food that goes in the central chamber is kept warm, meaning that mealtimes just became a whole lot better.
Stand mixer
If you know someone with Parkinson’s who loves to cook or bake (or both!) then a stand mixer is a useful gadget for them. Not only does it make cooking and baking a whole lot easier, it also means that they won’t have to suffer from cramping in their hands while mixing.
Electric tin opener
Another key gadget for the kitchen is an electric tin opener. Traditional tin openers are very fiddly and require quite a lot of manual power behind them – power that people with Parkinson’s just don’t have. An electric tin opener takes this out of the equation, making the whole process a lot easier.
While we’re on the topic of electric openers, an electric wine bottle opener is also a very handy gadget for someone with Parkinson’s – taking all the stress out of opening a bottle of wine.
Long handled bath sponge
When you have Parkinson’s, mobility can be impaired quite heavily and even showering can become a chore. But it doesn’t have to be. Long handled bath sponges can be good for getting those hard to reach places while showering, e.g. back, legs, feet. Combine one of these with a walk-in shower and you’re all set!
Tablet
A tablet is a great idea for someone with Parkinson’s, especially as a birthday or Christmas present. The tablet can give you or your loved access to a whole range of things to do. Social media becomes more accessible, as do memory-boosting games and puzzles.
If you’re thinking of getting one for someone you know with Parkinson’s, try and preload it with some apps for them. The top one we would recommend is Dragon. This app allows them to verbally dictate any messages that they need to, so there’s no more fiddling with buttons on the tablet.
That’s about it for our most recommended gadgets. Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments below.