ADL Product Essentials

ADL Product Essentials

Activities of Daily Living

Finally going home—it’s exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Up until now you’ve had professional help to perform all these tasks, and now, in your new condition, you’ll be going back to your old environment that is not set up for your new physical challenges and needs. When you get home, you will most likely be at your weakest in your recovery, but you’ll need these essentials to perform these tasks and to do them safely.

I’ve worked with Bev, who has 30 years of experience as an occupational therapist, to put together thoughtful product recommendations and tailored strategies which will empower people to navigate their new normal and regain independence in their daily lives.

Welcome to the new world of ADLs and the products that can be most helpful in your journey, categorized by task. (Yes, I naturally did all of this before and didn’t realize there was an acronym for it. Fun!) Go take a shower, go to bed, go grab a bite, go get dressed. Let’s GO!

Showering/bathroom

  • Grab bars in the shower
  • Toilet riser with handles – I have to admit that between my strength (or lack thereof) and my ability to stand, sit, rise, or balance all being  compromised, I used this not-so-pretty tool for about a year. It was  especially helpful in the middle of the night. Not the accessories I ever dreamt of writing about, but necessary nonetheless. 
  • Hair dryer holder
  • Long handled loofah or brush – make showering easier to accomplish independently.
  • Shower chair – a must! Navigating on a wet surface is hard enough. Take it from me—take a seat.
  • Pump dispensers – look for them when buying shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Pumps are much easier with only one hand than twist-off or push top bottles.
  • Water shoes – once I was stronger, I started using water shoes that provided better grip in the shower. (It was about three years after I went home.)

Moving

  • Cane – the best, most sturdy cane is the front four-prong. It’s not the prettiest, but it can stand alone, which is good for me because I tend to leave it places. One of my sidekicks from here on out will be my lovely, not-so-sleek four-prong cane. Oh well, at least I can still go on my own. 
  • Walker
  • Wheelchair
  • Gait Belt – (pictured above) I was out for lunch at my favorite place for tapas on a nice warm day with two of my lifelong friends while still in a  wheelchair and sporting that not-so-Gucci-like gait belt. Just happy to be here! I’m feeling fortunate. 
  • Transition Board – put one end of the board under the person’s rear end, and another at the destination that you want to reach. If the legs of the person you’re helping are weak, they can use their arm and chest muscles to move themselves along from one end to the other… finish line! They are safely in their new spot.
  • Car assist handle – slips into the side of the car door frame to give you an extra handle to push up from.
  • Driving knob – driving, my pride and joy, which I didn’t get back for 2 ½ years after driving classes, taking the driver’s test, etc. I hope you can get there  too. I never realized what a privilege driving was until this happened. Now every time I get in the car, I say thank you for being able to do it. After all, I am The Mobility Queen! I’ve got to be out and about in some cool wheels, or even with the cane. See you on the road.
  • Bed bar – slips under a mattress and is helpful for getting out of your bed. A must-have bed accessory. Not sexy, but a new sidekick during the night that I cannot live without. 

Dressing

  • Magnaready – apparel company that sells magnetic clothing closures.
  • Zubits Magnetic shoe laces
  • Long handled shoe horn
  • Elastic shoe laces – helpful if you do not have a brace.
  • Sock aid

Managing Medications

  • Pillbox – manage your medication for a week or more.
  • GoTubb – storage containers that can be opened one-handed for travel. I use these every day as a one-handed pill box. 
  • Clipboards and Journal – to log your medication as well as to keep important phone numbers handy, like the ones for your doctor, therapist, and  pharmacy. It’s also a good idea to write down the number of a friend or neighbor who can  help when you’re in need.

Miscellaneous

  • Scissors – put a pair everywhere you sit.
  • Water bottle opener – so your pearly whites can stay pretty and your smile doesn’t have to resort to becoming a tool to open up bottles. 
  • Phone cord holder – to keep your cord handy and secure so you don’t have to dig around for it every time you need it. 
  • GoTubb – storage containers that can be opened one-handed for travel.  I now use these every day.

Look at my recommendations for a Comfy Command Center here.