What Exactly is a Daily Living Aid?

We are all about helping to make people’s lives easier. Whether it be with using our website, working with anyone on our team and of course with our products. In this industry, many refer to products like ours as;

• Mobility aids
• Assistive Technology
• Daily Living Aids

But what exactly do these terms mean?

What Exactly is a Daily Living Aid?

A daily living aid is a product that is specifically designed to improve the quality of life for those who may have limited strength, mobility, dexterity and/or visibility that makes daily tasks difficult to complete. This can mean that if you live with arthritis, the everyday can be become more cumbersome for you, so there are products out there to help make life safer and easier for you.

There is a lot that will fall under the category of ‘daily living aid’ so there are various sub categories to help you find what you are looking for. While Uccello Designs mainly focuses on aids for the kitchen, there are certainly many more out there. If you have ever gone to a mobility store you would be able to see just how many aids are out there for you or a loved one. They will have product broken into these sub categories;

• Kitchen Aids
• Living Room Aids
• Bathroom Aids
• Walking Aids and so much more

Daily Living Aids Around the House:

Kitchen Aids:

Uccello Kettle

The Uccello Kettle is the ultimate daily living aid for the kitchen, especially since most Irish kitchens revolve around the cuppa. As we get older, it can be harder to manage things around the home, just like the kettle. It can be heavy and uncomfortable to pour.

There is no heavy lifting involved when it comes to filling or pouring yourself your next cuppa. You can fill it while it sits in the tilting base with a cup or a small plastic jug. The tilt-to-pour action of the kettle means there is no more awkward pouring or balancing and it looks great on the counter & comes in 4 stylish colours. You can check it out for yourself here.

Uccello Grip Mat

Living with any sort of limited strength, mobility and/or dexterity? The Uccello Grip Mat is the ideal kitchen aid to have in the home.

With it’s non-slip and extra grip material it is perfect for opening stubborn jars and lids. It helps keep items in place, for example, when carrying items on a flat tray. It is also the perfect cup guide for the Uccello Kettle, especially if you have bad depth perception or limited visibility.

Liquid Level Indicator 

The Liquid Level Indicator was designed specially for those with limited visibility to pour liquids (hot and cold) without overfilling or spilling.

It has a 2 stage alarm system to help make life that bit safer and easier for the user. Once your cup is half full (when the liquid reached the 2 lowest prongs) it will beep and vibrate. When the liquid reached the highest prong, this indicates the cup is full and to stop pouring, both the beeping and vibrations will intensify.

It also has a magnetic front so you can put it on the fridge or microwave for easy storage.

Living Room Aids:

Reacher/Grabbers 

If you have knee or back issues, the Reacher/Grabber is a nifty daily living aid to have around the house. Whether you have dropped the remote or a cushion, it does all the hard work for you. Personally, I think every room in the house should have one but it is great to have in the living room. So many items can be stick behind the couch or even under the coffee table, it will certainly make life so much easier for you.

The Reacher/Grabber can be found in a lot of mobility stores and online. Why not check out the Mobility Shop.

Furniture Raisers 

While furniture raisers are still believed to only benefit those at the point end of disability or recovery from stroke, they are a great idea for anyone with knee or back pain. They can help take the pressure off your sore or inflamed joints. O’Sullivan’s could be a great place to start your research.

Couch Cane 

If furniture raisers are a little much for the budget right now, there is also a more affordable alternative for the living room. Ever heard of a couch cane? It’s a genius idea and so simple.

Many couches can be quite low and the arms of the chair may not offer you the support you need when wanting to stand back up. A couch cane will fill the vast majority of couches and make getting back up for you next cuppa that bit easier for you. They are even sold on Amazon so they can be delivered straight to your door.

Bathroom Aids:

Tap Turners 

A tap turner can be beneficial if you have a certain type of tap in your home, especially if you have limited hand grip or strength. They can be incredibly useful because they do all the hard work for your. They are also a great alternative for you if there isn’t enough in the kitty to replace the taps in the house. Murrays actually have a great set in store too.

Raised Toilet Seats 

If you are finding it difficult to lower yourself or to get back up from the toilet, the raised toilet seat can be a god send and ease the pain and discomfort while you still retain your independence. They fit on nearly all toilets so there should be no worry. They have adjustable brackets and the base is covered in rubber so there is added security and safety.

The rubber base will also protect your toilet so you don’t need to worry about the porcelain. Before Argos pulled out of Ireland, they where a great place to purchase them but you can still get them in stores like Homecare Medical.

Extended Sponges & Loofahs 

Whether it’s a twinge in the back, a sore knee due to arthritis or you simply find it uncomfortable to ben in the shower, there are these amazing sponges and loofas on the market.

The long handle will eliminate the need to bend and the sponges have been shaped to get where others just can’t. They also have supportive grips so you can hold and use with ease. Boots actually have a great option in store and online.

Walking Aids:

Walkers 

Walkers are here to give you stability and a helping hand when it comes to moving from A to B. It is more substantial  than a cane or walking stick. There are certainly a number of options on the market so it’s important to find the one that best suits you and your needs. A great place to start would be read this blog  – ”Best Walkers for Seniors: Recommendations and Features”. It may not be an Irish based blog but it will give you a great place to start.

Elbow Crutches 

These can be extremely beneficial to keep you upright and mobile. Where the elbow crutch trumps the walker and cane is that it can be more supportive in keeping your back straight while you walk and it supports you at the same time. Since they are made with PVC, they are lightweight and easily adjustable for your height too. The Mobility Shop has a great number of options available.

Canes/Walking Sticks 

The cane has been around for centuries and used in fashion and dancing. The humble cane or walking stick is a daily living aid. They are a simple solution for those with limited mobility and can help you to achieve your daily tasks. O’Sullivan’s actually have great foldable walking sticks in store.