How Assistive Products Offer Seniors Dignity and Independence

Aging is often a frustrating series of losses. Some of the regular tasks of life, like getting dressed, remembering medication, bending down, and opening products become a little more difficult.  

The changes are often small initially, so many people will downplay or ignore them entirely. Makes sense, right? The decrease in ability can make seniors feel like they’re losing it, like their life is on an unavoidable downhill path. 

Yet, there’s another way. 

Assistive products bridge the gap. They help seniors complete tasks independently, which makes them less reliant on others while supporting their physical and emotional health. 

There’s nothing wrong with a little extra support anyway. This certainly doesn’t mean that life is over or that the senior will lose all their abilities. Sometimes making tweaks and using assistive products is enough to keep the senior independent for years or even the rest of their life. 

Now, there is an insane number of assistive products out there, far too many for us to cover in a single post. We can, however, highlight the various types and show you just how powerful they can be. 

Types of Assistive Products

Assistive Clothing

Assistive clothing also goes by the name adaptive clothing. These clothing pieces are designed to be easily worn and removed, so they avoid complex clasps, buttons, and the like. 

Some designs also change how the clothing is put on and removed, like pants that have Velcro down the sides or shirts that open at the back. Interesting styles include the following.

• Simple Closure Pants (like these). These are regular pants that simply use velcro, magnets, or domes instead of a button to keep them closed. This makes them faster to remove for bathroom visits and perfect for people with less grip in their hands.  
• Tear or Zip Away Pants (like these). These pants undo at the sides, meaning they don’t need to be pulled up traditionally. Such pants can be helpful for many situations, including people who find standing difficult or who rely on a wheelchair.  
• Open Backed Top (like this). This type of top opens at the back, allowing it to be wrapped around the senior and then closed. Such tops are often secured using shoulder straps, making them perfect for seniors who need help with dressing.   
• Open Backed Pants (like these). These pants make it much easier for seniors to dress themselves while seated. They’re especially relevant for wheelchair-bound seniors, although other seniors may find them useful too. 
• Assistive Clothing for Health Needs. Some assistive products are designed to help with specific health needs. For example, you may find shirts that open at the top or with domes on the sleeves to make dialysis or chemotherapy treatment easier. Tearaway pants are helpful for seniors wearing a cast or those with lymphedema. 

Does The Clothing Look Good?

Assistive clothing is designed for function first, so the pieces are rarely highly fashionable. Still, you’ll often find well-designed pieces in neutral colors that look decent, especially when you choose the right size. 

Notably, most pieces of assistive clothing look like regular clothing, making them discreet. 

Still… there are some exceptions. Companies like Silverts and Ovidis specialize in adaptive clothing, so their pieces are more fashionable than normal.

Assistive Shoes

Assistive shoes are also designed to be easy to put on and remove. Often, this means avoiding laces and anything else complicated. 

The most basic approach is regular slip-on shoes, as they don’t have any fasteners and can be simply slipped on and off. These are also widely available and come in many styles, giving seniors plenty of options. 

However, for these shoes, the sizing needs to be perfect. If it isn’t, the senior might struggle to get the shoes on or may slip out of them while walking.  

The next step up is velcro shoes, as the fit can be adjusted somewhat. For example, these FitVille Diabetic Shoes for Men use a single velcro closure. They’re easy to get on and are extra wide, making them fantastic for people with swollen feet. 

Plenty of slippers follow the same style as well. Some are even comfortable enough to be worn around the home all day.

Adaptive Aids for Traveling

Traveling can become more difficult with age, often in unexpected ways. 

The first step is to think about the things the senior currently finds difficult, like getting out of a car or avoiding incontinence accidents. The areas of challenge tell you the types of product the senior is likely to need. 

Traveling By Car

• Incontinence. Timing bathroom breaks is always a little tricky on a road trip and incontinence adds another layer to the challenges. Be sure to have incontinence products handy and at least one change of clothing. In a pinch, men may need to ‘go’ on the side of the road, while women could consider a female urinal. 
• Getting out of the car. This door handle is an amazing little device that adds leverage so seniors can get out of cars much more easily. There are also related items, including car grab handles and grab bars. Just make sure that the product is secured firmly 
• Swivel cushions (like this one) can be surprisingly powerful. They allow seniors to swivel around, rather than trying to lift their legs into the car. The seats are designed to sit flat, so you will need to measure if your car has bucket seats. You can also use a towel to account for the gap.

Traveling by Plane

Airplane travel can be uncomfortable and stressful at the best of times. This can be even more difficult for seniors and people with disabilities. The right tools can make traveling less difficult and much more enjoyable.

• A neck support pillow makes sitting in a seat much easier. Traditional designs are easy to find online or at local stores. There are also alternative types of pillows that can be as effective, if not more so.
• You can even find airplane seatbelt extenders, ones that have been approved by the FAA. These are designed to safely provide extra seatbelt length, making the plane journey safer and more comfortable.
• Simple travel footrests are surprisingly effective. They can make sitting much more comfortable and reduce the risk of swelling.
• Sleep masks are a simple way to help people sleep on long flights. This particular design is effective and inexpensive.
• Compression socks can significantly help with plane travel by improving circulation and reducing the risk of any health issues.

Other Travel Items

Travel aids aren’t just the items that are used during a plane, train, or car ride. They’re also what is needed on the other end, such as at a hotel. The items below are all types that can be useful in some situations. If nothing else, they’re worth considering.

• Folding canes are extremely handy. They’re much more portable than a conventional cane, while still offering most of the same benefits. Many of them are also inexpensive, like this option here.
• Many seniors rely on walkers to improve mobility. A folding walker is much easier to bring in the car and still provides the support that is needed.
• Disposable waterproof mattress pads can make incontinence much less embarrassing, especially when away from home. One good trick is to choose products that are the same size as the bed that will be used. Packing tape can help to seal any edges. The entire pad can just be disposed of the next morning.
• Shower benches are another viable approach. Most are too bulky for traveling, but some portable alternatives can work well.
• Medication management products are also essential. This type of device makes it easy to keep track of medication, especially when seniors take multiple medications each day.
• Foldable support rails can make it easier to rise from a seated position or to get out of bed. The tools can also be small enough to be taken with you on a vacation without too much hassle.

Tools & Products for the Home

Finally, we have all the adaptive products for the home – and there’s an almost of these. As with traveling aids, the first step is to think about the senior’s needs. This will tell you the best type of product for them.

Here are some areas to get you started.  

Extending the Range of Movement

Many seniors have a limited range of movement. This could include being unable to make fine movements with their fingers or struggling to reach far. In other cases, movement may be possible but frustrating. For example, seniors who find it difficult to sit down and get back up often benefit from products that reduce the need to do so.

The following items are particularly important products that can help in this area.

• Reachers. These tools work as the name suggests. They make it easy to pick and grab things in comfort. Many are easy to use and include an ergonomic handle. The RMS 19-inch is one example. It is ideal for people who don’t need to reach across large distances. Other sizes are available too, all the way up to a 32-inch version. You can find other styles too, like a Suction Cup Reacher.
• Dressing sticks. This type of stick makes it easier to get clothing on and off, without extra assistance.
• Sock aid kit. Kits like this one are designed specifically to help put socks and stockings on. The idea may be particularly relevant to anyone using compression socks/stockings.
• Washing tools. Can be useful as well, such as a bendable sponge to make showering easier. A similar tool could be used for cleaning or getting to hard-to-reach areas.

Dining Aids

As you can probably guess, dining aids help seniors when they are eating. This field just focuses on the eating field itself, rather than food prep. These aids don’t need to be complicated either. Even just simple items can make a dramatic difference to a person’s ability to care for themselves.

• Adaptive utensils. These come in many different styles, depending on the need. Some are weighted and have larger handles, while others are bendable.
• Grips. Alternatively, you can use universal grips to make your own cutlery easier to use. This set of five is an example.
• Plates. Some plates can make eating easier than others. For example, those with an inner edge reduce the chance of food spillage. Some also have a textured bottom, making the food less likely to slide. Suction plates can also be effective.
• Mugs. Some cups and mugs are useful too. For example, the Dignity Mug has two large handles to make it more stable and easier to use.

Alarms and Monitors

Alarms and monitoring devices can be critical for keeping seniors safe. Some of them provide ways of being aware of the senior’s location, while others are used to alert caregivers in the case of a fall. While the idea can sometimes seem like a violation of privacy, most devices have a minimal impact on privacy, while significantly helping to promote health.

• GPS Devices. This type of device is very relevant for seniors with dementia and/or a tendency to wander. The tool can literally be lifesaving.
• Fall Alarms with Pressure Pads. Fall alarms can be used to alert you when a loved one falls or leaves the bed. They operate using sensors. The linked version only sends an alert to the caregiver’s device, there is no noise on the senior’s end. This type of device is particularly relevant in cases where seniors are unable to safely walk on their own.
• Paging System. This simple paging system is designed for use around the home and it is a brilliant idea. With it, seniors can call for support when needed, while also having their own independence. The system comes with two call buttons that can be worn as a pendant or mounted. It is entirely portable, with a range of roughly 150 feet.

Around the Home

There are many other places where you’ll find adaptive aids too. Some are designed for very specific situations, while others are more general purpose. The variation is important – as people can face very different sets of physical needs. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Button hook. This nifty tool is simply designed to make buttoning and unbuttoning clothing much easier. There are also zipper pullers that have similar advantages for zippers.
• Toilet seat riser. Products like this increase the height of the toilet seat, while also providing bars to make getting up and down much easier.
• Furniture risers. These can be used to increase the height of furniture, perfect for seniors who struggle with getting up and sitting down. 
• Bathing Mitts. While this is a fairly simple product, a bathing mitt can make bathing easier and less stressful for everyone involved.
• Overbed Trays. These trays are similar to what you would see in a hospital. They provide an easy way to serve food to bedridden seniors. They’re also simply good as portable tables for many other situations.
• Transfer Tools. There are many different transfer tools, ranging from the simple to the complex. An interesting example is this bariatric transfer board. It is simple and very easy to use, yet strong enough to support up to 600 pounds.
• Headphones. Wireless headphones, like these ones, can make it easier for seniors to listen to television or other devices. The process is useful for caregivers too, meaning that there is less noise around the home.

Benefits of Assistive Products

As we mentioned earlier, assistive products can help to promote independence, allowing seniors to meet their own needs for much longer than they could otherwise. 

There are also some other benefits to consider, including the following. 

Improved Physical and Mental Health

Anything that helps with independence tends to promote better physical and mental health. For one thing, retaining some independence helps the senior to feel more confident and in control of their own life. 

Plus, doing things independently often requires more energy and effort, which helps to keep the senior fit and healthy. 

Can Help with Incontinence 

Assistive clothing is powerful for seniors with incontinence, as it is so easy to remove. This can be a game changer for seniors with urge incontinence or those who leave it too long before trying to get to the bathroom. 

Some types of assistive clothing work especially well with incontinence products, allowing caregivers to quickly and discreetly change products when needed. 

Improved Safety

Many assistive products help to keep the senior safe. For example, it can sometimes be a bit of a wriggle to get regular pants on, which can increase the risk of a fall. Tearaway pants get around this issue and make the whole process much easier. 

Similarly, adaptive shoes improve safety because the senior doesn’t need to bend down much or at all to get their shoes on. This is perfect if they experience some balance issues. 

Better Social Connections

Assistive items could even help seniors be more social. For example, assistive clothing allows them to go out with confidence that they’ll be able to use the bathroom and redress easily.

Similarly, travel-focused adaptive tools can help the senior be more mobile and perhaps even go traveling. 

Where Do You Find Assistive Products?

Assistive Clothing and Shoes

A few online stores specialize in adaptive clothing, including Ovidis and Silverts. Both feature a variety of products for different situations, with an emphasis on both fashionable and functional items. 

Silverts breaks its products into three types: 

• Assisted Dressing. For cases where a caregiver or family member is helping the senior to dress, including when a senior cannot stand independently. 
• Self Dressing. These products are designed for seniors who can dress themselves. The styles vary, including pieces with easy fasteners, side zips, and easy places to grip.  
• Recovery Wear. These products aren’t just easy to get on, they’re also designed with extra pockets and/or openings to meet post-surgery needs.

Ovidis doesn’t have the same categories, but their products follow a similar style. 

They also have products for other situations, like an Anti-Strip Jumpsuit. This has been carefully designed so a senior with cognitive challenges can’t remove the jumpsuit themselves, but a caregiver can do so easily. This is most helpful for dementia patients with incontinence.   

Amazon has a decent selection of assistive clothing too. Most come from companies like Deyeek, which specializes in post-surgical items. But, there are some options for seniors too, especially if you search using the term “adaptive clothing”. 

Shoes are easier, as some regular slip on shoes have adaptive functions. You can also search for diabetic shoes, as these tend to be adaptive. 

Finally, there are some physical options, including adaptive sections in some large retail stores and even physical versions of some online stores. Such stores are mostly in large cities, but you might get lucky in other places. 

Other Products

Other types of assistive products are more varied. You might find some types in large stores, like Walmart, while you’ll need to look for specialized stores for others. 

You can also look online. Amazon works well if you know the type of product you’re looking for. Plus, you get to see reviews for the different items – showing you which ones are worth your time. 

Beyond Amazon, there are some focused companies, like Able Motion Mobility which focuses on accessibility products for cars and Health Products for You which offers a variety of care-related items. 

Final Thoughts

Assistive products can seem overwhelming at first, as there are so many types to choose from. Yet, the idea is simpler than it seems – you just need to focus on the senior’s needs. This means you’re simply looking at the areas where they need a little extra support. 

If the senior is resistant, try starting with just a single product. Once they see how much easier their life gets, they should be willing to try other products as well. Leaning into the empowerment angle may help too, as many seniors are worried about losing their independence.