In our previous blog, we discussed the many ingenious ADL solutions to help people with various limitations and challenges eat their meals more comfortably and independently.
The primary options of many—if not all—people with medical conditions is to continue to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. While transportation and mobility are obviously big concerns for this goal, we often overlook the importance of basic everyday tasks like washing ourselves and getting dressed.
Aids for Daily (ADL) living address these tasks. By providing easy, one-person workarounds to a wide range physical limitations, ADL allow people to continue to live their life independently and function with dignity. Whether you struggle with balance, dexterity, strength, flexibility, or all of the above, these tools may represent a key aspect to your quality of life.
As always, consult with your local Tampa home medical equipment store for today’s latest HME solutions—and for friendly, helpful experts to help you navigate the best solutions for you and your loved ones.
Tampa Daily Living Aids for Personal Hygiene
First, we look at ADL for maintaining personal hygiene—including tools for bathing, washing your hair, brushing your teeth, and maintaining your personal appearance and comfort.
Once you have your bath safety solutions in place, these ADL tools are vital both from a health perspective and a mental health perspective. The inability—or unwillingness—to keep up cleanliness and appearances can lead to more serious health issues. It can also be a signal of certain types of decline.
Wands/long-handled sponges: Long-handled scrubbing tools allow you to reach otherwise unreachable parts of your body, including your feet and back for washing, and your underside for wiping. Many of these tools have replaceable ends for a variety of fixtures, like brushes, sponges, and even specialized wiping tips.
Suction-based brushes: Brushes that can be affixed to a surface provide a stable base to brush against—whether for fingernails, dentures, or other parts.
Toothbrush/razor holders: Easy-to-grip and/or weighted handles for small bathroom tools.
Single-use hygiene products: Of course, disposable wipes, no-rinse soaps, pre-moistened wash gloves, and waterless shampoos can also be helpful in maintaining hygiene. Remember that these single-use hygiene products are also available at your Tampa home medical supplier.
Tampa Daily Living Aids for Getting Dressed
Getting dressed presents another set of challenges when you have physical limitations. Socks and shoes are too far too reach, pants present balance issues, and buttons are a fiddly nightmare.
These ADL tools address those problems in straightforward ways.
Sock aids: These allow you to pull on socks without having to get your hands all the way down to your feet—from long-handled pullers to stands that hold the sock on the ground while you step your foot through them.
Long-handled shoe horns: These tools keep the back of your shoe in shape while allowing you to slide your foot into it.
Elastic shoelaces: Keep shoes snug and stay tied, but still allow enough give to put them on and off without the need for untying.
Dressing stick: A wooden pole with specialized metal hooks at either end to aid with socks, shoes, buttons and coats.
Trouser dressing aid: A long-handled plastic frame that keeps pants open as you step through, still seated. The handle allows you to pull the pants up without bending over or standing on one leg.
Buttonhook Pull-throughs: Wire devices with plastic handles that simply the process of pulling buttons through buttonhooks and buttonholes.
For these and more Tampa ADL solutions, as well as guidance in finding the right one for your needs, call or visit Helios Medical Equipment, your southwest Florida home medical supplier.
Deckard & Company