Everyday Hacks For Seniors That Make Life Easier

Looking to sharpen your memory? Well, a few simple changes to your food consumption could actually do you the world of good. According to the website Caregiver Connection, nuts, avocados, dark-green veggies, berries and fish are just some of the items you might want to think about including in your diet.

If you don’t already have a large scarf sitting around at home, now might be the time to invest in one. You see, this fashion accessory will not only keep you warm in cooler environments, but it’ll also shield your skin and stop you burning on days when the Sun’s at its strongest. What’s not to like?

There’s no denying the fact that physical activities can become much tougher as we age. Don’t get disheartened, though — with some creative thinking, you can still maintain your fitness and strength. To give you an example, by gripping the back of a seat, you should be able to complete squat exercises each day.

If you’re due to spend some time at a hotel in the near future, keep this tip in mind. As per the HuffPost website, pack a nightlight for when evening draws in. Why? Simple. Instead of struggling to navigate the darkness of an unknown space, you can use this tool to brighten up the room should you need it.

Do you find that washing your hair as a senior is a lot harder than it used to be? Well, this trick is sure to help. Yes, by grabbing a bottle of dry shampoo at the store, you can now maintain the health of your follicles without sticking your head under the shower. Got to be worth a go, right?

Did you know that something as simple as a routine stroll could double as a memory-boosting exercise, too? To pull that off, you just need to set a mental aim before leaving the house. It doesn’t have to be complex — an easy target might be to note the number of cars you spot with a certain shade.

Given the fragility of drinking glasses, you might become reluctant to use them during your senior years. But in truth, this clever hack should put those concerns to bed. According to Caregiver Connection, you just need to wind elastic bands around them. That way, it’s harder for them to slip out of your hands.

It goes without saying that remembering your list of medications is absolutely vital — especially as you get older. So why not share that load with a loved one? All you’ve got to do is snap a photo of your prescriptions and fire it over to them. Nice and simple, wouldn’t you agree?

While mats and rugs can brighten up your bathroom or kitchen, there’s one drawback to having them down. Yep, they can slide all over the place. And that’s not good news if you’re a senior. To help alleviate the risk of nasty tumbles, invest in some non-skid pads to place underneath them. They’ll make a world of difference.

Have your eyes been looking especially puffy recently? Well, try not to fret. As it turns out, a solution could be sitting in your fridge. HuffPost reported that the antioxidants found in cucumbers will ease any discomfort around your peepers. Plus, the cold temperature should also bring any inflammation down.

This might sound a little strange at first, but bear with us! Seated aerobics is indeed a thing, and it’s well worth pursuing if you’re looking to keep your fitness levels up. Sitting jumping jacks is one of the more popular exercises, where you simulate the motions from the comfort of your seat.

If you want to know how much water you’re drinking over the course of a day, you should give this trick a go. It’s easy: grab a bottle from your fridge and a pen. Then, as time progresses, draw lines on the exterior corresponding to the fluid level. This will also serve as a good way to remind you to maintain your hydration.

Aiming to save time and reduce hazards while preparing meals at home? Okay then, listen up. It might be a good idea to pick up pre-cut fruit and veg from the grocery store going forward. The food will taste just as nice, and you can relax knowing that sharp knives don’t need to come out during the prep.

Before you next head out to the shops, grab a fanny pack from your closet and put the contents of your wallet inside. This will reduce the risk of losing anything while you’re walking around. Thieves are unlikely to go for it, and as the bag is attached to your hip, you’re not going to put it down and walk off without it.

Do you find that you’re getting the hot and cold faucets mixed up more often as you get older? It’s okay — one simple trick will bring that issue to an end. As per Caregiver Connection, you just need to add painted marks to the taps. So opt with blue for cold and red for hot.

Hard-to-reach zippers can be a pain in the backside regardless of your age. That being said, though, they can be especially problematic for older people. Caregiver Connection suggests that to make your life easier, you should think about sticking a key ring on the zip. That way, you’ll have a better chance of getting a hold of it. Say goodbye to the frustration!

Are you having trouble hearing your alarm clock in the mornings? Well, this ingenious trick could change all that. First things first, set up your required time to rise on your cell phone before heading to bed. Then, place the device inside an empty glass tumbler. The alert, when it comes, will subsequently ring out louder as a result. Pretty cool, right?

Self-closing and locking doors might sound like a good idea at first, but they’re not perfect. For instance, unsuspecting shut-outs and injuries can happen. So to lessen that potential risk, why not invest in a foam stopper? It’ll be worth the money. Trust us, your fingers will thank you in the long run! One word of warning, though: just don’t stop fire doors from self-closing — they’re designed that way for a reason!

We’d be amazed if you hear a weirder piece of advice today, yet this hack really will save you a lot of hassle in the bathroom. By placing your soap into a stocking, it’s not going to slip out of your hands while you’re taking a shower. And if you do drop the pantyhose, don’t worry — that bar isn’t going anywhere. You can easily pick it back up.

When it comes to stiff jar lids, it doesn’t matter how strong or fit you are as a senior. Those things can be an absolute nightmare to prise open! Try not to get too frustrated, though. Instead, grab a pair of rubber gloves from your cabinet. The added grip they afford you should make the task much simpler.

If you find that bending down to reach cleaning products below your sink is becoming too much of a strain, listen up. This tip will be right up your alley. According to HuffPost, a “hanging shoe rack” is more than capable of holding those items in a cupboard door. Talk about easy access.

While it might seem pretty overwhelming at first, there are ways to plan out daily exercise routines and/or chores without losing track. To give you an example, if you’ve got a notice board or whiteboard at home, write down your aims and tick them off once they’re done. Nothing complicated about that!

Planning to go on your weekly shop? Well, Caregiver Connection has shared a potentially game-changing tip on that front. According to the website, certain places will offer to deliver your goods home once you’ve reached the cash register, saving you the hassle. Or go one step further: if you don’t fancy heading out in the first place, why not order your groceries online?

Trips to the bathroom during the evening can become extremely hazardous as you get older. Sure, you’ll be familiar with the route from your bedroom, but the surrounding darkness could spell disaster. So, it might be wise to invest in a few nightlights to dimly illuminate the area. Better safe than sorry!

For those of you who are trying to improve your attentiveness at home, a bit of classical music could do the trick. We’re serious! As per Caregiver Connection, works from the likes of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach should chill you out and give your brain a boost. Sounds like a win-win, wouldn’t you agree?

To cut down on your standing time in the bathroom, you might want to think about installing a shower chair. It’ll add a great deal of comfort as you’re getting washed. Plus, by sitting down, you’re eliminating the risk of slipping on the floor while the water’s running. All in all, it could be a worthwhile investment.

The next time you plan on hosting a card game with your friends, give this clever trick a try. All you need is a group of ice cube trays. You see, if you’ve got arthritis or the joints in your hand are tender, you can place your cards into the gaps of the overturned tray. It’ll serve as a makeshift holder of sorts.

Remember when remote controls didn’t have a hundred different buttons? Those were the days! Mind you, with a bit of creative thinking, you can simplify things in your house. Just place some stickers over the buttons you’ll really need to use, numbering them beforehand. Then, jot down what the digit represents on a piece of paper and leave that next to the remote.

If your footwear is smelling less than fresh come the end of the day, you might not know how to tackle the problem. Should you just air your shoes out? Or spray their interiors with a freshener? Well, HuffPost shared a novel alternative. Apparently, unused tea bags will cut down on any troublesome scents if you leave them in your footwear until morning.

Do you pull out foam kneeling-pads when tending to your garden? If so, why not stretch out their use in your bathroom as well? Your legs and knees will certainly feel the benefits of resting on them should you need to lean over the tub. More effective than a pillow, anyway!

Sometimes, it can be difficult to summon up the energy to exercise — especially as we age. Yet a simple change in mindset could help you stay more active. Caregiver Connection suggests looking at menial jobs, ranging from taking out the trash, putting shopping away, to clearing your garden of leaves, as ways to stay in shape.

Don’t you just hate it when you can’t remember where you left your vehicle in a car park? It’s incredibly annoying! Still, thanks to one of the perks of modern technology, there’s a way to make your life a lot easier on this front. Yes, simply snap a photo of your parking slot on your cell phone, so you can check it later. Apps such as Google Maps mean you can pinpoint your location electronically, too — some will even do so automatically.

Ice packs are all well and good, and they can be handy things to have around should you ever need one to help treat a sprained ankle or similar. And an ice pack wrapped in an old towel can also be a boon to help you keep cool in the heat of summer. But if you don’t want to splash the cash buying one from a store, here’s a cost-effective alternative. Take a sponge from your kitchen and stick it under the faucet instead. After that, place it into the freezer inside a Ziploc bag. Job done.

When trying to reach stuff on your upper shelves, how do you go about it? Do you grab a stepper to stand on, or just stretch up on your tiptoes? In truth, you’d be better served using an extension grabber. It’s safer for one thing, and will save you a fair amount of time. Just be sure that you’re not lifting something too heavy, though!

For some older people, getting into the bathtub is no problem at all. But making their way out is a different story. Things can get pretty dicey. Keeping that in mind, you might want to consider adding a bar to the rim of the tub. It’s an ideal fixture to grab on to when moving around in the water, and for climbing in and out.

While it’s always a good idea to draw up a grocery list before heading to the supermarket, it’s still easy to forget items — whatever age you are! So, to cover all your bases, snap a picture of your fridge’s contents on your phone. It’ll remind you what you need and, perhaps more importantly, what you’ve already got.

Childproof lids aren’t just effective in keeping kids out — sometimes the darned things can be equally tough for certain seniors, too. And that’s bad news if the package or container harbors something important, such as medication. To avoid that issue, always keep an eye on the tops ahead of bringing them home. You might be able to ask for one with a different cap.

Would you say that your smile has somewhat dimmed in photographs as you’ve aged? We can understand if that’s a sensitive subject, but one clever technique could make things a whole lot better. As per HuffPost, by partially closing your eyes for a snap, your grin will immediately improve. Got to be worth a try, right?

Got any small weights in the house to improve your strength? No? Well, that’s not a big deal. Just grab some soup cans instead. Thanks to their contents and shape, they make for an effective dumbbell substitute. Plus, unlike the aforementioned tool, you can tuck into them for a snack after working up an appetite!

How about this for a really helpful memory trick? If you’ve just met a person for the first time, be sure to repeat their name verbally right away in response. According to Caregiver Connection, this simple technique will play a big role in cementing their moniker in your mind going forward.