Frailty can slow the body down and reduce balance, coordination and muscle strength. These factors contribute to a higher fall risk and more hospital admissions. This is just one of the reasons why some people are nervous about living at home when experiencing symptoms of frailty.
However, many people live well at home by finding the best aids and equipment to support their needs. Frailty can take months or years to progress into its advanced stages, so utilising household aids can make life easier beforehand, perhaps even helping reduce symptoms or slow them down.
Today, we’ll explore types of equipment you can place around your home to help manage symptoms of frailty, foster independence and improve quality of life.
When Are Home Aids and Equipment Needed?
As soon as your doctor tells you that your frailty score is increasing, it can be tempting to buy lots of equipment to pre-empt negative effects. However, this isn’t always the case, sometimes, they can actually get in the way and create unnecessary danger. So, knowing when to look into home aids is important.
Here are some indicators that you may need assistance at home:
- Difficulty moving around: Struggling to walk, balance or move confidently around the home might mean you need an aid to prevent falls.
- Rapidly progressing symptoms: Frailty symptoms can progress quickly, so equipment can help prepare for the future and keep the home safe.
- Challenges with daily tasks: If you find it increasingly difficult to cook, clean and care for yourself, household equipment might be beneficial.
- Higher dependence on others: Some people with frailty prefer using home aids and equipment to asking their loved ones for help.
- A recent injury or illness: These can exacerbate frailty symptoms, so if you’ve been ill recently, getting ahead with equipment can provide a smoother recovery.
Equipment for Moving Around the Home
Moving from room to room can be particularly challenging for frail people, as their balance, coordination and eyesight might not be as good as they used to be. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for help with moving around the home safely, including:
- Motion-sensor lighting: Ensure your home is always well-lit at night to avoid tripping over in the dark on your way to the bathroom.
- Automatic blinds: Natural lighting is good for frailty symptoms and mental health, and automatic blinds around the house help you get it.
- Mobility aids: Wheelchairs, walking sticks and trolleys give you something to balance on while walking around the house.
- Flooring: Carpets and rugs provide a much bigger trip hazard, so consider replacing the flooring with laminate or using carpet tape to secure loose edges.
- Indoor shoes: A pair of well-fitting, frailty-friendly shoes can make it easier to get around and prevent falls.
- Stair lifts: If you find it difficult or nerve-wracking to use the stairs, a stair lift can help alleviate your fears and provide a safer way to move around the house.
Household Aids for the Bathroom
The bathroom might be one of the smaller rooms in the house, but it can also be the most hazardous. Since it’s frequently used, it’s important to keep it safe and easily accessible for frail adults. Here are some equipment options to do just that:
- Bath hoist: A battery-powered bath hoist supports your weight as you get in and out of the bath, avoiding balance troubles.
- Shower chair: If you’re not confident about your balance on slippery ground or feel extremely fatigued, allow yourself to sit in the shower rather than stand.
- Automatic toilet: A hands-free toilet with automatic washing and drying features that can be operated while sitting, eliminating the risk of losing your balance.
- Wet rooms: If you can’t step over the rim of a shower or bath safely, a wet room lets you walk straight in with less risk of falling.
- Safety plug: These monitor and alert you when the bath or sink is about to overflow from the water being left on too long.
- Long-handled sponges: Avoid losing your balance in the shower with long-handled sponges that reach your feet easily.
- Textured mats: Prevent slipping on a wet floor with textured plastic or fabric mats.
- Grab bars: Provide something sturdy to hold onto to make it easier to get in and out of the bath or use the toilet.
Kitchen Aids and Equipment for Frailty
Like the bathroom, the kitchen is another frequently used place in the house that has more hazards than first meets the eye. People living with frailty might have difficulty cooking or preparing drinks and snacks, or picking things up and moving around. Here’s some equipment to consider to make your kitchen safer for frail adults:
- Perching stool: This gives you somewhere to sit or lean on while cooking and supports you should you start feeling fatigued.
- Kettle tipper: Helps you tip the kettle safely to avoid burning yourself or getting boiling water all over the countertop.
- Spike board: A board that holds vegetables in place so you can cut or peel them using only one hand.
- Assistive tableware: Wide-handled cutlery, high-rimmed plates and two-handled cups are all good for frail older adults who have trouble picking things up.
- Sturdy trolley: A trolley with at least one shelf helps with mobility and lets you take your food and drinks from room to room without spilling anything.
- Jar and bottle openers: These make it much easier to cook independently, even if you’re experiencing muscle loss or weakness.
Equipment for Help in Living Areas
Your living areas include your bedroom and lounge, where you’ll probably spend a lot of time, so you need them to be as safe as possible. While these rooms may appear less hazardous than the bathroom or kitchen, you can still make them safer through assistive equipment. Consider the following:
- Grab rails and leg lifters: These make it easier to get in and out of bed without so much effort on your part.
- Electronic bed or bed raisers: Lower or raise your bed to help get in and out of bed without leaning so much and risking losing your balance.
- Reclining chair: An electric recliner makes it much easier to stand and sit in your favourite chair.
- Dressing aids: Zip pulls and hooks to help pull trousers and socks on are excellent if tasks like getting dressed make you fatigued or unsteady.
- Commode: A commode next to your bed or in the living room can be helpful if the bathroom is very far away and frailty makes it difficult to move quickly.
- Location tags: Electronic tags on your belongings, like your keys, remote control and phone, can help you find them quickly without searching the whole house.
Aids For the Front Door
People experiencing frailty often find it increasingly difficult to get in and out of their homes and answer the door. There are several ways to make the front door more frailty-friendly, including some of the following equipment:
- Handrails and ramps: These can help you get in and out of the house safely, especially if your doorstep is particularly steep.
- Outdoor lighting: Motion-sensor lights improve visibility at night and let you know if someone is at your door.
- Video doorbell: This will alert you whenever your doorbell is pressed and lets you see who it is without having to walk to the door.
- Police-approved key safe: Let trusted loved ones and carers open the door without you having to unlock it for them.
- Door-entry intercom: You can talk to whoever is at your door from your living room; some also have a button to unlock the door automatically.
How to Get Home Aids and Equipment
While very beneficial and helpful for many, home aids can also be expensive—especially when you need several in each room. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get help with making your home more accessible for progressing frailty symptoms.
Asking Your Local Council
The first place to start is with your local council, as most offer assessment services to recommend helpful measures, including home adaptations and equipment, to make life easier. The needs assessment is free, and if it identifies the requirement for small adaptations and aids, these are provided for free, too.
Applying For Grants
People who have an illness or disability might be eligible for a grant to help with costs. This may extend to frailty, depending on the severity of your symptoms. For example, Independence at Home offers grants for people with long-term illnesses who need financial help to improve their quality of life.
Hiring or Loaning Equipment
Not all equipment needs to be purchased from new suppliers. Specialist equipment suppliers can hire out larger items like wheelchairs, stair lifts and bed hoists. It’s worth checking out whether there are any local suppliers near you that can offer multiple pieces of equipment for a bulk price, rather than having to pay more to buy everything outright.
How Country Cousins Can Help
Country Cousins have plenty of experience in frailty, so we know just how much symptoms can impact daily life. We’ll match you with a fully trained, compassionate carer who can assist with managing frailty symptoms while fostering independence and maintaining dignity.
Our live-in frail care services include:
- Mobility around the house and to and from appointments
- Assistance with daily living activities, including bathing and oral hygiene
- Encouragement with gentle exercise
- Cooking and cleaning assistance
- Companionship and emotional support
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
