Aging comes with many benefits. Often as people grow older they become less dependent upon the opinions or acceptance of others for happiness, they become more themselves, more confident in pursuing the things that interest them. Quicker to rid themselves of things that are annoying or stressful or unnecessary. This being said, aging also brings difficulties with it. In particular, losing the sensation of independence can cause a lot of pain and frustration. The following will explore some of the tools and gadgets that can help maintain independence in a senior’s life.

Of course, before you begin shopping for someone, you need to make sure that they’re open to the tool or device. Not everyone wants to alter up their daily schedules. Not everyone wants new technological devices in their homes. Make sure you take the time to speak to the senior in your life about whether they’d be interested in something or not. Everyone is different and there is no one size fits all when it comes to tools that enhance the quality of life. This being said, here are several items that seniors around the world have been finding helpful or useful in their day-to-day lives.

The Right Shoes With The Right Insoles

The right pair of shoes with a good insole might seem like a small thing, but it can make a massive difference in the day to day life of a senior. Most shoes on the market are designed with looks in mind instead of with the proper alignment of bones to help ease pain or wear and tear on joints, muscles, and bones. Finding the right pair of shoes and the right insoles can mean the difference between someone being able to enjoy an afternoon stroll and someone suffering to make it to the mailbox. It might take some time to find the right fit for the senior in your life, but the process can be sped up by seeking out a professional’s input.

Canes and Walkers

Sometimes seniors need a little more help with mobility. In these cases, experts at UpliftingMobility.com suggest exploring things like canes and walkers. There are dozens of different kinds available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that the senior in your life finds comfortable and likes. Again, take your time while shopping. It’s never one size fits all. You need to keep in mind where your family member goes daily and what sort of spaces they are navigating throughout. Some options come with built-in baggage making shopping trips much easier to manage.

A Voice Operated Smart Device

Contrary to popular belief, not all seniors despise technology. Many are finding their quality of life is greatly increased by having smart devices in their home that are voice-operated. Things like playing music on a CD player can become difficult when you have arthritis or trouble reading the fine print on the spines of their CD collection. Now we have the technology that only requires a verbal request to play any song someone can remember. Audiobooks are also extremely popular on smart devices in the home. These devices can also be set up so that they turn the lights on or off with a vocal command. They can adjust heating and air conditioning. Some can even lock your doors for you. They can be connected to the television and be used to choose movies or shows. 

Virtual Reality Devices

This one might seem like it’s not at all up the alley of your loved one, but you’d be surprised. Virtual reality devices are not only for people who want to play horror games. They can provide mesmerizing experiences like exploring cities from around the world, deep-sea diving, or sitting atop a mountain enjoying the 360-degree view. There are even art-based virtual reality games where you paint or build whatever you want without having to physically lift bricks. Virtual reality is broadening the types of experiences people with reduced mobility can have and you might just find that the senior in your life can see something they’ve always wanted to see using virtual reality devices.

Hopefully, the above list opened your eyes to the tools and gadgets that are available to help people maintain independence and enjoy a higher quality of life. Of course, the above list is by no means exhaustive. More tools and devices are being invented daily to help make our lives richer and more comfortable.