Yeah, I agree. I also think these tips are a little unclear with just text, so when captioning I included some extrapolation of what the meaning of the image is to support what the text is suggesting. Hope this is helpful to some folks who might try out accommodations to improve their living situation today!
A screenshot of an article titled ‘The Art of Adapting’ with the subtitle ‘how older people “hack” household devices to make them easier to use’.
Tips are illustrated and described as follows:
Soap in a stocking. Image: A nylon stocking is displayed. Bar soap is placed inside the stocking, which is then tied to the shower bar. Please note that shower bars of this type are not present in all bathing accommodations. A longer version might be usable with the shower curtain bar, which rests at a higher height.
Text: A sensible solution to handling soap in the shower, according to Dr. Hougan. You can use the soap through the stocking, and if you “drop” it, the baar is still within reach, not on the shower floor.
Sponge/foam tubes. Image: A fork and spoon have been modified with foam or sponge tubes, making the gripping point thicker. This makes holding the utensils require less gripping strength and less motion of the hand.
Text: Can make doorknobs, silverware and toothbrushes easier to grip.
Clip-on napkin holder. Image: The clips are attached to either end of a string or wire which loops behind the neck of the person. Then the clips are fastened to the napkin, hanging it on the chest.
Text: Small alligator clips connected can be used to attach napkins to clothing, a more elegant solution than tucking the napkin into a shirt and less humiliating than using a bib.
Silicone rubber bumps with adhesive backs. Image: The bumps come in a set with many that can be detached, similar to stickers. The image shows one such bump applied to the keys of an older, cordless phone. (Perhaps a current model at time of publication).
Text: Put on kitchen appliances, cellphones and keyboards to help people see and feel what buttons they need to press.
Sugru. Image: The substance, Sugru, is shown molded over the cap of a pill bottle, making a larger and easier to grip sized ‘handle’.
Text: This moldable, rubbery substance can make materials easier to turn, grab and carry, like the tops of jars and pill bottles.
Straw holder. Image: A mug has been adapted by attaching a clothespin to its lip at a ninety-degree angle from the handle. A straw is depicted leaning against the clothespin.
Text: Simply use a clothespin to keep the straw from moving around in the glass.
Clothes hangers. Image: A clothes hanger has been hung from the handle of an overhead cupboard. The hanger is clipped over an open magazine, allowing the magazine to be read at eye level without needing to hold the magazing.
Text: These household staples have a variety of off-lable uses, including holding cookbooks in the kitchen.
Shelf liners. Imaage: A chair has been laid over with a sheet of shelf liner on its back and seat.
Text: These inexpensive materials can be used as nonslip seating.
Gagdetry. Image: A house alarm is depicted.
Text: For the technologically savvy, a little customizing can go a long way. Like making remote controls easier to use by taking off unneeded buttons, or removing the “delete” button from devices like cameras and picture viewers. In another example, one person repurposed a motion detector to monitor the movement of a spouse with dementia.
