Easing the Day to Day
Many tools can provide help and comfort in your daily life. From robotic vacuum cleaners to shoehorns, from talk to text to ride-share, I’ll share the help I have found today.
Check out these previous posts on other tips, tricks, and tools: Out and About, Household, Self Care.
A household item that has helped me immensely is my Instant Pot. Eating at home means I have less to worry about with trouble swallowing, allowing me to focus more on nutrition. We often take the food we’ve purchased (at Costco, for example, where portions are large) and repackage it in such a way as to be able to throw it into the Instant Pot and press go. I usually just wing it instead of using recipes, after all, there’s always McDonalds if it comes out poorly. I’ve got my go-to’s and continue learning new combinations. It’s a great, easy way to cook; many recipes are online. We also use our toaster oven quite a bit. It’s easier to open and close the door and requires less stooping and lifting of pots.
There is are lot of help when using computers and phones as well. For example, my daughters helped me set up face recognition to sign in to most of my apps. I also use “Okay Google” to get started with texts or phone calls, change my music, etc. I’ve not started using talk-to-text apps, but they exist and are super helpful. We have a Tesla with self-driving, so we put the address in, fasten our seatbelts, turn on “navigate,” and sit back and relax. Some of you may not be ready for that yet, but I have always hated driving, so I love it.
Once out-and-about chores become more challenging, you can use Instacart or other food grocery services, have meals delivered, have your medicines sent by mail, and switch to online banking and DMV services. If you do move some of your official business online, be sure to use a password manager so that you stay secure.
Getting dressed can also become an issue. There are adaptive clothing manufacturers that take various disabilities into account. My daughter recently got a frozen shoulder and found she could only wear button-down shirts, for example, being unable to raise her arms above her head. She searched for a front-clasp bra or camisole online. Some people I know with IBM have trouble with zippers and robust snaps. When clothing becomes an issue, here are some websites for clothing workarounds: Silverts, Buck and Buck, Joe And Bella.
What kinds of tools have you found to help you in your day-to-day? Share them in the comments!
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
We have a bookshop store HERE where you can find books Linda has read, or that look helpful for folks dealing with chronic diseases of various kinds.
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
