Homemade Aids and Gadgets for Someone With Parkinson's Disease

stashlover

8 months ago

we use a baby moniter at night to hear if my dad needs us in helping him get out of bed, etc. one of those portable light switches which runs about $15 you can plug into a light if you'll be there on and off in a room and leave the switch on the table or on a wheelchair or bed. If my dad needs my husband, who has a hearing problem and works from home, he switched the switch and the light on my husbands desk goes off and on and he knows my dad needs something. We also use another switch taped to his bedrail to turn on the floor lamp beside his bed if he needs light. We use large medicine keepers but he can no longer get the pills out himself but takes alot of pills which it holds. Adult bibs work great over the clothes you can buy them or make them from terry cloth.

Janice Bird

over 2 years ago

My Mom used a walker and we found the front rubber tips would "catch" on rugs and carpeting making it difficult for her to walk. We took a tennis ball and cut an "X" in the top. We removed the rubber tips and replaced them with the balls. My Mom was now able to walk more smoothly.

Sopher's Mom­

over 2 years ago

Very good ideas and helpful for those who can't spend a lot of money on commercial items. The egg carton idea has never worked for us because of hand functionality issues--the whole thing would get spilled frequently. I put my husband's doses into plastic cups from jello or pudding desserts. Those are big enough for him to grip and we can add yogurt, etc., if he needs something thicker to help him swallow. Might tying a rope to the bedframe actually be safer than using the footboard? (We use the AmFab bedside valet (rail), it is a good product. Expensive--for us--but worth it.) Thanks for these ideas--looking forward to reading what others have come up with!