Regardless of the type of work you do, having the right tools makes the job easier. As a caregiver, it would not be unusual for you to find yourself in a position where you need to perform tasks that are beyond your physical ability.

Sometimes in emergencies, necessity and adrenalin combine to give a person unreasonable strength. When that happens, it is a miraculous thing. However, depending on the emotional energy that comes from a medical crisis to manage the day-to-day care of an aging, chronically ill, or disabled person is not a good plan.

A better solution is to install the equipment that will enable your loved one to maintain the greatest amount of independence, and also protect you from unneeded physical strain.

In this letter Madelyn describes some simple adjustments that made a big difference:

“I came up with an idea in the middle of the night that Quentin approves of. Our bathroom door opens back toward the toilet stool, and it is so hard for him to get around it. I suggested we take the door off and have it open the other way. By changing the way the door swings, Quentin could use his walker to get into the bathroom. As it is now, he has to use the cane to get into the bathroom, and that is not very satisfactory when he is so wobbly.

I’m also going to put a railing on the wall next to the stool and see about installing a ‘monkey bar’ like they have on hospital beds to help him get up. I have learned I can’t be lifting him all of the time.”

The easiest way to determine what kind of equipment you should get is to simply observe what situations are causing the most difficulty for your care receiver. Can they get into and out of the house easily? Do they have trouble getting around furniture? Are there tripping hazards such as throw rugs or electrical cords. Can they get into and out of the bathtub or shower? Is it hard for them to sit down or stand up? Do they have difficulty sliding up to or away from the table?

Make notes and then visit a medical supply store where you can ask a knowledgeable salesperson to recommend some solutions. You will be amazed how many simple and relatively inexpensive fixes there are that will make the physical activities of daily life less strenuous for you and your care receiver