15 Essential Life Hacks for Seniors to Make Life Easier

Making Life Easier for Seniors

Worsening eyesight, arthritis, memory loss, and other age-related conditions can make even the simplest day-to-day tasks challenging—especially for seniors who live alone. These changes can impact everything from opening a jar to remembering medication, but simple solutions can significantly improve senior independence and safety at home.

“We know an overwhelming majority of seniors want to remain in their homes as they age, but sometimes they need a little help to do that,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations director at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “The good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big difference.”

Here are fifteen simple things you can do to make it easier for your aging loved ones to successfully navigate the challenges of aging, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. These aging in place tips and senior safety hacks can empower them to live more comfortably and confidently.

15 Life Hacks to Simplify Daily Tasks for Seniors

Organize and Simplify the Kitchen

• Install turntables in cabinets and the refrigerator. With lazy Susan-type turntables, your senior will have easy access to items in hard-to-reach spaces, making meals and cleanup simpler.
• Pour liquids from big bottles into smaller bottles. Make items like dish soap or cooking oil easier to hold by pouring them into smaller, lighter bottles. If you get bottles with pump tops, they won’t have to pick them up at all.
• Use an easy-grip jar opener. These inexpensive gadgets are a great example of easy senior living solutions. They can be used on jars and lids of all sizes. A rubber glove works pretty well, too.
• Put rubber bands around glasses and jars. Arthritis and joint issues can make it hard to grip smooth items. Adding ordinary rubber bands to glasses and jars will make them easier to hold on to.

Improve Safety Around the Home

• Add furniture bumpers to prevent injuries. Soften sharp corners on counters, coffee tables, and nightstands with adhesive bumper pads to prevent bumps and bruises.
• Swap out round door knobs for lever handles. Round handles can be hard to turn for those who are losing fine motor skills. Lever-style handles are easier to open with just a push.
• Color code keys. Paint the end of your senior’s keys with different colors of nail polish to help them remember which key goes where, reducing frustration.

Make Personal Care Easier

• Use simple tools to help get dressed. A buttonhook is especially helpful for those with arthritic hands, and a long shoehorn can help those who struggle to bend over.
• Keep slippery soap handy. To prevent it (and your senior) from falling in the shower, put a bar of soap inside a knotted nylon stocking and tie it to the shower head or a grab bar.
• Opt for shoes with stretchy laces. They provide enough stretch to slip shoes on and off without the need for tying and untying, promoting senior independence.

Enhance Accessibility and Comfort

• Increase the font size on their phone. Go into the phone’s accessibility settings and increase the text size to make it easier for them to read messages and navigate apps.
• Add raised dot stickers to TV remote controls. For seniors with failing eyesight, placing raised stickers on commonly used buttons like power, volume, and channel up/down can make them easier to locate by touch.

Medication and Health Management

• Keep medications organized. Using a pill organizer that’s labeled with every day of the week will help ensure your senior is taking the right meds at the right time. You can also ask your senior’s pharmacist to avoid using childproof pill bottles.
• Set alarms for medications. Use a phone, a digital assistant, or a regular alarm clock to set reminders so they never miss a dose.

Additional Tip for Independence

• Add a digital assistant. Devices like Alexa or Google Home can make life easier and more enjoyable—especially for seniors who are aging in place. These devices can help with appointment and medication reminders, check the weather, set alarms, play music, and more.

When to Consider Professional Caregiving Services

These life hacks for seniors can make a tremendous difference in daily life. However, there may come a time when more support is needed to ensure safety and well-being.

“If your aging loved ones need more than just a simple fix, you might want to consider hiring a professional caregiver,” Goetz said. “Our compassionate caregivers can assist with light housekeeping, meal preparation, personal care, and more—helping your seniors maintain their independence and live safely in their homes for as long as possible.”

Empowering Seniors to Live Independently

By implementing these easy senior living solutions, you can help your loved ones maintain their confidence and independence while aging in place. Each small adjustment contributes to a safer, more comfortable, and less stressful environment.

Ready to provide your loved ones with the support they need to thrive at home? Contact your local HCAN-supported office today to learn more about our professional caregiving services.