Ten Great Products and Gadgets for Senior Citizens

Each age bracket we pass through brings a new set of products and gadgets that are age-appropriate. For senior citizens, age-appropriate gadgets and products are usually designed to make their lives easier and safer. The ten products and gadgets for senior citizens described in this article range in price from a couple of dollars to a couple of hundred dollars and they all are conveniently available on line.

1) Large Button Universal Remote - The Tek Partner Large Button Universal Remote solves a lot of problems for seniors trying to use their TVs, VCRs and cable boxes. This remote features an easy-to-grasp T shape, lighted keypad with large buttons and bold, easy-to-read characters. And best of all, it retains its code information when you change the batteries. Available at Active Forever.

2) Perma Ty Elastic Shoelaces - Anyone who has lost their finger mobility will appreciate these stretch elastic shoelaces. They look like regular laces but they stretch to allow you to slip your foot in and out of a shoe without having to tie or untie your laces. They come in different colors and three pair to a package from The Wright Stuff, Inc.

3) The Memory Phone - This is a great phone for senior citizens who have trouble dialing. At the top of the phone are nine 7/8" by 1" frames where you can put pictures of family or friends or print their names out in large font. All a senior citizen has to do to dial is to push the 'picture' or 'name' of the person they want to call. Below the frames the phone also has large buttons for traditional dialing. It has a hearing aid friendly hand receiver, an adjustable ringer, adjustable receiver amplification, and a red light that flashes when the phone is ringing. Circuit City Online

4) Handle Key Turner - If you know someone with limited hand strength or coordination, the key turner is a cheap but practical gift to give. It will give them the leverage they need to easily turn a key in a lock. The heavy duty key turner has a comfortable grip and the key folds into the handle when not in use. Active Forever

5) Ultra-Viewer Magnifier - This gadget has been around for a long time but it's still a very practical product for senior citizens. No need for anyone to give up a favor hobby when they have an ultra-viewer magnifier. It hangs around the neck on an adjustable cord, freeing up both hands for hobbies, crafts, and other-close-to-the-body detail work. Four inches in diameter, this magnifier gives 1.5 X magnification and it comes with a bifocal lens insert which increases the magnification to 3 X. Active Forever

6) Ring Zipper Pulls - If you know a senior citizen who struggles with zippers on jackets or purses, this little product can solve that problem. It's a one inch metal ring that attaches to the regular zipper tab to make zippering up and down easier. They come three to a pack from The Wright Stuff, Inc.

7) MedReady Medication Dispenser - If you have a senior citizen in the family who is getting forgetful about taking medications on time, this is a potentially life-saving product. It comes in three models with 28 lockable departments in a carousel style dispenser. The standard dispenser can be set to ring an alarm four times a day and at the prescribed time it will beep an alarm that can be set from 30 to 250 minutes long. Only the pills to be taken at that time are unlocked. For a senior with hearing issues, the dispenser can be upgraded to a model with a flashing light. Another upgrade is the MedReady PLUS model that has all the features of the other two models plus it adds a phone modem that can dial a distant caregiver if the medications are not removed by the end of the alarm duration. The Alzheimer's Store

8) Magnetic Jewelry Converters - For anyone having trouble fastening necklaces, bracelets or chains due to arthritis or poor coordination this product will be a welcome addition. This little gadget converts jewelry with standard fasteners into magnetic fasteners that are easy and secure to use. They come in silver and gold from Active Forever.

9) Large Calendar Wall Clock - For anyone in the early stages of Alzheimer's or who has memory issues, this clock can help. Across the top of its 12 by 15 inch face is the month and date plus a three letter abbreviation for the day-of-week. The clock below has large black numbers and hands plus in between the numbers the seconds are marked off in dots. The minute hand is in red. Battery powered. Wharton

10) Anti-Scalding Devices - Otherwise known as a Temperature Activated Flow Reducer (TAFR) this is a great device for senior citizens and disabled people who have lost the ability to tell when the water is too hot. They'll be no more accidental burns when installed in the bathroom and kitchen sinks and in the shower. This device automatically turns off the water flow when the water temperature gets too hot. The Alzheimer's Store

The three companies listed below in resources have lots of other gadgets and products for senior citizens that can make the life of someone in your family easier and safer. Be sure to check them out.