Parkinson’s Home Hacks

I’ve noticed that my dad takes advantage of certain household features when Parkinson’s makes his day uncertain.

For example, he frequently leans on the piano while he’s making his way across the living during freezing episodes. And I think it could be helpful to create a living space that’s naturally supporting his independence.

Through my efforts to find solutions to some of his day-to-day problems, I’ve discovered that there a number of creative things we can do to help and manage dad’s symptoms.

Game night assistance

As northerners with a love of Euchre, we often play cards at family gatherings. Dad has always been a great Euchre player, but his tremors make it more difficult to hold the cards steadily, which seems to take some of the joy out of the game for him.

I’ve heard of people using the end of a pool noodle to create a card-holding device. By cutting a slit in the noodle, you could place the cards inside, which keeps them upright and easy to grab.

Shower tips

My dad’s shower has a nice bench in the corner that allows him to sit while he washes. For the most part, he seems to manage the cleaning process well.

But he also might find it helpful to place a bar of soap in a stocking and tie it to the shower rod or something similar. Doing so will give him access to the soap, but he won’t have to worry about dropping it while he washes.

My dad also has a grab bar in the shower to make getting up or sitting down easier for him. This is a great hack for anyone who worries about slipping in the shower, as well, because it creates more stability.

Make reading easier

Now that Dad has so much time on his hands, he seems to be reading more. But I know that reading with tremors can be a time consuming and tricky process. One thing that we’ve done to help with this is to download him audiobooks from the library. With apps like Libby, it’s possible to connect with your local library for free audio books and virtual books.

Additionally, I’ve seen some people with Parkinson’s use a clothes hanger with clamps to keep their books open. This could be useful if you intend to look at a cookbook while in the kitchen, or something similar.

Kitchen products

Kitchen products seem to be among the most popular Parkinson’s hacks because they have the ability to substantially change the way that you interact with your food. Since tremors can de-rail your efforts to feed yourself, finding ways to overcome them is important.

Today, it’s possible to find weighted silverware, which can keep the utensils sturdy in your hand. Additionally, silverware with a larger grabbing surface area can make the eating process more stable.

There are also a wide range of cups that can make sipping easier for a person with Parkinson’s. While many no-spill cups feel kind of demeaning, it is possible to find adult-looking cups with a specific structure.

For example, the Jamber is designed with a wider base and large handle. This can help those with painful joints or tremors to maintain more stability than they’d be able to maintain with a standard cup.

Continuing to adapt

I know that Dad will have to continue to adapt as Parkinson’s progresses, but I find the idea of making his life easier comforting. I’d be interested to hear about other solutions that people have found to manage the disease, too.