Tools and aids to help at home

Dementia can make everyday life harder. But there are tools, aids and technology that can help you live the best life you can.

These tools make it easier to do everyday tasks. They can help you:

• stay safe at home
• stay independent and live at home for longer
• reduce stress for you, your friends and your family.

Some tools and aids are cheap and simple. Some are more expensive and high-tech. Choose the ones that will give you the most help, within your budget.

Here are some of the most helpful tools, aids and technology for helping you live at home with dementia.

Medication reminders and dispensers

These devices can help you to take your medication correctly. They include:

• pill (dosette) boxes that have separate flip-top compartments labelled with the time or day
• automatic pill dispensers that make a sound or provide a visual prompt when it’s time to take your medication
• mobile apps that help you to manage your medications
• Webster-paks, which package your medications together based on the time and day you need to take them. These are available from pharmacies.

Date and time tools

Calendars and reminders can help you keep track of time and tasks. They include:

• clocks that show the time, day and date
• clocks that show when it’s day and night
• reminders you can set on your phone, tablet or computer
• a whiteboard or daily planner, which you can use to list important tasks or appointments.

Item finders

Some aids can help you identify or find important items. They include:

• signs, photos and visual aids to label different rooms, or tell you what’s in drawers and cupboards
• Bluetooth tags, which you can attach to things and then track with a mobile app if you can’t find them
• item finders, which you attach to important items like keys. If you push a button on the accompanying remote, it will make a sound, making it easy to find the item.

Digital photo books

Digital photo books let you store photos with audio captions. These captions can be easily played back, reminding you of who or what is in the photo.

Safety devices

Supportive aids can help you to stay safe at home. They include:

• electrical safety switches and gas leak detectors
• shut-off devices that turn off a stove’s electricity or gas if it’s left on too long
• safety irons, which turn themselves off if they’re left on too long
• flood detectors or plugs, which sound an alarm if you leave a tap running. They can also open automatically when the water reaches a certain point
• door and window sensors or monitors
• fall detector alarms
• motion sensor lights and automatic night lights
• smart home automation systems, which let you pre-program heating, cooling, lighting and other technology.

Communication tools

You might find that it becomes more difficult to communicate with other people. Communication cards and the CommunicAid Kit use illustrations and simple commands to help you express your needs.

Sensory aids

As your dementia progresses, sensory stimulation can help you to experience the world through your senses. Sensory aids can range from therapy dolls and robot pets to sensory cushions, which have different textures that you can play with.

If you feel overstimulated and overwhelmed, noise-cancelling headphones or weighted blankets can help.

How to find tools and aids for dementia

The National Equipment Database (NED) has more information about technology and aids that can help you live at home safely and for longer.