5 Caregiving Hacks Make Life Easier for Caregivers

 Written by: Connie Chow

｜

Updated on: February 9, 2026

｜

1 Comment on 5 Caregiving Hacks Make Life Easier for Caregivers

Sometimes, a clever DIY trick can make life a whole lot easier and might even do a better job than more expensive specialized products.

Due to aging or illness, everyday activities can be challenging for many older adults. Simple caregiving “hacks” can make it easier for them to accomplish everyday tasks, such as soaping up in the shower, opening cabinets, gripping a toothbrush, or organizing medication.

AARP created a series of short videos showing many useful DIY caregiving hacks. Making everyday life easier for your older adult allows them to be more independent and reduces your workload.

We rounded up 5 great caregiving hacks from AARP that show 16 ways to use everyday objects to make home life, daily activities, mealtime, and getting dressed safer and easier.

5 Caregiving Hacks to Help Seniors Live More Independently

1. Make life safer around the house

• Make it safer to soap up in the shower
• Make light switches easy to spot in the dark
• Create no-slip surfaces to reduce fall risk

 2. Make life easier around the house

• Make cabinets easy to open for arthritic hands
• Use a tackle box to make an organized and portable medicine cabinet
• “Elongate” the water faucet to make washing hands easier

 3. Make everyday activities easier

• Keep a straw from moving around in the glass
• Make it easier to keep nails trimmed and neat
• Make a cheaper, longer-lasting ice pack
• Make it easier to pour from heavy beverage containers in the fridge.

 4. Make mealtime easier

• Add a non-slip grip to any glass
• Make long, thin objects (like a fork or toothbrush) easier to grip
• Keep a recipe at eye level while cooking

5. Make getting dressed easier

• Make clothes easier to reach when the closet bar is too high
• Make zippers easier to pull up and down
• Make a button-hole helper to make buttoning shirts easy

Recommended for you:

• 10 Simple Arthritis Aids Help Seniors with Everyday Tasks
• 10 Kitchen Aids for Seniors Safely Increase Independence
• 10 Simple Dressing Aids Help Seniors Stay Independent

About the Author

Connie Chow

Founder, DailyCaring.com

Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.