Simple daily tasks, like getting dressed, preparing meals, or moving around the house, can frustrate seniors with arthritis, limited mobility, or fatigue. But with a few clever adaptations, these routines can feel manageable again.
These seven practical tips and affordable tools help older adults maintain independence while reducing strain and stress. From kitchen hacks to dressing aids, discover how small changes can make a big difference in everyday life.
DIY Tricks Can Make Life Easier for Seniors and Caregivers
Chronic health conditions or aging can make everyday tasks challenging for older adults.
Simple yet helpful tips and tricks for seniors make daily activities easier and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.
And creative “hacks” using inexpensive household objects may work better than high-tech gadgets.
Barbara Beskind, the 92-year-old designer at IDEO, discusses some of her favorite tricks in an article in the New York Times.
We highlight seven helpful tips and tricks for seniors and explain how they make everyday life safer and easier for older adults, thereby making life easier for caregivers.
7 Life Hacks for Seniors That Make Everyday Life Easier
1. Reach items in the back of the refrigerator
It can be tough for older adults to reach items in the back of the refrigerator.
To make it easier, add a lazy susan turntable on top of a shelf so they can rotate it to bring what they need to the front.
2. Add raised dot stickers to the phone and remote control buttons
For seniors with macular degeneration or other common eye diseases, add raised button stickers to the phone and TV remote control buttons to help them identify which buttons to press.
For example, Barbara has macular degeneration, so she added bumps to the “Answer,” “2,” and “8” buttons on her phone to make it easier to use.
The same could be done for a TV remote control: bumping the “On/Off” and volume buttons makes them easier to find.
3. Round out sharp furniture corners to prevent injury
Counters, coffee tables, or nightstands with sharp corners could be an injury waiting to happen.
Soften those corners by adding stick-on corner guards or moldable putty glue that dries into rubber.
4. Use rubber bands to make cups easier to grip
Simple rubber bands can be wrapped around cups and mugs to make them easier for weak, shaky, or arthritic hands to grip.
This trick could work for thinner objects like toothbrushes or pens, though foam grips that enlarge the handle may be more comfortable.
5. Keep the straw in place while drinking
If you notice your older adult chasing the straw around their cup when they’re drinking, tape the straw to a clothespin and clip it to the glass.
This keeps the straw in place when the cup moves.
6. Prevent soap from falling to the shower floor
Soap is notoriously slippery when wet and could easily slip out of your older adult’s hands, causing it to fall to the tub or shower floor.
This is a dangerous falling hazard as well as inconvenient.
To prevent this, get a pair of old pantyhose and cut one leg at the top. Put the soap bar into the foot and tie the top end of the leg to the shower head or a handy grab bar.
7. Organize medications
It’s often easiest to organize medications with simple, low-tech tricks.
Despite the many medication tracking apps available, many find that a simple calendar stuck to the refrigerator or a printed spreadsheet/log is an accurate and straightforward way to track when medicine is taken.
Pill organizers (like these) ensure that the correct pills are taken at the right times of day, and inexpensive plastic bins or shoe boxes keep medicine bottles organized.
Final Thoughts
We hope these clever ideas bring a little more ease and confidence to you or your loved one’s day. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s finding simple solutions that preserve energy and independence for the things that truly matter.
Small changes can make a monumental difference. What’s your favorite life hack? Please share your own genius tips in the comments below to help our caring community learn and grow together!
Next Steps: Hear from 92 year old “life hacker” Barbara Beskind in the full New York Times article
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About the Author
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.
