Having the right products at home won’t solve all the problems that come with caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, but they can make your life a whole lot easier. We’ve compiled a list of seven helpful product categories that can help with concerns like wandering, sleep, and more.

You can give these items as a gift to your loved one with Alzheimer’s or buy them for yourself to make caregiving easier. You may also want to talk to your loved one’s healthcare provider about any products they would recommend for you.

1. Devices To Prevent Wandering

There are so many different kinds of products that can help your loved one stay safe at home. If your loved one tends to wander, you may need to rethink the locks on your doors. There are many strategies for managing locks in your home, including moving the location of the locks on doors and keeping extra keys handy.

There are also products that will help you know if your loved one is about to wander and help you find them if they do leave. Motion sensors can let you know if they’re moving around in an unusual manner. GPS watches can help you track and find them if they do leave. Door alarms and bed alarms can help you know if they leave safe areas.

Some caregivers on myALZteam love these products. One member shared, “I purchased a stop door alarm, and they work great. It’s light and uses a 9-volt battery, and I take it with us everywhere. The alarm can be set for sensitivity and is loud, so you can hear it from the next room or even upstairs.”

2. Products To Help With Eating

Eating can sometimes be hard for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Some items can make this everyday task safer and easier to manage.

If you can find dinnerware made out of melamine and colored blue or yellow, it will be easier for your loved one to see their food. Make sure the plates have raised edges so the food is less likely to fall off.

Some cutlery now comes with thick handles made of foam. These are easier to grab and manipulate than traditional knives, forks, and spoons.

When it comes to cups, there are a lot of options that make drinking easier. You can purchase options that suction to the surface they’re put on, require less head movement to drink, or won’t break.

3. Simple Electronics

Electronics can be simplified in a number of ways that make them easier for people with Alzheimer’s to use.

Consider installing a voice-activated device like Google Home or Apple HomePod to help your family member with daily tasks. These assistants can keep track of a calendar, allow them to set alarms, tell them the weather and the news, and control the thermostat, lights, and more.

You could also get your loved one a picture phone. These are simplified mobile phones that show pictures of the different people they can call. These are useful as Alzheimer’s progresses. These dementia-friendly phones are easier to use than traditional smartphones.

Clocks with large numbers and well-lit displays are good for people living with Alzheimer’s, too. These dementia clocks may help your loved one keep better track of time because they’ll be able to see it more clearly.

4. General Safety Items

There can be many safety issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease. There are products that can help someone with Alzheimer’s maintain more independence without risking injury.

If your loved one wants to prepare food or drinks, make sure they can do so safely. Get them a kettle that they can pour without picking it up, as well as trolleys to transport plates and other items. Grip extensions can help them navigate the oven and stove more safely.

You can also make bathing and toileting safer. Grab bars, bath seats, and transfer benches can make using tubs and showers safer. You can also install grab bars around the toilet, along with raising the toilet seat.

You can help your family member maintain more independence at home with assistive devices. Walkers, wheelchairs, ramps, and grab bars can all make getting around inside safer for them.

5. Things That Help With Sleep

There are a few products that can help a person living with Alzheimer’s disease sleep better.

Weighted blankets or weighted stuffed animals can help lower anxiety. People living with Alzheimer’s often experience anxiety around sleep. These items might help them fall asleep better.

One caregiver on myALZteam said, “I have used a weighted blanket with my husband, not so much for sleeping, but calming him when he’s agitated. I get him to sit down and put it on his lap and/or legs. Seems to help.”

There are also glowing timers designed to help a person manage their breathing. These have lights that tell someone when to inhale and when to exhale, which gives them something to focus on and often helps people get the rest they need.

6. Items That Bring Comfort

Any number of items can help a person with Alzheimer’s feel more comfortable and comforted.

If you care for someone who loves animals, consider a battery-powered robotic animal to give them comfort. They can move and make sounds, or simply seem to inhale and exhale while lying next to them. A product like this may give your loved one the comfort that comes from having a pet without having to care for an actual animal.

Things like hot water bottles, wheat bags that you can heat in the microwave, or even microwaveable blankets can help your family member feel warm and cared for all the time.

7. Items To Help With Activities

Consider purchasing items that can help your loved one stay involved in a beloved hobby. For many activities, there are items you can get that are easier to use or that simplify processes so they’re easier for people with Alzheimer’s.

For the gardener, there are tools designed to make gardening easier for people who are living with dementia. These tools are easier to hold and control, so your loved one can continue working in their garden.

If you’re caring for someone who loves to knit or crochet, try getting them larger needles/hooks and thicker yarn. These are easier to hold. It’s also easier for them to see their project. Even if they can’t follow patterns anymore, the act of yarn art may help them relax.

You can find similar ways to adapt many activities that your loved one might want to do. Think about making it easier and simpler for them to achieve their goals. Continuing with hobbies or starting new ones can improve their quality of life.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s.

Do you have any products you think are helpful for people with Alzheimer’s? Which ones are your favorites? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.