Tips and Tricks for Independent Living as a Disabled Person

Chloe_Alumni

Living independently can be a real challenge for disabled people. Whether you are moving away from home or going off to university, looking after yourself can bring about a whole host of hurdles that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to predict.

My name is Ruby, I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and I am a student at Exeter University. I run a blog where I share my experiences of chronic illness and a project called Chronically Cute Cards where I send out free, handmade, personalised cards to chronically ill people.

I’ve been living with students for the last few years but have recently just moved into a house with my sister. This has meant I have been spending a lot more time by myself and have had to adapt. I wanted to share a few little tips and tricks that I have found to make life slightly easier when living independently as a disabled person.

The perks of a bum bag

Purchasing a bum bag to carry all the things I may need throughout the day has meant less trips up and down stairs and ensures I never get caught without the essentials if I get stuck on the sofa! Having your medication, phone, glasses and phone charger on hand can also be really helpful in case of a fall or emergency.

Kitchen gadgets

The kitchen can be one of the toughest rooms when it comes to independence as a disabled person due to the countless hazards. Kitchen aids can be a great way to ease your concerns. Choppers, Nutri Bullets, kettle tippers and cutlery grips make cooking safer and easier especially if you have dexterity issues or painful hands.

Smart technology

One thing that I have found incredibly useful, but can occasionally be a bit pricey, is the Phillips Hue lightbulbs or smart lights. Being able to control the lights in your home via your phone saves you having to get up and down to turn lights off and on. You can also control the brightness which helps if you suffer from migraines as you can dim the lights. 

Snuggles with a dog!

A huge bonus for moving in with my sister is her dog Murphy! Having a pet is obviously not an option for everyone, but it really helps with my anxiety when I am home alone, and he keeps me company on the days where I am stuck in bed.

Food straight to the door

One tip that I cannot stress enough is online food shopping. Food shopping is an exhausting activity, doing it online saves so much energy and the people that deliver your order are usually super helpful and will often help you unpack if you ask.

My version of independence

Finally, I think the most important tip for me has been to create my own definition of independence. When I first started thinking about becoming more independent, I was terrified that this meant I would no longer be able to have help with anything. Now I have realised that there are certain things I can do that serve my independence all whilst still asking and accepting help in other aspects of living. Define your own independence, it looks different for everyone!

These are a few of the things that have helped me to feel confident being independent in my home and I really hope that you can draw some inspiration from these ideas and that they will help you.

What do you find helps you around the house? Are there any little hacks that make living independently easier? I would love for you to share your tips and tricks!

zakblood

good luck with the University, hope all goes well and thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum

thespiceman

Hello thank you for sharing.  Understand a lot of this .

I do know just be aware of your own disability or illness or condition. Make it easy for yourself.  Have a think of ways to be organised, planning.

I use my diary page a day useful for organising my schedule my home my day.

Need to do. Includes go to numbers for emergency or those I need to contact.  Taxis. are one.

A folder created a few. For recipes, stocklists and meal plans.

Another one for benefit letters, personal information, essential information.

The kitchen the gadgets, food processors, blenders, rubber utensils, for every day uses.

On Amazon look for pans, pots and got a kurrai like a wok with lid steady and easy to use.

Zip bags, clip bags great essentials. Can put raw meat in to them.  Add oil, spices and herbs.  Zip them up and it is instant marinade for the pan .

Vegetables diced, chopped, do them put them into zip or clip bags plus any sauces.

Ready to go straight away.  Use them for left over sauces.  Instead of plastic containers.

Make uses of websites that have equipment you can use.  Get bargains on zip bags and clip bags.  Anything else.  Kitchen towels need them for the wipes of hands and any spills.

On line shopping a vital one for me.  Signed up to Amazon, Utility companies, TESCO, banking all useful. Including meds and Doctors. Book get appointments on line and meds delivered.

Do each room when I am OK to do clean up. Got a laminate floor easy cleaning no carpets. Use brush, broom when I need to. Make use of wipes and cloths.

Take my time. Get tired easily so do a room a day.

Have some me time.  Put good music on radio . Classic FM around the home helps me mentally.

Have a coping box favourite CD's and books, poems, my bible.  

Most important  to me this forum, just helps me .

As I live alone speak to no one except the taxi drivers when I need to go out.

Take care.

@thespiceman

April2018mom

I keep a list of phone numbers on my phone. I love me time especially in the shower or at work. I recently hired a cleaner to come work for me.
She is the same person who worked for my mother for a decade. I delegate tasks. Ironing I do myself. 

AndMac

Some fantastic tips there. I have a net bag fitted to my zimmer frame, that has replaced my bum bag, which I now take instead of a handbag on shopping trips. My handbag is relegated to nights out.

I hooked up with Age UK's shopping club, and use my trike (adult's tricycle) to shop locally. The shopping club gives me a chance to meet up with friends once a fortnight too. It's both a practical and social activity.

 I get small local shops to deliver, and support my local community by doing this., rather than boosting shareholder's profits by buying at overpriced supermarkets, but to each their own.

I get all my fruit and veg delivered weekly, and have meat delivered once a month, that I freeze.

I batch cook and freeze, a lot. I have a multicooker that is safer than large heavy pans on stovetops. I also cook pasta and rice in the microwave, it's safer and a bit quicker than the stovetop.

Milk and orange juice is delivered by my milkman - yes, they do still exist! I pay them online too.

I do everything online if I possibly can, including birthday cards, and buying gifts.

I have a cleaner, and her husband does gardening jobs for me. I also employ a gardener periodically.

I looked for a window cleaner that would agree to clean the frames, sills and doors too. The one I found I can pay by direct debit - another job I don't need cash for. Result!

Ails

Welcome to the Community, Ruby.  A great guest blog with really good tips for independent living.  Your blog looks great too and I love your Chronically Cute Cards, a marvellous idea!  Thanks for sharing all of this with us.  I don't have much to add to the tips already given here, but one thing I couldn't live without when I am home alone is my grabber if I drop anything; which I do a lot!  Also on days of bad pain and when stuck in bed I have found it helpful to fill a flask of tea/coffee and make myself a packed lunch to take to bed with me and tide me over until my husband comes in.  

newborn

They even have grabbers in poundland. Bit flimsy,  as to be expected though

paffuto10

We have stairs (hoping to move to a flat or bungalow). 

Things that need to be taken upstairs we collect during the day, on a table at foot of stairs. At bedtime everything gets taken up together. And vice versa things needing to go down. 

Doc

 I have many 'essentials', besides the obvious things like crutch and wheelchair (without which I can't go out), the one I use the most often is the dishwasher.
 I can't stand for long, and my knee don't bend fully so can't sit close enough to sink to wash up, so I have a countertop dishwasher (no bending!). I not only wash dishes in it, but also toothbrush, shower caddys, trays, pegs (in colander), ceramic plant pots, etc. It's also great for washing small pet houses, toys, climbing ropes, etc. This means I can use my limited energy on other activities.

AndMac

Some great tips there. Poundland's grabbers are a bit too flimsy for me, but Home Bargains have a sturdier one for £1.29.

Something I discovered recently is Dettol Laundry Cleanser. It not only disinfects and cleanses your laundry effectively at low temperatures, it also keeps the laundry smelling nice if you haven't got the spoons to get it out of the machine for a day or two  It's saving me a small fortune, no need to wash above 30 degrees to get stuff fresh and germ - free.

The 2.5 litre bottles of laundry cleanser are heavy, so I get them delivered by Amazon Pantry, which is part of Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime and Pantry are great.

Pantry delivers things like multipacks of tins, big bottles of squash, bags of flour to me, All the heavy  non-perishable stuff that is such a pain to carry home. Booze is included.

Amazon Prime costs £79 a year, but you can get a monthly subscription.

There's also Prime Video, if that's your thing.

Did you know that you can get almost all Aldi Specialbuys by mail-order from their website?

I use this very regularly. You have to be quick off the mark, the page updates on a Sunday morning, and the best buys sell out fast.. I also get the coffee pods for my Nespresso machine this way. Orders over £20 are post-free. Aldi's Nespresso capsules are definitely the best out there.

Just about the only items I buy now in the supermarket are chiller  items, cold meat, spreads, cheese and frozen food. I shop at Aldi, Lidl and Heron Foods. The discounts are a no brainer. They mean I can afford luxury items for the same prices as standard food in the big name supermarkets.

April2018mom

Some more useful tips: 

1- When reading medical or therapy assessment reports, try to remain calm and objective. Remember that the report cannot predict the future. Put it in a folder and don’t become mad at your child either (this is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received).
Cry or feel sad, then move on with your life. Delayed does not mean never going to happen. Same applies to form filling too. If it makes you feel better, scream into a pillow quietly as your loved one sleeps. I have a file of assessment reports tucked under my bed. The old inaccurate reports don’t scare me now. 
2- Take pictures of your child. I have a box crammed with baby photos of Logan and his twin sister in a drawer in my bedroom. Advocate for your child too. 
3- Celebrate every inchstone. Every time my son achieved something I made a note of it. And we also go out to celebrate a big milestone at a restaurant or at our local ice cream shop. Look past the delays. Get to know your child properly. 

Davidtrotter

Hi Ruby, All of your comments seem extremely sensible and useful and so are your readers comments. I would like to add a product that many individuals are finding extremely useful, without sounding too commercial. The muggi tray that I originally invented for a sailing friend of mine on his boat, is helping with independence around the home or office whether disabled or not. I hope some one finds this comment useful. www.muggi.co.uk
Kind regards and good luck with your studies. ?

redchicken43

Great that you have taken life’s challenges face on that you have learnt to adapt. Well done and great advice.

Chloe_Alumni

Thank you everyone for contributing to this informative blog post! I've loved reading your tips and thanks for sharing these with the community.  

Queenie

Thanks for this, very helpful.

Chloe_Alumni

I'm glad this could help @Queenie and welcome to the community! Is there anything we can help you with today?

AndMac

Something that I find very useful is a slimline walking stick, that I use as a dressing aid.
It helps me when pulling off trousers,  and to hold waistbands open, so that I can get them on more easily. It’s a small thing, but it saves a lot of struggles.
A plastic screw-in broom handle would perform just as well, if you don’t have a walking stick to hand. 

Chloe_Alumni

Such a great idea @AndMac! Thank you for sharing this with us!

Meleen

Buy a chip basket and place in your saucepan. Put your potatoes/veg etc into basket and cook. When finished lift basket out, your food is drained with no need to lift a saucepan of hot water.

Adrian_Scope

Really like that tip @Meleen. Thank you!

Chloe_Alumni

A great tip @Meleen, thank you and welcome to the community!